Assessing Lead (Pb) Residues in Lohi Sheep and its Impact on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters

Pb, a major environmental pollutant, can bio-accumulate in different tissues of food animals. The present study was accomplished to investigate the presence of Pb residues in various tissues of Lohi sheep (n = 360) and its deleterious effects. The blood and tissue samples (kidney, liver, and muscles) were collected from a local slaughterhouse for 6 weeks and analyzed through flame atomic absorption sepectrophotometry. The Pb concentration was determined to be maximum in kidney samples, followed by liver, serum, and muscle. In our analysis, 82.78% of muscle samples showed Pb concentrations below the maximum permissible limit (1 mg/kg) by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA). While values of serum ALT, AST, ALP, and urea were within normal range. In all the samples, RBC, TLC, PCV, and Hb values were significantly lower than control (P< 0.05). Based on the above results, Lohi sheep seems to be quite resistant to the deleterious effects of Pb; however, its edible offal and lean muscle could pose a serious risk to public health.