Determination of Some Heavy Metals in the Blood, Brain, Flesh and Liver of Quelea Birds (quelea Quelea) in Gyawana Ecosystem, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Heavy metals have a serious impact on the environment and can threaten the stability of an ecosystem. This study was conducted in Gyawana ecosystem, Adamawa State, Nigeria to determine the concentration of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the blood, brain, flesh and liver of Quelea birds (Quelea quelea). A total of four hundred and eighty (480) male and female birds were used. The Quelea birds were dissected separately to obtain the organs. The brain, liver and flesh of each Quelea birds sample were dried at 105oC and digested with tri-acid mixture (HNO3: HCO4: H2SO4). Determination of the heavy metals was done using a Buck Scientific 200A Model, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The studied metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were detected at different concentrations in the blood and organs of the studied birds with the exception of Cr which was not detected. The blood samples had highest mean concentration of As, Co, Ni, Pb and Zn (0.081± 0.005mg/g, 0.831± 0.015mg/g, 0.046± 0.001mg/g, 1.064± 0.020mg/g, 11.963± 0.113mg/g) respectively. The least concentration of As, Cu and Ni was detected in the brain of birds; 0.028±0.004mg/g, 16.869± 0.065mg/g, 0.026± 0.000mg/g respectively. The highest mean concentration of Cd was detected in the flesh of birds 1.156± 0.024mg/g and the lowest mean concentration of Cd, Co and Pb was detected in the liver of birds with 0.478± 0.005mg/g, 0.379± 0.006mg/g, 0.330 Z± 0.005mg/g respectively. The flesh of birds had the least mean concentration of Zn. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study shows that the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the blood and organs of the study birds were within the permissible limit. Regular monitoring of heavy metals in the birds species of Gyawana ecosystem should be carried out to ascertain the level of toxicants. Pesticide residue levels and other heavy metals like mercury should be studied to monitor their concentration in the birds of Gyawana ecosystem.