![]() ![]() In addition, available experimental evidence indicates that the absorption and toxicity of both elements are influenced by their mode of metabolism (Masami & Manabu, 2000 Obinaju, 2009). However, limited data is available on the toxic effects of cadmium and arsenic through the food chain. These models have been applied to numerous mixtures (Lu et al., 2014 Spurgeon et al., 2010 Yuan et al., 2014). Studies are therefore needed to assess the combination of these elements through the food chain. However, environmentally, humans are exposed to a mixture of toxic elements mostly through the food chain and water. Previous studies of the effect of cadmium and arsenic on animal models focus primarily on only one metal in high concentration and direct exposure. This have raised great concerns on the safety of food and food supplies on human health (Bajpai & Upreti, 2012 Iwegbue, 2011). Several studies have shown high levels of these metals in water bodies (Chintaka et al., 2016 Mohankumar, Hariharan, & Rao, 2016), and fish being a major source of protein in the diet of humans and other lower animals have been shown to be a good bioaccumulator of these metals (Bradley & Morris, 1986 Dimari & Hati, 2009 Ololade & Ajayi, 2009 Ololade, Lajide, & Amoo, 2007 Roesijadi, 1996). ![]() ![]() Arsenic compounds are used as preservatives of animal hides, in pigments and dyes, agricultural pesticides, glass manufacture, and various pharmaceutical substances (ATSDR, 2000). Arsenic exists in several different oxidation states, and its chemistry is rather complex. Being a metalloid, it is capable of forming alloys with metals and it also readily forms covalent bonds with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Cadmium has no essential biological function.Īrsenic (As) is a metalloid and a member of group V of the periodic table of elements. It is a widespread environmental contaminant (Hu, 1998 WHO, 1992). Cadmium has been found to be present in the air, food, and even water in alarming amounts. Cadmium is highly toxic to living cells and tissues. These two metals are usually released into our environment due to their wide industrial usage (Yuan et al., 2014). Accumulation of these metals takes place primarily in the liver and kidneys, and their toxic effects depend on the duration and dose of exposure (Eichler et al., 2006 Kim, Cho, & Kim, 2003). In addition, the present study has shown that the toxicity of a mixture of As + Cd cannot be predicted from the toxic mechanisms of the single components.Ĭadmium and arsenic are well-known toxic metals capable of having adverse effects on the liver and kidney most especially on prolonged occupational or environmental exposure (Madden & Fowler, 2000). The cadmium-contaminated diet was found to be more toxic to the kidney while the arsenic-contaminated diet was found to be toxic to the liver. Treatment-related lesions were also observed for the various groups from the histopathological analysis. Significant ( P < 0.05) alterations in the level of mRNA expression of the Bax and Bcl2 genes were observed in all groups compared to the control for both duration of treatment. Alterations in enzymatic activities and levels of MDA and GSH were also recorded. Results show a greater accumulation of metals in the liver than kidney of rats after the 1-month exposure of which the trend changed after the 3-month exposure. Samples of tissues were also used for histological analysis. Tissue homogenates were used for biochemical analysis and the estimation of the expression levels of mRNA of Bax and Bcl2 genes in the liver and kidney of rats were carried out. Samples of feed and tissue were assayed for cadmium and arsenic load. MethodologyĪdult male albino rats were exposed to experimental feed of which the protein composition was made of fish exposed to cadmium and arsenic for 1 month at a concentration of 0.4 mg cadmium or/and arsenic/100 ml water for 1 and 3 months. This study seeks to assess the effects of exposure to cadmium and arsenic through the food chain on the liver and kidney of rats. Our environment is filled with a mixture of toxic elements. ![]()
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