Pages: (82-91 )
Abstract
Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal pollutant that is resistant to biological decomposition with a series of hazardous effects on human health. Zea mays L. commonly called maize, is a food crop known to be a high bio- accumulator of heavy metals. Therefore, this study investigated the toxic effects of Cd bio-accumulation in parts of Z. mays on selected hematological indices of weaned male albino rats. Methodology: Test soil samples were separately mixed with CdCl2, at 80, 160 and 240 mg/kg. Z. mays planted on each of these soils were harvested after 90 days, and subsequently analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Roots, stalks, leaves and tassels of Z. mays were used to compound feeds for toxicological investigation. Weaned male albino rats (Wistar strain) were randomly distributed into six groups of six rats per group: group 1 (normal), group 2 (control), groups 3 (Cd tassels), group 4 (Cd leaves), group 5 (Cd stalks) and group 6 (Cd roots), were treated for 30 days. Thereafter, animals were anaesthetized, sacrificed and tissue samples were collected for hematological analysis. Result: Hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), total white cell count (WBC), percentage neutrophil count (NEU %) and percentage lymphocyte count (LYM %) are significantly reduced in experimental animals (p < 0.05) when compared with the group 2, while platelet count is increased significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is, therefore, concluded that group 5 (Cd stalks) and group 6 (Cd roots) are highly toxic and are potential damaging agents to the hematopoietic system and could cause anemia, particularly when fed for a long period of 30 days
Keywords: Cadmium, Bioaccumulation, Z. mays, Plant, Toxicity, Rats,,