Metal toxicity and trace element deficiency in some wild animal species from north-east India, as revealed by cellular, bio-inorganic and behavioural studies

Toxicity of some heavy metals (lead, mercury, selenium) and deficiency of some essential trace elements (chromium) have been detected in some wild animal species from north-east India with the help of inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy of hair and bone, cellular and surface ultrastructural feat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current science (Bangalore) 1999-07, Vol.77 (2), p.276-280
Main Authors: Dey, Sudip, Stafford, R., Roy, M. K. Deb, Bhattacharjee, C. R., Khathing, D. T., Bhattacharjee, P. C., Dkhar, P. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bones
Chromium
Hair
India
Lead
Rangeland soils
RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Selenium
Skin
Soil water
Wild animals
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Summary:Toxicity of some heavy metals (lead, mercury, selenium) and deficiency of some essential trace elements (chromium) have been detected in some wild animal species from north-east India with the help of inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy of hair and bone, cellular and surface ultrastructural features of skin and hair and behavioural studies on symptoms related to toxicity and deficiency of some elements. The values of elemental content indicating their toxicity or deficiency were found to be statistically significant. Electron microscopic studies on cellular and ultrastructural features of skin and hair revealed specific toxic and deficiency effects of some elements. Behavioural studies indicated several symptoms related to certain elemental disturbances, viz. loss of appetite, constipation, salivation, photophobia, tendency to wander in a circle, etc. The possible source of toxicity and deficiency of the element were examined by analysing soil and water samples from the home range of the animals and also by studying the behaviour pattern of animals in relation to mobility, migration and sequence of movements.
ISSN:0011-3891