Publication: Risk of Environmental Chemical Contaminants Associated with Animal Feeding in Peri Urban Areas of Kisumu Town
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2022-04-28
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International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine, quantify and disseminate the level of
environmental chemical contaminants in the topsoil, water, pasture, milk, blood, feaces, kidney,
and adipose tissues from cattle reared in peri-urban slum of Kisumu County. Various samples
were collected from Mamboleo, Nyalenda and Otonglo in Kisumu County in the months of
April and August 2019 respectively to determine possible seasonal or environmental variability
of contaminants. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to
identify and quantify the level of toxic heavy metals and the results were compared to WHO
food safety limits.Flotation method was used to determine Helminth’s infections. Viable
bacterial cell counts were determined using the Spread-Plate method. The heavy metals
analyzed were: Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and Copper (Cu). One
way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) test was used to determine significant difference in the
mean level of heavy metals. There were variations in mean heavy concentration levels between
the two visits (p<0.05). Helminthosis was prevalent (59.5%) and total Fecal Egg Count (FEC)
varied across samples. Study findings show varying heavy metal concentration levels which
exceed WHO/FAO food safety limits implying livestock kept in peri-urban setting of Kisumu
town are at a risk of ingest contaminated pasture, threatening food safety among consumers.
This study recommends policies aimed at mitigating pollution from chemical contaminants and
other anthropogenic activities and farmer sensitization on better farming system with limited
risks on food safety and animal-human food chain.