Haematological and biochemical changes in cattle of Eloor with special reference to endosulfan

Abstract

A study was undertaken to assess the impact of environmental pollution with endosulfan in cattle of Eloor industrial belt. Hindustan Insecticide Limited is the major industrial unit handling endosulfan is situated here. So this area was selected for the conduct of study. Field samples like sludge, water and fodder and biological samples like blood, dung, urine and milk of cattle in the study area were collected. The collected samples were analysed for endosulfan level by gas liquid chromatography and compared (statistically) with those of control samples collected from University Livestock Farm (ULF), Mannuthy. A higher level of endosulfan could be detected in the field and biological samples ofEloor cattle than control animals. Milk samples collected from both Eloor area and ULF, Mannuthy had no detectable level of endosulfan in them except for one sample from the study area. Fodder was suspected to be the main source of endosulfan to cattle. A significant change was noticed in lymphocyte count, neutrophil and eosinophil count of the animals in affected area. Other haematologic values like total leucocyte count, total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and erythrocyte indices (MC V, MCH, MCHC) did not show any significant di fferences. Eventhough the biochemical parameters like the creatinine

phosphokinase and BUN level showed significant difference between test and control animals, these were within the normal range. It can be inferred that the levels of endosulfan in the field and biological samples were not sufficient enough to cause toxic symptoms and the variations in haematological and biochemical parameters might be due to role of other contaminants apart from endosulfan. However it could be concluded that field and biological samples collected from vicinities of Hindustan insecticides Ltd. were contaminated with endosulfan. The higher than normal endosulfan level in all samples may be looked with caution because of its toxic nature.