Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria

Environmental pollution from heavy metals is a growing concern, largely driven by increased industrial activity. This study measured the concentrations of seven heavy metals—lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, and iron—and two trace metals—magnesium and nickel—in the serum, cerebrum,...

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Main Authors: Igado Olumayowa Olawumi, Olopade Funmilayo Eniola, Gilbert Taidinda Tashara, Obasa Adedunsola Adewunmi, Omile Irene Chizubelu, Peter-Ajuzie Iheanyi Kemdirim, Adedokun Kehinde Iyanuoluwa, Olopade James Olukayode
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-06-01
Series:Folia Veterinaria
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2025-0018
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author Igado Olumayowa Olawumi
Olopade Funmilayo Eniola
Gilbert Taidinda Tashara
Obasa Adedunsola Adewunmi
Omile Irene Chizubelu
Peter-Ajuzie Iheanyi Kemdirim
Adedokun Kehinde Iyanuoluwa
Olopade James Olukayode
author_facet Igado Olumayowa Olawumi
Olopade Funmilayo Eniola
Gilbert Taidinda Tashara
Obasa Adedunsola Adewunmi
Omile Irene Chizubelu
Peter-Ajuzie Iheanyi Kemdirim
Adedokun Kehinde Iyanuoluwa
Olopade James Olukayode
author_sort Igado Olumayowa Olawumi
collection DOAJ
description Environmental pollution from heavy metals is a growing concern, largely driven by increased industrial activity. This study measured the concentrations of seven heavy metals—lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, and iron—and two trace metals—magnesium and nickel—in the serum, cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem of the hedgehog (Eulipotyphla), pigeon (Columbiformes), cattle egret (Pelecaniformes), and two species of squirrel (Sciuromorpha), using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Among the metals tested, magnesium showed the highest concentrations across all sample types and brain regions in all studied animals. Magnesium levels reached as high as 817,598 µg/mL in the serum of female pigeons. Metal levels were generally higher than those reported in previous studies from other regions, except for cobalt, which was undetectable in the tested tissues. The highest concentrations for all metals were found in the serum. No consistent pattern was observed in metal concentrations across the brain regions. These findings reveal complex patterns of metal accumulation and distribution, potentially reflecting interspecies differences in physiology, diet, and environmental exposure. The data offers insights into metal presence in wildlife serum and brains. It will also provide crucial baseline dataset with information that can be invaluable for future ecological and environmental studies.
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spelling doaj-art-cc212ee514ff4174a4e84dc932ecdd7b2025-08-20T02:38:36ZengSciendoFolia Veterinaria2453-78372025-06-01692567110.2478/fv-2025-0018Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from NigeriaIgado Olumayowa Olawumi0Olopade Funmilayo Eniola1Gilbert Taidinda Tashara2Obasa Adedunsola Adewunmi3Omile Irene Chizubelu4Peter-Ajuzie Iheanyi Kemdirim5Adedokun Kehinde Iyanuoluwa6Olopade James Olukayode71Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria1Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaEnvironmental pollution from heavy metals is a growing concern, largely driven by increased industrial activity. This study measured the concentrations of seven heavy metals—lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, and iron—and two trace metals—magnesium and nickel—in the serum, cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem of the hedgehog (Eulipotyphla), pigeon (Columbiformes), cattle egret (Pelecaniformes), and two species of squirrel (Sciuromorpha), using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Among the metals tested, magnesium showed the highest concentrations across all sample types and brain regions in all studied animals. Magnesium levels reached as high as 817,598 µg/mL in the serum of female pigeons. Metal levels were generally higher than those reported in previous studies from other regions, except for cobalt, which was undetectable in the tested tissues. The highest concentrations for all metals were found in the serum. No consistent pattern was observed in metal concentrations across the brain regions. These findings reveal complex patterns of metal accumulation and distribution, potentially reflecting interspecies differences in physiology, diet, and environmental exposure. The data offers insights into metal presence in wildlife serum and brains. It will also provide crucial baseline dataset with information that can be invaluable for future ecological and environmental studies.https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2025-0018bloodbrain regionsheavy metalswildlife
spellingShingle Igado Olumayowa Olawumi
Olopade Funmilayo Eniola
Gilbert Taidinda Tashara
Obasa Adedunsola Adewunmi
Omile Irene Chizubelu
Peter-Ajuzie Iheanyi Kemdirim
Adedokun Kehinde Iyanuoluwa
Olopade James Olukayode
Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria
Folia Veterinaria
blood
brain regions
heavy metals
wildlife
title Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria
title_full Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria
title_fullStr Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria
title_short Concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from Nigeria
title_sort concentrations of some heavy and trace metals in serum and brain of five species of wild vertebrates from nigeria
topic blood
brain regions
heavy metals
wildlife
url https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2025-0018
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