Elemental analysis of the hair of local cattle of Mizoram, India: An evidence of man-made pollutions

Abstract

Investigation of elemental concentration in hair is an appealing method of determining trace elements and heavy metals status. This study was conducted to check the elemental concentration in the body of Mizoram local cattle by investigating their hair.This study was conducted on the hair of 40 apparently healthy animals from each of four different districts of Mizoram. Light colored hair were sampled and cleaned in a 1:1 ether-alcohol combination and dried between two filter papers. The FESEM-EDX machine was used to check different element concentrations in the studied hair. A total of 33 elements were identified in the hair of local cattle of Mizoram. Out of which eight numbers of major elements were found with seven trace elements and 18 heavy metals. Carbon showed the highest weight percentage compared to all other 32 elements. Among all those trace elements, the weight percentage of Sulfur was highest in all the animals under study. Higher concentration Lead (Pb) in Aizawl districts and other heavy elements such as Gold (Au), Radium (Ra), Radon (Rn), Thulium (Tm), Tantalum (Ta) which were detected only from the above-mentioned district, might be the indication of excessive pollution in that area. Excessive accumulation of unwanted elements in the animal hair is direct indication of the adverse affect of the man-made pollution.