Lead profile in blood and hair from cattle, environmentally exposed to lead around Isfahan oil industry, Iran

This survey aimed at acquainting the amount of dairy farms lead pollution around the Isfahan oil industry. Dairy farms those were in distant less than 20 km were identified and divided into four groups. viz farms located in radial zone of 0.5-2.5, 2.5-5, 5-7.5 and 7.5-13.5 km, respectively considered as group A, B, C and D. Group E (control farms) was in nonpolluting places in the east of Isfahan. From 24 cows in each group, blood and hair samples were collected. The lead content of samples was measured by Atomic Absorption spectrometer. The cows which were located closer to oil industry had higher blood and hair Pb content. There is significant difference (p<0.001) in lead accumulation in blood of cattle among the groups except B and C. In this study, hair and blood Pollution Factor (PF) of lead, (3.03-531 and 2.47-4.35, respectively) may reflect the higher effect of environmental pollution and anthropogenic interference. The results showed that in the examined area, blood lead concentrations were normal (less than 0.075 ppm) but lead content of hair had shown a mild lead poisoning (more than 10 ppm). These concentrations showed that lead pollution around Isfahan oil industry could be a serious problem and must be considered.