Assessment of trace elements and metals status in imported Camels

Abstract

The present study intended to investigate the profile of mineral elements and metals in camel serum. For this purpose, 50 camels (Camelus dromedarius) were examined to estimate the levels of Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, B, Al, Ca, Ba, Mg, Cd, Pb, Mo, Sr, Si and V. using Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICAP). On average, the mineral contents were 0.116 mg/l (Co), 0.297 mg/l (Cr), 1.817 mg/l (Cu), 13.733 mg/l (Fe), 1.521 mg/l (Mn), 0.002 mg/l (Ni), 6.775 mg/l (Zn). While mean concentrations of other metals were 0.08 mg/l (B), 42.887 mg/l (Al), 258.973 mg/l (Ca), 1.520 mg/l (Ba), 28.385 mg/l (Mg), 0.02 mg/l (Cd), 2.183 mg/l (Pb), 1.523 mg/l (Mo), 1.243 mg/l (Sr), 478.617 mg/l (Si), 0.689 mg/l (V). Although a lack of data on camel species, these findings could contribute to understanding the status of trace elements and heavy metals in camels, and any deviation of some elements from their normal values might be an indicator for exposure of these camels to pollutant circumstances.

Keywords

• Trace elements
• Heavy metals
• Camel serum