Evidence of environmental pollution in caprine brains obtained from a relatively unindustrialized area in nigeria.

The concentration of metals (Iron-Fe, Zinc-Zn, Copper-Cu, Aluminum-Al, Molybdenum-Mo, Vanadium-Va, and Lead-Pb) in the different regions of the brain of goats in a relatively unindustrialized area in Nigeria was investigated using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The highest mean concentration of 98.66ppm was for Fe in the olfactory bulb while the least of 0.07ppm was for Mo in the thalamus. The levels of Zn and Fe showed the highest significant differences across the different regions of the brain examined. All the metals analysed showed relatively high concentrations in the olfactory bulb suggesting ongoing environmental pollution. The findings suggest that this type of investigation in the brain of goats or other animals can assist in knowing the level of human exposure to environmental pollutants (especially metals) in non-industrialized areas. They can also be compared with similar data obtained from animals in known polluted environments in extrapolating the level of pollution in such areas. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 11: 305 - 309) Key Words: Metals, Brain, Olfactory bulb.