Investigating Arsenic Contamination and Pathways into Livestocks of Tekab Area, West Azerbaijan Province

To investigate the effects of livestock's arsenic toxicity in the study area, arsenic concentration measured in the soil, forage and potable water along with livestock blood samples. Concentrations of arsenic in drinking water of livestock is less than permissible concentration level reported by USEPA, WHO. Calculation of geoaccumulation index and Contamination factor indicate that most of the agricultural soils in the study area are contaminated by arsenic. Comparison of arsenic mean concentration indicates that arsenic concentration is 53 times greater than standard concentration in livestock forage. However, arsenic concentrations in blood samples are higher than the control area, but still in the normal range. Hematological indices such as HB, RBC, PCV are normal. The results suggest that despite the high concentration of arsenic in soil and plants, it has not been passed to livestock. This study shows that arsenic contamination in drinking water is probably the most important rout for passing arsenic to livestock in contaminated areas.