Analysis of the level of heavy metals in the Environment and the influence on dairy cattle

milk quality in Kakamega County, Kenya

By
Muranditsi Agripina Khalembi
Masinde Muliro University

ABSTRACT
The study was carried out among dairy farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya. Purposive
sampling was used to select 30 dairy farmers and samples of frequent feeds and water given to
their dairy cattle. The farmers were issued with questionnaires and interviewed on their feed and
water quality practices in relation to dairy production. A total of thirty water, 30 milk and 45
frequent feed samples were collected from hot spot areas and analysed for heavy metals copper,
lead and mercury in duplicate at Bora biotech lab and Kenya bureau of standards. The results
established that water from mining areas of River isiukhu, River Lusumu and storm water
contained heavy metals; Mercury (0.03mg/l), copper (0.23mg/l), lead(0.06mg/l),with levels that
were above the acceptable KEBS limits. However, tap, rain and bore-hole water were found safe
for animal consumption as the values were within the KEBS/NEMA standards of (Mercury 0.01,
lead 0.05, copper 0.1). The study also established that mining, sewage, storm water and waste
disposal practices affect the quality of water for dairy production. The feed samples from
compost pits, storm water channels and sewage areas had heavy metals, with levels that were
above the KEBS standards and this was also detected in milk samples. The study pointed out that
83% of the dairy farmers in Kakamega County do not value the type of water given to their dairy
animals and the places where their animals were fed. The study finally established that there was
no significant (P>0.05) difference in levels of heavy metals found in the environment and those
found in milk.
KEY WORDS
Heavy metals, feed quality, water quality, Milk quality
INTRODUCTION
Raw milk markets face several challenges of food safety and milk quality (Leksmono et al,
2006). This is because the quality and provision of free drinking water and feed does not receive
the attention necessary to ensure optimal nutrition and cattle performance (Grant, 1993). This
informal sector controls an estimated 70% of the milk marketed in Kenya. The role of animal
feed in the production of safe food is recognized worldwide. Recent events have underlined the
impact on public health, feed, food trade and food security (Zelalem et al, 2004). Consumers are
increasingly aware of and sensitive to food safety and its linkage with animal production,
including feeding practices. People in many countries are chronically short of food and there is a
need to improve the efficiency of animal production to provide better access to affordable protein
(Birghila et al, 2008).
Milk and dairy products are important components of human food. The presence of toxic metals
in the food chain is the result of environmental pollution and their concentrations need to be
controlled. The content of lead and cadmium in milk and dairy products is usually very low,
except when animals have consumed contaminated feed or water constantly (EFSA, 2004).
Production and handling practices are also among the factors determining safety of milk and
milk products. Outbreaks of food poisoning are a worldwide phenomenon. Contamination of
animal products destined for humans is not as frequent as observed with grains, the risk is still
real and of major concern (Ouma et al; 2007). Copper usually occurs in water from corrosion of
metal plumbing components. It may also be elevated in mining areas or from treatment of ponds
with copper sulfate algaecides. Copper levels above 1.0 mg/l may cause a metallic taste,
resulting in reduced water intake and milk production. High copper concentrations may also
cause liver damage (Napacho and Manyele: 2010).

In the environment, cadmium is toxic to plants, animals and micro-organisms. Being an element,
cadmium is persistent – it cannot be broken down into less toxic substances in the environment.
The degree of bioavailability and potential for effects varies depending on the form of cadmium.
Cadmium bioaccumulates mainly in the kidneys and liver of vertebrates and in aquatic
invertebrates and algae (GOK, 2011). Mercury, in particular methyl mercury, poses a risk to
public health, for example, it can affect the development of the brain of infants and can cause
neurological changes in adults (EFSA, 2004). Generally, most of the above studies were done
long time ago in other countries outside Kenya and none of them has been able to trace the water
pollutants in the entire food chain.
While remaining hopeful that many of our healthy ruminant livestock are capable of "filtering
out" or detoxifying many of the contaminants to which they are exposed during feeding, the
issue of heavy metal residues in milk, milk products and meat should not be ignored. These
toxins have continued to wreck havoc across the tropical world, especially where meat and milk
form the basal human diet. If animals consume contaminated water and then these toxins find
their way from water into milk or meat, they become a food safety hazard in these products too
(Bhat and Vasanthi, 2003). This research will explain this transmission through the chain.

METHODOLOGY
Study area
The study was carried out in Kakamega County, Kakamega Central sub-county which is
populous with many anthropogenic activities. The study employed experimental research design
which was chosen since it enabled the researcher to examine and analyze the level of
contamination of heavy metals in feeds. Hot spot areas were selected and in each area, eight
farmers were sampled and samples of frequent feeds and water used for dairy production and
milk collected. The Samples for laboratory analysis were collected in triplicate based on standard
procedures for collection of samples for laboratory analyses. The milk samples were frozen and
the crop residues, dried ground and sieved.
Figure 1: Map of Kakamega County showing the Sampling points

Analysis of copper, lead and mercury in water samples

A total of 30 water samples from Kakamega Central district were submitted to Kenya Bureau of
standards, Nairobi and the duplicate taken to Bora biotech laboratories. Samples were in plastic
containers and their volume ranged between 50ml and 500ml. Analysis of copper and lead in
water was as described in standard methods of examination of water and waste water,(Lenore et
al;2012). Analysis of copper was by atomic absorption (220.2) and that of lead was by atomic
absorption (239.1). This was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Shimadzu
AA/6300 serial number A30524300923).

Analysis of heavy metals in feeds

The dry matter content was determined for all feed samples according to standard methods. A
300 g (fresh weight) subsample of each feed was dried and milled. The dried material (2 g) was
analysed for total heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Hg) by aqua-regia digestion and analysis using graphite
furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Total heavy metal concentrations in the
slurry were determined by digesting 100 and 200 g (fresh weight) sub samples with aqua regia
and analyzing as above.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1: Average Levels of Heavy metals during the dry season

WATER pH COPPER LEAD MERCURY
S/NO SOURCE (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l)
KEBS/NEMA 6.5 -8.5 0.1 0.05 0.01
STANDARD
1 Mining area 6.8 0.5 0.09 0.017
(River)
2 Storm water 7.2 0.7 0.095 0.015
discharge
point(river)
3 Shallow well 6.8 0.02 0.07 0.06
4 Tap water 6.9 0.01 0.01 0.0
5 River lusumu 6.4 1.1 0.09 0.0
6 Bore hole 6.9 0.02 0.01 0.0
7 Sewage discharge 6.1 0.09 0.07 0.1
point

Table 2: Average Levels of heavy metals during the wet season

WATER SAMPLE pH COPPER LEAD MERCURY
S/ S/NO. SOURCE (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l)
KEBS/NEMA 6.5 -8.5 0.1 0.05 0.01
STANDARDS
1 Mining area (river) 7.7 0.5 0.08 0.02
2 Storm water 7.5 0.7 0.10 0.018
discharge point
(river)
3 Storm water channel 7.5 0.4 0.10 0.017
4 Shallow well 6.85 0.2 0.06 0.016
5 Tap water 6.5 0.02 0.02 0.0
6 Rain water 6.6 0.09 0.01 0.0
7 River lusumu 7.5 0.45 0.09 0.08
8 Bore hole 6.4 0.02 0.03 0.0
9 River isiukhu 7.5 0.5 0.09 0.01
(Agricultural area)
10 Sewage discharge 6.3 0.12 0.06 0.009
point
 Table 3: Average levels of heavy metals in dairy cattle feeds
SAMPLE Copper (mg/l) Lead Mercury
(mg/l) (mg/l)
KEBS 0.9 7.03 0.02
STANDARD
Crop residues 0.92 7.3 0
Sewage grass 0.95 1.0 0
Dairy meal 0.93 7.99 0
Maize germ 0.11 1.9 0
Rotten maize 0.3 0.1 0
Wheat bran 0.8 3.8 0
Compost grass 1.2 8.6 0.07
Roadside grass 1.0 8.9 0.05
Mineral supplements 0.98 7.7 0
Silage 0.7 2.3 0

Table 4: Average
level of heavy
metals in milk
SAMPLE Copper (mg/l) Lead Mercury
(mg/l) (mg/l)
KEBS 0.9 7.03 0.02
STANDARD
1 0.3 8.1 0
2 0.5 3.5 0
3 0.1 2.7 0
4 1.01 7.5 0.01
5 1.1 6.1 0.015
6 0.93 0.9 0.03
7 0.91 7.9 0
8 0.2 8.34 0
9 0.4 5.2 0
10 0.5 4.5 0.04

Table 5: Harmfulness of chemical levels

Sample in the environment Samples in milk and feed

Sample Copper Lead Mercury Copper Lead Mercury

1 Harmful Harmful Not harmful Not harmful Harmful Not harmful

2 Not harmful Harmful Harmful Not harmful Not Not harmful
harmful
3 Not harmful Harmful Harmful Not harmful Not Not harmful
harmful
4 Not harmful Harmful Harmful Harmful Harmful Not harmful
5 Not harmful Not Not harmful Harmful Not Harmful
harmful harmful
6 Not harmful Not Not harmful Not harmful Not Harmful
harmful harmful
7 Not harmful Harmful Harmful Not harmful Harmful Not harmful
8 Not harmful Harmful Not harmful Not harmful Harmful Not harmful
9 Not harmful Harmful Not harmful Not harmful Not Not harmful
harmful

ANOVA was carried out to establish the differences between levels of lead in the environment
and that found in milk and feeds. The results were shown in Table 5 above. The results showed
that there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in levels of lead, copper and mercury found in
the environment and that found in milk and feeds F=2.074 P=0.193.

Figure 2: Percentage level of lead in milk in Kakamega Central

Figure 3: Percentage level of copper in milk in Kakamega Central

Shows that the milk samples from the municipality had the highest levels of lead at harmful
levels and Lurambi area had the least. This could be due to municipal effluents, sewage
processes and fumes from vehicles.
Some dairy animals consumed their water directly from river lusumu and isiukhu gold mining
ground sites. This type of water was found to have mercury at harmful levels. Some dairy
animals consumed pasture along storm drainage lines and in the process; they consumed water in
the drainage channels. These channels consist of waste water from business units such as salons
and petrol stations. After the sewage treatment processes, the effluent is directly released into
river isiukhu and this remains a risk to dairy animals that took water directly from the river since
the waste water was found to have lead.
From the laboratory tests, accumulation of heavy metals and microbes in the environment
occurred as a result of heavy use of chemicals in farming, poor management of industrial
effluents, mining processes and poor disposal of waste e.g. e-waste and used petroleum products.
The use of lead in fuels results in contamination of forages through exhaust fumes hence a risk to
dairy animals that feed on them. The activities that were found to lead to heavy metal pollution
were summarized as in table 6 below.
Table 6: Activities that cause heavy metal pollution

ACTIVITY MERCURY COPPER LEAD

Mining v v
Agriculture v v v
Sewage processes v v
Waste disposal practices v v v
Storm water v v v
Poor handling of chemicals v v v
Fumes from exhaust pipes of v
vehicles
Samples of milk from mining areas had mercury and copper while samples from agricultural
areas and poor waste disposal practices had all the heavy metals lead, mercury and copper.

CONCLUSION
Most of the dairy cattle feeds and water sources contained heavy metals above the acceptable
KEBS standards. This is because the farmers were not properly educated on proper feed and
water quality practices for their dairy cattle.

Recommendation
Farmers in Kakamega Central should be educated on proper feed and water quality practices for
their dairy animals.

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