CATTLE MORTALITY IN THE THANE DISTRICT, INDIA - A STUDY OF CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS

An unexpected mortality of more than 300 cattle was investigated near a metal recovery factory located in a rural area of the Thane district of India. The factory was engaged in reclaiming lead, aluminium, tin, and zinc from discarded lead storage batteries and soft drink cans. T he environmental samples (soil, leaves, grass, slag, water, and sedime nt), human blood and hair and animal samples (blood, urine, peritoneal fluid, liver, kidney, cow dung, ribs, and femur), collected for analy sis revealed toxic levels of lead, cadmium, and chromium. Clinical exa mination of factory workers and school children revealed cough, fever, gastric problems, abdominal pain, skin lesions (scabies), and blue li ne on gums. Histopathological examination of animal tissues revealed c hronic pathology with lead inclusion bodies in hepatocytes and renal t ubules. Based on environmental, clinical, analytical, and histopatholo gical observations, the mortality has been attributed to toxic levels of metals in the body and the malnourished status of the animals.