Chronic arsenicosis in goats with special reference to its exposure, excretion and deposition in an arsenic contaminated zone

Thirty goats were selected randomly from a village of Nadia district, West Bengal according to the previous reports of human being suffering from chronic arsenicosis. Environmental samples viz. drinking water, rice plants and grass used for goat and biological samples viz. blood, urine, faeces, hair and meat were collected to evaluate the arsenic status. It was found that arsenic concentration in both environmental and biological samples was significantly (p < 0.01) higher rather than respective samples on control zone. Bio-concentration factor (BCF) and bio-transfer factor (BTF) are indicated to evaluate the subclinical toxicity in goat as they do not exhibit clinical manifestation like human beings.

► Arsenicosis among human and animal is the common problem in West Bengal, India. ► The concentration in the faeces is high rather than the concentration in urine because goat can consume a large amount of grass and rice plants where arsenic concentration is high. ► BTF and BCF will be positive biomarkers to assess the toxicity in goat.