Effects of concurrent food-chain simulation of cadmium and crude petroleum oil pollutions on amylase activity in Wistar rats

The bioavailability levels of cadmium (Cd) and (CPO) in water and polluted food has become worrisome over the years. The study was aimed at investigating the effects of concurrent food-chain simulation of cadmium and crude petroleum oil pollution on amylase activity in Wistar rats. Simulation of both Cd and CPO pollution was done in the water in which catfish were housed for 1 month at a daily dose of 4 and 0.8 ppm respectively. The fish were then used as source of protein in formulation of diet for feeding rats for 1 and 2 months respectively. The rats were granted access to drinking water at will, weighed at the end of the feeding periods and sacrificed followed by removal of the duodenal portion of the small intestine. Weight gain and intestinal/body weight ratio was measured and the activity of amylase assayed. The results showed a non-significant difference (p ˃ 0.05) in the intestinal/body weight ratio and amylase activity after 1 month of simulated pollution. While, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in weight gain and amylase activity after 2 months. Cd and CPO mixture therefore, has a deleterious effect on the environment and subsequently animals especially man as the final consumer in the food-chain.