Blood Response to Mercury Exposure in Athletic Horse From Messina, Italy.

This study investigated the levels of Mercury (Hg) exposure on athletic horses in Messina, Italy, a region known for high levels of toxic pollution. The research showed that the Mercury concentrations found in the horses’ blood, serum, food, and water were below dangerous levels, suggesting that the horses are not at a toxicological risk.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted in May 2019 on 20 horses from a sporting center near an area in Messina, heavily polluted with various toxic substances.
• The aim was to determine the concentration of Mercury in the horses’ blood, serum, food, and water, and to study the effect of the bioaccumulation of Mercury on the blood biomarker.
• The hematological parameters including red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count were taken into consideration.
• An automated hematology analyzer was used to process the hematologic parameters, and Mercury concentrations were determined by DMA-80.
• The variation in Mercury levels in serum and blood samples were subjected to paired t-test analysis, with post-hoc comparisons performed using Tukey’s test.

Research Findings

• The results showed that in blood samples, Mercury concentrations were significantly higher than in the serum. However, the levels of Mercury in the blood were positively correlated with the serum, indicating that the serum could be used as a reliable indicator of blood Mercury levels.
• The Mercury concentrations found in blood, serum, food, and water samples were below the reference benchmarks. This suggests that despite living in an area recognized for toxic pollution, the athletic horses studied are not at risk of any potential Mercury-related health issues.
• The study confirmed that Mercury can have the most toxic effects on the central nervous system, particularly during fetal development, hence the importance of this work to ensure the ongoing health and safety of the sporting horses.

Conclusion

• This research provides valuable information for authorities in polluted areas, as it suggests that despite the presence of harmful toxins such as Mercury in the environment, safety measures are, in this case, effectively protecting the health of the horses.
• It also suggests that regular monitoring and testing of Mercury levels in animals’ blood and serum can be a useful bioindicator in maintaining their health and the wider environmental safety.