BRAIN ALTERATIONS OF THE CATTLE EGRET (BUBULCUS IBIS) INDUCED BY AIR AND SOIL POLLUTIONS AT SHARKIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Abstract

One of the main health problems is air quality, which has recently been faced in the urban regions. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of air and soil at Zagazig City, Sharkia governorate, Egypt, and their effects on the nervous state of the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) brain. Implementing continuous monitoring of physical and chemical air pollutants (CO, NO, NO2, O3, SO2, NH3, and particulate matters “PM2.5 and PM10”) was performed in Zagazig City with the help of Google Earth of urban air quality during summer 2022 and winter 2023. The fine dust, soil, and the cattle egrets’ brain samples were collected from three localities in the city (El-Henawy, El-Ahrar, and University areas)' for measuring heavy metals concentrations (mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, and chromium). According to the obtained results, the air quality parameters were in a good state when compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The physicochemical properties of the soil samples were within the safe limit that was recommended by the international guidelines. The soil samples and cattle egrets’ brains of El-Henawy area achieved the highest heavy metal concentration. Investigations of such heavy metals indicated health risks in the ultrastructure of cattle egrets’ brain tissues related to air and soil pollutions. The study concluded that potential harmful impacts on the cattle egrets’ brain tissues might be avoided if the soil and air were adequately treated, and by minimizing the usage of heavy metals as much as possible.