The relation between cytogenetic instability in cattle and heavy metals level in Kuzbass environment

Abstract
The water and feed samples were analyzed on the farms of ecologically pure (N 1) and polluted (N 2) areas in Kuzbass. The presence of Cd (0.002 mg/l) was revealed in water samples taken in the polluted area. The Hg, Cu and Pb concentrations in the hay from area N2 exceeded those from area N1 by 1.4, 1.9 and 3.3 times, respectively. The Cu and Hb contents in haylage from the pure area were 10 times lower than those from tlie polluted area. The evaluation of cytogenetic status was done in Black-and-White cows raised in the investigated areas. It was established that the frequency of polyploid cells in blood lymphocytes of the animals from the polluted area was 1.3 time higher than that in the control group ( ). The frequency of single chromosome fragments was registered 2.3 times more often in the cows from area N 2 as well ( ).