Selected Microelements and Toxic Metals in the Hair of Dairy Cows from the Bishkek Area, Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, despite heavy environmental pollution, no assessment of dairy cow exposure to trace elements using hair sample analysis has been conducted so far. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the concentrations of selected trace elements, including the essential elements Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, as well as Cd, Pb, Hg, and Ni, in the hair of dairy cows in the vicinity of Bishkek—the largest city in Kyrgyzstan. The mean concentrations (±SD) and medians (given in parentheses) for individual elements were as follows (in mg/kg dry weight): Cd: 0.62 ± 0.19 (0.60), Cu: 5.63 ± 1.16 (5.69), Fe: 274.9 ± 169.8 (248.0), Mn: 7.81 ± 6.06 (6.12), Ni: mean and median below the limit of detection, Pb: 3.98 ± 1.47 (3.68), Hg: 0.0051 ± 0.0022 (0.0049), and Zn: 77.94 ± 12.91 (79.65). Statistically significant spatial differences were found for Cd, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn, whereas Cu concentrations did not differ significantly among districts. A statistically significant positive correlation with age was found only for Fe (Rs = 0.39, p = 0.006). The results demonstrate the occurrence and spatial variability of the analyzed elements in the hair of cows from the vicinity of Bishkek. However, further comprehensive studies are needed to determine the sources of contamination and the influence of the element concentrations noted in this study on animal health status, as well as to assess potential risks to human consumers of animal products.