Camels living near a petroleum plant in Saudi Arabia are susceptible to ingesting a range of heavy metals, potentially putting at risk people who consume their meat or milk, according to a new study.
The research found increased levels of lead and other heavy metals in camels that lived close to an oil-extraction depot in the east of Saudi Arabia. Similar contamination was detected in the area’s soil.
The study, by academics at King Saud University in Riyadh, Taif University and Cairo University, also showed that the camels experienced tissue damage, inflammation, and liver and kidney abnormalities.
Consumption of camel milk and meat could be a route of transmitting these heavy metals to the body of people living near the oil industry site, particularly children
Researchers
“Heavy metals were increased in the blood, milk, and meat of the camel samples collected from the site of the oil industry,” the researchers wrote in the journal Animals.
“Therefore, the consumption of camel milk and meat could be a route of transmitting these heavy metals to the body of people living near the oil industry site, particularly children who consume a large amount of milk.”
Titled “Heavy metal accumulation, tissue injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation in dromedary camels living near petroleum industry sites in Saudi Arabia,” the study looked at camels living near Al Jubail. This city on the Arabian Gulf is, the researchers said, home to the Middle East’s largest petrochemical company.
Material was also collected from camels at a site several hundred kilometres inland from Al Jubail, and from camels living roughly halfway between the two.
The researchers, based in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UK, measured levels of heavy metals in the milk, blood, muscle, liver, and kidney of camels from the three sites.
Some samples were from living camels, while others were collected from animals slaughtered for human consumption.
As well as finding elevated levels of lead in the camels and in the soil near the petroleum plant, the researchers detected larger amounts of cadmium, nickel and vanadium, all of which are heavy metals. Lead has been associated with kidney and brain damage, anaemia and weakness when ingested by humans.
A type of chemical imbalance called oxidative stress and a form of cell death named apoptosis were also more common in camels living close to the plant.
Liver and kidney tissue samples were examined under the microscope and greatest abnormalities were found in camels closest to the facility, with their liver tissue containing fat droplets and evidence of fibrosis or scarring.
“These findings may be of public interest and call attention to the assessment of the impact of the petroleum industry on the environment and the health of nearby communities,” the researchers wrote.
Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director of the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai, who was not connected to the study, said that effects the camels suffered were probably because of the food or water they ate, rather than because of pollutants in the air.
He said he had some reservations about the research, such as a lack of detail about exactly how far from the plant the camels lived, and whether they roamed the nearby desert — where they potentially could have ingested heavy metals while browsing vegetation. However, despite his misgivings, Dr Wernery described the findings as a “nice” study.
“A plant will have emissions and it goes into the soil, that’s for sure,” Dr Wernery said.
“It can affect animals, wildlife and goats and sheep.
“I’m sure there’s an effect from the plant, there’s no doubt about it, and for other animals.”
Prof Rajiv Chowdhury, chair of the Department of Global Health at Florida International University, who has researched the effects of heavy metals, said that exposure to heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk of cancer is also increased.
“Exposure to lead, particularly in occupational cohort studies in humans, showed higher risks of brain cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lung and rectal cancers,” he said.
“Childhood lead exposure in humans has also been associated with lower cognitive function in later life.”
He said there is also evidence linking occupational exposure to cadmium to increased risk of lung cancer, while nickel compounds may be carcinogenic too.
For both lead and cadmium, Prof Chowdhury said industrial activities are a source of exposure. This is because the metals could contaminate the air and the surrounding environment, although there are numerous other sources of exposure, including water supplies.
According to Dr Wernery, the absence of large-scale petroleum plants on land in Dubai means that the issues highlighted in the paper are much less likely to affect camels in the emirate.
He said feed given to camels and other animals at the CVRL was regularly checked for heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, but was never found to be contaminated. Much of the feed is imported from Canada or Australia, but fresh alfalfa (a flowering plant) is sourced locally.
The CVRL also tests locally made honey, which was likewise found to be free of heavy metals.
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Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
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- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
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76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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MATCH INFO
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Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wonka
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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- not be younger than 25 years old
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- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
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