Concentrations of Heavy Metals and Minerals in Poultry Eggs and Meat Produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Concentrations of Heavy Metals and Minerals in Poultry Eggs and Meat Produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Zafar Khan, Asad Sultan, Rajwali Khan, Sarzamin Khan, Imranullah and Kamran Farid
ABSTRACT
The contamination of the food stuffs by toxic metals is a threat and their exposure for long time has detrimental effects on the health status of animals. Chicken eggs are one of the main sources of protein but if contaminated by toxic heavy metals will cause a harmful effect on human health. The concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn) present in poultry egg and meat were determined in the following three districts; Peshawar, Dir Lower and Malakand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In all the three districts the egg albumen was found to contain significantly higher levels of Pb, Cd and Cr as compared to egg yolk which contains significantly higher levels of essential elements (Fe, Mn and Zn). The mean concentrations of toxic heavy metals; Pb, Cd and Cr in albumen samples collected from Peshawar were 0.13, 0.06 and 0.09 (ppm) respectively. Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr in egg albumen of Dir Lower were 0.13, 0.05 and 0.05and in Malakand were 0.12, 0.05 and 0.07 ppm, respectively. The mean concentrations of essential elements Fe, Mn and Zn in egg yolk of Peshawar were 1.27, 0.31 and 2.05 while that of Dir Lower were 1.05, 0.19 and 1.97±0.04 ppm, respectively. The mean levels of Fe, Mn and Zn in egg yolk from Malakand were 1.13, 0.20 and 2.00±0.06 ppm, respectively. The finding of the present study revealed that liver contains significantly higher concentration of lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) as compared to thigh and breast muscle. The level of Pb in liver and Cd and Cr in liver, thigh and breast in district I , the level of Pb in liver and level of Cr in liver, thigh and breast in district II and level of Cd and Cd in liver, Cr in liver, thigh and breast in district III were found higher than the permissible limits. The poultry meat produced in Peshawar contribute a slight amount of essential minerals (Fe, Mn and Zn) to the total daily intake while considerable amount of toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Cr) were contributed in the total daily intake of these heavy metals reflecting poor quality of poultry meat. It is concluded from the present study that in all the three districts the daily intake values of Cd, Cr and Zn through egg were found above the permissible values. Findings of the present study are reflecting a threat for public health.
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