Estimation of lead and cadmium levels in muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattle in Mosul City

Abstract EN

Lead and cadmium levels were estimated in 225 samples of muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattle (75 samples of each).

The samples were collected from butcher shops in Mosul City and they were analyzed for the presence of these heavy metals by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

The mean concentrations of lead in muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattle were 0.071, 0.472 and 0.398 mg/kg, respectively.

Of these muscle, liver and kidney samples, 2.67 %, 17.33 % and 12 % of samples, respectively, were exceeded the permissible limits for lead in these tissues which proposed by the European Commission (EC).

Results showed that mean concentrations of lead in livers and kidneys were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that reported in muscles.

For cadmium results showed that muscle, liver and kidney samples of slaughtered cattle were contained mean values of 0.009, 0.0591 and 0.0979 mg/kg, respectively, and that only 1.33 % and 2.67 % of liver and kidney samples exceeded the maximum acceptable limits of the EC, respectively, while all muscle samples contained levels within the EC limit for cadmium.

Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean concentrations of cadmium were recorded between the studied tissues as the highest mean concentration was reported in the kidneys, then in the livers, while the muscles contained the minimum mean concentration.

Also results showed that mean concentrations of lead in muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattle were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that reported about cadmium in the same tissues, respectively.