Assessment of cadmium (Cd) residues in organs and muscles of slaughtered pigs at Nsukka and environs in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Pork is a major source of protein to man and widely consumed in Enugu State. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the presence and levels of cadmium in muscles and organs of slaughtered pigs at Nsukka agricultural zone. From a total of 160 slaughtered pigs, liver, kidney and muscle samples of each pig were collected and processed for the detection of cadmium residue using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. A prevalence rate of 76.25% was recorded for cadmium residue in Nsukka agricultural zone. There is a strong association (P<0.0001) between occurrence of cadmium residue and the source of samples. The mean concentrations of cadmium in liver (0.041, 0.035 and 0.056 mg/kg) and kidney (0.041, 0.035 and 0.056 mg/kg) from different sources (Nsukka, Orba and Obollo-Afor, respectively) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than what was obtained in muscles and also significantly higher (p<0.0001) than their specific maximum permissible limits (MPL). The levels of cadmium in few samples that exceeded the maximum permissible levels may pose human health threat to pork consumers in the study area. Key words: Cadmium, kidney, liver, muscle, pig, slaughter house.