Abstract
Objective : Heavy metals are serious environmental pollutants and their uptake and accumulation in the ecosystem, beyond safe limits, would cause direct consequences to food chain and ultimately to man. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the presence and levels of lead (Pb) in muscles and organs of slaughtered pigs at Nsukka agricultural zone, Nigeria. Materials and methods: From a total of 160 slaughtered pigs, liver, kidney and muscle of each pig were collected and processed for the detection of lead residue using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results: A prevalence rate of 81.25% was recorded for Pb residue in Nsukka agricultural zone. There is a strong association ( P< 0.0001) between occurrence of Pb residue and the source of samples. Mean concentrations of 0.0758 mg/kg, 0.1050 mg/kg and 0.0985 mg/kg were recorded in kidney, mean concentrations of 0.1676 mg/kg, 0.1235 mg/kg and 0.1955 mg/kg were recorded in liver and mean concentrations of 0.0598 mg/kg, 0.0870 mg/kg and 0.1020 mg/kg in muscle samples in Nsukka, orba and Obollo slaughter houses respectively. There is no significant ( P< 0.05) difference between the mean concentrations of the Pb in the liver, kidney and muscle samples (Nsukka, Orba and Obollo) and its maximum permissible levels (MPL). Conclusion: More than half of the samples were positive for Pb and few samples that exceeded the MPL may pose human health threat to pork consumers in the study area. http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2016.c178
Highlights
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements in the earth’s crust, and exposure to natural sources is inevitable
Mean concentrations of 0.0758 mg/kg, 0.1050 mg/kg and 0.0985 mg/kg were recorded in kidney, mean concentrations of 0.1676 mg/kg, 0.1235 mg/kg and 0.1955 mg/kg were recorded in liver and mean concentrations of 0.0598 mg/kg, 0.0870 mg/kg and 0.1020 mg/kg in muscle samples in Nsukka, orba and Obollo slaughter houses respectively
Our findings slightly differred from Bala et al (2012a) who showed a 100 % prevalence of Pb residue in all the liver and kidney samples collected from the slaughtered pigs at Sabo-Wakama Market of Akun Development Area of Nasarawa State
Summary
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements in the earth’s crust, and exposure to natural sources is inevitable. The metals are found in various concentrations in the soil, sediments, surface and groundwaters, air and even in tissues and organs of food animals. The grazing of food animals on contaminated soil has given rise to higher levels of heavy metals in beef and mutton (Sabir et al, 2003). Ingestion of the contaminants by animals causes deposition of residues in meat. Illegal mining of ores, painting of animals’ houses, and methods of processing slaughtered pigs have been incriminated in habitual contamination of animals and their products with heavy metals (Bala et al, 2012a, b; Felix et al, 2016). The contaminated fruits and vegetables find their way into the food chain causing severe health hazards to both animals and humans (Haiyan and Stuanes, 2003). Pigs may drink water from ponds, streams, rivers and other possible contaminated water sources (Felix et al, 2016)
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