Content of toxic elements in tissues of hunted animals on the basis of research results of 2003–2017

Abstract

The aim of the study was to synthesize the latest literature data on the content of toxic elements in tissues of hunted animals and to determine whether there is a health risk associated with consumption of these products in the light of current legal regulations. The data show the increased mean lead contents in kidneys of wild boar (1.1900 mg/kg) and roe deer (0.9060 mg/kg) and in the muscle tissue of wild boar, roe deer and deer; the contents are even up to 0.1240 mg/kg, 0.1760 mg/kg and 0.2200 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the increased mean cadmium content indicates the possibility of the deposition of this element in muscle tissue of wild boars (0.0519 mg/kg) and deer (0.1000 mg/kg), as well as in the liver of wild boars (5.5730 mg/kg) and roe deer (6.4350 mg/kg) and in kidneys of game species, sometimes far above the applicable maximum levels. The highest mean cadmium contents in kidneys of wild boar, roe deer and deer are 49.5000 mg/kg, 80.2600 mg/kg and 4.9740 mg/kg, respectively. The mean values of the amount of arsenic do not usually exceed the legally established maximum levels of this element. Only the borderline value of arsenic in muscle tissue of roe deer is slightly exceeded and amounts to 0.2700 mg/kg. There is the possibility of the accumulation of larger amounts of mercury mainly in kidneys of deer and roe deer. The highest mean content of this element of 0.1001 mg/kg is demonstrated in the kidneys of deer. The research on the content of toxic elements in meat of hunted animals indicates the need to regularly monitor the quality of the obtained raw material as well as to exclude selected tissues of wild animals from consumption.