Deposition of copper in cattle and buffaloes edible tissues slaughtered in Assiut city, Egypt

Abstract

A total of 168 samples of livers, kidneys and muscles (part of the diaphragm) were screened. The samples were subjected to preparation and for measurement the level of copper (Cu) by using Atomic Absorption/Flaming Emission Spectrophotometer. Buffaloes organs showed variations in their copper content. As for liver, the mean copper concentrations were 11.52 ± 5.41 with a range varied from 2.34 to 21.88 μg/g wet weight. Whereas in buffalo kidneys copper level varied from 2.34 to 15.13 with a mean value of 5.85 ± 4.34 μg/g wet weight. Moreover, the concentrations of copper in buffalo muscles varied from1.56 to 15.50 μg/g wet weight with a mean value of 4.35 ± 3.96. On the other hand, copper in cattle liver varied in its concentrations where the mean value was 11.59 ± 5.79, with a range varied from 3.13 to 25.00 μg/g wet weight. Copper in cattle kidneys varied from 2.50 to 16.3 with a mean value of 4.18 ± 3.12 μg/g wet weight. Besides, the concentrations of copper in cattle muscles were 3.23 ± 2.48, 1.88 and 14.34 μg/g wet weight, respectively as a mean, minimum and maximum. In conclusion, 1% - 26% of the examined samples of both cattle and buffalo were higher than the results obtained by Egyptian Organization Standardization and Quality Control (2008), in addition, livers samples have high concentrations of copper than kidneys and muscles.