Descriptive Analysis of Heavy Metals Content of Beef From Eastern Uganda and Their Safety for Public Consumption

Keneth Iceland Kasozi,Robert Muyinda,Khalaf F Alsharif,Hellen Kisakye,Ochan Otim,Paul Bogere,Leonard Omadang,Justine Ekou,Farag M A Altalbawy,Lawrence Obado Osuwat,Yunusu Hamira,Gerald Zirintunda,Henry Matovu,Kevin Matama,Joseph Mbogua,Fred Ssempijja,Patrick Etiang,Francis Kawooya,Theophilus Pius,Andrew Tamale,Regan Mujinya,Gaber El‐Saber Batiha

doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.592340

Abstract

In this study, we initiated an effort to generate information about beef safety in Uganda. Our entry point was to assess by atomic absorption spectrophotometry the levels of essential elements copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), and non-essential elements lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) in 40 beef samples collected from within and around Soroti (Uganda). The information was used to evaluate the safety of consuming such beef against the World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The latter was accomplished by (i) estimating the daily intake (EDI) of each metal in the study area, (ii) modeling the non-cancer health risk using the target hazard quotient (THQ) and (iii) modeling the cancer risk using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The study finds that the mean concentrations (±95% CI) and EDI were in the order of Fe > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cu > Cd. Cancer risk was found to be due to Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb and significantly higher in children than adults. The latter particularly demonstrates the importance of Ni poisoning in the study area. Overall, while essential elements in our beef samples were below WHO limits (hence no health risks), non-essential elements had high health and cancer risks due to higher levels of Cr and Ni.

Highlights

Contamination of food by heavy metals such as lead (Pb), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in developing countries is a major public health problem [1, 2]
It can be seen from the table that only Cd level overall was below the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline maximum value and, as such, safe in a beef serving in the study area
In terms of health risks assessment on the other hand, we show that the estimated daily intake (EDI) for the heavy metals was significantly higher in children than adults

Summary

Introduction

Contamination of food by heavy metals such as lead (Pb), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in developing countries is a major public health problem [1, 2] This has been demonstrated in Uganda, for example, in beef [3, 4], in drinking water [5, 6], street food [7], alcoholic beverages [8, 9], fish [10], food crops grown at dumpsites [11], and in food consumed around Lake Victoria and Lake George [12,13,14]. Contamination of red meat with heavy metals has been identified as a major public health risk requiring novel strategies to decontaminate meat [22]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion