Health risk assessment of zinc, chromium, and nickel from cow meat consumption in an urban Nigerian population.

Abstract

Meat consumption is increasingly becoming a larger part of diets worldwide. However, the bioaccumulation of toxic metals from anthropogenic pollution is a potential health risk to human health. To measure the daily intake of zinc, chromium, and nickel from cow meat consumption and assess the possible health risks in an urban population in Nigeria. Dried meat samples were digested with 3 : 2HNO3 : HClO4 v/v. Zinc, chromium, and nickel concentrations were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Daily intakes of meat were obtained using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The estimated daily intakes (EDI) (μg/person/day) ranges were: zinc (10 496-13 459), chromium (310·90-393·73), and nickel (26·72-34·87). Estimated daily intake for zinc was 15-30% of provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) and for nickel it was 8-15% of tolerable daily intake (TDI). Chromium intakes were above recommended daily intake (RDI). Target hazard quotient (THQ) for nickel and zinc were within WHO/FAO limit. There was no evidence of possible health risk to consumers with regard to zinc and nickel. However, chromium intake should be of utmost concern, while disposal of tanning waste should be checked.