Assessment of Tannery Based Chromium Eco-toxicity through Investigating Regional Bio-concentration in Commercially Produced Chicken Eggs and their Physical Properties

Abstract

In Bangladesh, among the routes of chromium eco-toxicity, feeds and fertilizer production from tanned skin-cut wastes is the most direct one leading to food chain contamination. The tanning industries of Hazaribagh are processing some 220 metric tons of hide a day with an associated release of 600 -1000Kg of tanned skin-cut waste (SCW) resulting from per ton processed hide. The SCW are protein-rich and are unscientifically used to produce protein-concentrates for poultry and fish feeds, and organic fertilizer. In view of the facts, a huge migration of chromium can happen into poultry products, fish and vegetables, and further bio-magnify into food chain. The target population of this phenomenon is also huge. Regional bio-concentration of chromium was investigated in commercially produced chicken eggs. Though the routes of distribution of this hugely produced protein-concentrates from SCW are unknown, eggs were sampled from Dhaka and its nearby other seven districts covering the central region of Bangladesh. Twelve eggs were randomly sampled from each district's egg stock market while albumen and yolk in each egg were studied separately for all studies. Out of the 192 samples from 96 eggs, dry weight basis mean chromium concentration was found to be 1.9016 ppm with a sample standard deviation of 0.1502. The concentration levels were ranged from maximum of 19.8051 ppm to undetectable levels. Single poultry egg was found to contain a mean chromium content of 23.3809 µg, which exceeds adequate daily dietary intake of children up to 8 years of age as well as corresponds to major part for other age groups. The region-wise physical properties of the eggs were also studied which included USDA size grading by whole weight at raw condition, whole weight ratio of raw condition to complete boiled condition, weight ratio of boiled shell-albumen-yolk, moisture content of albumen of boiled eggs, and moisture content of yolk of boiled eggs. The mean whole weights of eggs at raw condition were within the range of 39.9568 g ('peewee' as per USDA size grading) to 62.4047 g ('large' as per USDA size grading), the mean whole weight ratio of raw condition to complete boiled

Chromium and lead contamination in commercial poultry feeds of Bangladesh

“…Heavy metal, particularly chromium (Cr), is one of the significant threats, utilized as a part of the tanning processes. In perspective of the actualities, chromium may immigrate to poultry items and besides biomagnifies into food chain (Hossain et al, 2009).…”

Environmental surveillance of commonly-grown vegetables for investigating potential lead and chromium contamination intensification in Bangladesh

“…From similar study, Hossain et al ( 2009 ) also reported on potential Cr contamination of eggs, having a dry weight basis mean Cr concentration of 1.9016 ppm, thus, an egg containing mean chromium content of 23.3809 μg, which exceeds adequate daily dietary intake of children up to 8 years of age [up to 15 μg/day (Institute of Medicine 2001 )] as well as corresponds to major part for other age groups. The case of Cr contamination had a suspected highly particular route with the use of chrome-tanned skin cut solid waste converted into protein-concentrates that are highly Cr-contaminated, for use in poultry feeds, fish feeds and agricultural application as organic fertilizer (Hossain et al 2007 ).…”

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“…A study showed tannery solid wastes converted to protein concentrates for use in fish and poultry feed and in production of organic fertilizers without proper treatment (Hossain et al, 2007), and this alarming practice has become a common scenario in small and large tanneries. About 90% of tannery industries are located in 25 hectares of land in Hazaribagh, south-west of Dhaka city (Fig 1) (Hossain et al, 2009). Each large tannery produces 200-250 tons of protein concentrate per day and 600 to 1000 kg of tanned processed cut skin and/or rawhide (Zahid et al, 2004;Hossain et al, 2007;ibid, 2009;Mazumder et al, 2013).…”

“…According to Dr. Abul Hossain, University of Dhaka, the normal level of chromium in chickens 0.5-2 mg/.0005-.002g but those that consumed toxic feed laid eggs containing chromium 100-1,000 times higher than normal level (Dhaka Tribune, 2014). One study revealed, based on dry weight, the mean chromium concentration is 1.9016 ppm (range = 0-19.8051 ppm) from 96 eggs collected from Dhaka and seven other districts of the country (Hossain et al, 2009). A chromium content of 23.3809 µg was found in a single poultry egg, which exceeded the recommended daily dietary intake of children (1-8 years of age) (Hossain et al, 2009).…”