Multielement Concentrations in Liver and Kidney Tissues from Five Species of Canadian Slaughter Animals

Abstract

The present paper describes results of a national survey conducted between 1982 and 1989 to determine residues of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, selenium, and zinc in Canadian slaughter animals. Liver and kidney tissues from cattle, swine, poultry, horses, calves, and sheep were tested. Arsenic was found in most avian and porcine samples, and their respective means of 0.36 and 0.26 μg/g in liver were 7 to 12 times higher than mean concentrations found in the other species. Cadmium was found in the tissues of all species; however, levels were consistently highest in equine samples with mean values of 3.09 and 27.7 μg/g in liver and kidney, respectively. Copper levels >150 μg/g were found predominantly in liver from calves and sheep, with values considerably lower in the remaining species. Mercury levels were low or not detected in all species except horses. Ninety % of equine kidneys and 54% of equine livers had mercury concentrations >0.01 μg/g, with mean values of 0.18 and 0.06 μg/g, respectively. Lead was found in tissues of all species; however, values >2 μg/g were found only in 2 kidneys from adult cattle and 1 kidney from a horse. Selenium, tested only in cattle, was found at mean concentrations of 0.28 μg/g in liver, and 0.92 μg/g in kidney. Relatively high zinc levels were found in livers of horses, pigs, and calves, with respective mean concentrations of 67.3, 65.6, and 70.2 μg/g.

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] related to Arsenic as undesirable substance in animal feed

“…Hence, residues of arsenic in edible tissues (liver, kidney and muscle) of cattle (Vreman et al, 1986(Vreman et al, , 1988Thatcher et al, 1985) sheep (Woolson, 1975;Veen and Vreman, 1985) and poultry (Proudfoot et al, 1991) fed standard or control diets (< 2 mg/kg dry matter) are usually less than 0.01 mg/kg wet weight. Similar arsenic residues are found in monitoring studies in animal products from various agricultural regions (Kramer et al, 1983;Salisbury et al, 1991;Kluge-Berge et al, 1992;Jorhem et al, 1991;Vos et al, 1987;López Alonso et al, 2000). With increasing dietary arsenic exposure, both in experimental studies and in animals from naturally contaminated areas, or those in the proximity of industrial areas, arsenic residues significantly increase in all the tissue analysed compared with control animals.…”

Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels in Offal Meats (Kidney and Liver) of Beef Sold at Gwagwalada Market, Abuja, Nigeria

“…the zinc concentration is lower in Kidney than in the Liver. According to Barki and Piscac [40], the normal concentrations of zinc in meat samples are 35-45mg/D, Salisbury and Chan [40] also investigated Zn concentrations in kidney and liver which ranged from 23 to 147.2 ppm. Zinc is an essential micronutrient in human diet, required improve children's immunity to infections.…”

Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, and Copper Bioavailability in the Soil-Plant-Animal System in a Polluted Area

“…The transition of heavy metals from this type of fodder into the nourished animals is studied in detail in pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats [17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26]. Very little is known, however, about the heavy metal content and localization in the organs of rabbits.…”