Abstract:
In Pakistan poultry sector assuming an essential part in the production of poultry products. The contamination of the broiler chicken feed and meat by toxic metals is a threat and it harms the health status of animals and also human by consuming chicken meat. The present study was done to determine the heavy metal (Pb, Cd, As, Cu and Zn) concentration in poultry feed and meat samples. The meat samples were collected from three broiler farms in Fateh-Jang, Punjab, Pakistan. A total number of 3 feed samples and 120 meat samples were collected from three farms in triplicates. The selected heavy metal such as (lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper and zinc) concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer and atomic fluorescence spectrometer. The general order of selected metals concentration in poultry feed was: (F1 > F3 > F2), (F1 > F2 > F3), (F1 > F3 > F2) and (F2 > F1 > F3) from the respective farm X, Y and Z while the general order of lead, arsenic, copper and zinc concentration in different meat samples studied was: (Liver > Gizzard > Wing), (Liver > Gizzard > Wing), (Liver > Gizzard > Wing) and (Liver > Gizzard> Wing> Breast). In present study all the meat samples of lead and arsenic showed higher concentration than permissible limit which is not safe to human health whereas cadmium, zinc and copper concentrations were found within the safe limits recommended by WHO/FAO. Dietary intake of trace metals from chicken meat has been estimated by analyzing different meat parts in order to evaluate the safety of food and its consumers. Questionnaire survey has been carried out in Tokri and Ratwal division of Fateh-Jang, Punjab, Pakistan. The trend of the average dietary intake of heavy metals from chicken meat by an adults are liver>gizzard> wing, whereas for children, the trend is gizzard > liver> wing. The estimated dietary intake of Pb, Cd, As and Cu for adults and children in chicken breast were not recognized and low concentration of zinc were found in it, compared with the WHO (2000), FSA (2006) and FAO/WHO (2011) tolerable daily intakes. Target hazard quotient (THQ) for arsenic and lead was more than 1 for chicken liver, gizzard and wings at Fateh- Jang and among them the highest value was found in gizzard and wing of arsenic (1.66) indicating high potential risk to the Fateh-Jang consumers.
