Evaluation of Some Heavy Metals Concentration in Chicken Meat, Organs and Eggs in Faiyum, Egypt

Nasr, Ayman I. N.; Mahmoud, Hend A.; Mikhail, Wafai Z. A.

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2025.407012.3003

Evaluation of Some Heavy Metals Concentration in Chicken Meat, Organs and Eggs in Faiyum, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Director, Technical Dept., Pesticide Factory, Egypt

² LAB Director of Central Laboratory of Pesticides Residue and Heavy Metals in Food, Egypt

³ Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies, Cairo University, Egypt

10.21608/ejvs.2025.407012.3003

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the concentrations of heavy metals in chicken meat, organs and eggs in Egypt. Samples were collected from Faiyum governorate in Egypt. Copper, Lead, Cadmium, Iron and Zinc were determined using thermo atomic absorption spectrometer. Copper (Cu) concentrations were highest in the liver and lowest in muscle but still below the permissible limits established by the world health organization (WHO). Liver contains the highest concentration of the Lead (Pb) levels were found to be above the permissible limit while the levels in muscle and kidney remained within the WHO-recommended threshold of 0.2 ppm. Similarly the concentration of Cadmium (Cd) in muscles and kidneys fell within the permissible limit of 0.5 ppm. The highest concentration of Zinc (Zn) was found in the liver followed by the muscles and then the kidneys in decreasing order. However, these concentrations exceeded the Codex standard permissible limit of 50 ppm. Cu concentration levels were below the permissible limits 10 ppm. Heavy metals in eggs samples Cu concentration levels in the samples were found to be within the acceptable limit of 10 ppm. The mean Iron (Fe) concentration levels in the eggs were recorded at 72.67, 41.84 and 34.32 ppm. In comparison the average concentration of Fe level in eggs as reported by USDA is 17.6 ppm. The Pb concentrations measured in this study exceeded the WHO-recommended limit of 0.1 ppm. Regarding Cd, the study adhered to the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) set by WHO at 0.1 ppm. Additionally the findings showed that all examined organic eggs complied with the WHO-established Maximum Permissible Levels (MPL) for Zn which is 20 ppm.

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