Determination of Some Heavy Metals in the Liver, Kidney and Tissue of Cow in Selected Abattoirs in Port Harcourt

Abstract

The determination of some metals in the liver, kidney and tissue of cows was carried out in selected abattoirs in Port Harcourt. Four metals were determined (Mn, Ni, Fe and Cd, using Flame Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer, Agilent Technologies 55A, Model 55B. Analysis was done after digestion using standard procedures. The metal results were Cd (<0.001 µg/g liver, <0.001 µg/g Kidney, 3.20-29.60 µg/g in tissue with a mean of 18.08+13.15 µg/g); Mn (8.18-9.47µg/g, with a mean of 8.72 + 0.67 µg/g in the liver, 5.57-6.50 µg/g with a mean of 6.5+ 0.47 µg/g in the kidney, 1.93-3.86 µg/g in the tissue, with a mean of 2.79 + 0.99 µg/g). Ni (7.93-11.70 µg/g with a mean of 9.62 + 1.92µg/g in the liver, 1.70-3.30 µg/g with a mean 2.72 + 0.89µg/g kidney, Nd < 0.001 µg/g for tissue). Fe (512.67-723.20 µg/g, with a mean of 606.85+ 106.86 µg/g in the liver; 596.20-636.60 µg/g in the kidney, with a mean of 613.25+ 21.0 µg/g, 137.60-225.87 µg/g in the tissue, with a mean of 176.77+ 44.96 µg/g). The result showed highest concentration in the liver followed by the kidney. Tissue had the lowest concentration of metals. The sequence of concentration was liver > kidney> tissue. This implies that people who cherish the eating of this part must consider the risk to heavy metal accumulation in their systems.