Metals concentrations in eggs of domestic avian and estimation of health risk from eggs consumption

Abstract

This study is focused on evaluating the trace metals levels in eggs of four species of domestic birds that collected from commercial farm located in Kajang city, Malaysia. The concentrations of Al, Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Cd and Pb were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, this paper carries out probabilistic risk analysis methods to quantify As, Zn, Cd and Pb bioaccumulation in egg content to assess the ränge of exposures for the people who consume the contaminated eggs. The models applied include a probabilistic bioaccumulation model to account for this metals accumulation in egg and a human health exposure and risk model that accounts for hazard quotient and lifetime risk for humans consuming contaminated eggs. Generally, result showed that eggs in four species accumulated relatively dissimilar levels of metals. Zn is found in high levels while, Cd burden occurred in less levels in all birds eggs. Quail eggs were gathered elevated levels of Zn, Al and Pb. However, As exist in high concentration in chicken eggs. The associated risk was assessed using Hazard Quotient (HQ). Values of hazard quotient were ranged 0.5-0.03, 0.09-0.03, 0.1-0.06 and 0.2-0.03 for As, Zn, Cd and Pb, respectively. The risk quotient revealed that the intake of the heavy metals by eating eggs does not pose any apparent threat to the local people as none of the HQ of the heavy metals exceeds the limit of 1. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information.