Study on Hormonal and Heavy metals residues in fresh beef meat

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate hormonal and heavy metal residues in beef meat in different seasons. Meat is a very complex and continuously changing system of molecular substances that can be used for satisfying needs of the human for metabolic energy, building material and fulfilling the other vital functions whereas today most people ask for safe and healthy food with high quality. Therefore, a total of 120 samples of fresh beef meat were collected randomly from different markets in Dakhlia Governorate (30 samples for each season). Collected samples were subjected to estimate hormonal and heavy metal residues concentrations using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for hormonal residues and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) for heavy metals Data analysis revealed that estradiol concenteration was highest in summer (0.18 ± 0.03) then in autumn season 0.15 ±0.02 .progestrone level was higher in autumn (0.26 ± 0.03) than in summer season (0.24 ± 0.04) .Summer season was higher than winter and spring(0.21 ± 0.02-0.19 ± 0.02) respectively. Testesteron was highest in autumn season(0.19 ± 0.02). Concerning heavy metals, they showed the highest concentration in summer season. Lead concetration in summer season was (0.082 ± 0.006) ppm. Cadmium in summer season was (0.069 ± 0.004) ppm and copper in summer season was(0.11± 0.008) ppm. It can be concluded that meat could be exposed to chemical pollutants, in addition to presence of some pollutants residues in meat, these residues will be accumulated on the long run and may be carcenogenic. The use of natural growth promotor is advisable not hormonal growth promotors and to reduce the negative impacts of stressors especially heat stress, to the lowest possible degree. Proper nutrition, and optimum climatic conditions are indispensable to avoid heavy metal residues entry to food chain through contaminated feed and water. Immediate measures must be carried out for the treatment and detoxification of industrial and domestic effluents intended to be used for agricultural purposes.