Incidence and Public Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Metal Residues (cadmium and lead) in Liver and Kidney of Ovine and Bovine from Algeria

This study intended to establish if Cd and Pb in the livers and kidneys of bovine and ovine slaughtered in the study area exceeded to concentrations maximum limit proposed by the European Commission (EC) 2006. After digestion of samples, Cadmium and lead concentrations were determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GFAAS). The results of our study have shown that lead and cadmium concentrations depend on age and species. The average fresh weight levels of liver and kidneys of bovine animals were about (0.319 mg/kg and 0.337mg/kg) for Cd and (0,502mg/kg and 0.497mg kg) for Pb, while in ovine, mean concentrations in the liver and kidneys were (0,241mg/kg and 0.232 mg/kg) for Cd and (0.259 mg/kg and 0.265 mg/kg) for Pb. Concentrations above the maximum limit proposed by the EC 2006 for Pb and Cd have been detected in some liver and kidney samples from bovine older than 4 years and in ovine over 1 year old .Statistical analysis revealed a very significant (P<0.01) difference in Cd concentrations in the liver and kidneys between age groups and species.