TITLE:
Determination of Selected Heavy Metals in the Organs of Some Animals Reared in the Gold-Mining Areas of Zamfara State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
U. A. Birnin-Yauri, M. K. Musa, S. M. Alhaji
KEYWORDS:
Heavy Metals, Caprine, Mutton, Beef, Environment, Cattle, Sheep, Goats
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
Vol.7 No.4,
November
29,
2018
ABSTRACT: The study
was conducted to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Co, Mn, Fe,
Cr, Cd and Pb) in the liver, kidney and flesh of Cattle, Sheep and Goats from Anka
and Bukkuyum Local Government areas of Zamfara State Nigeria. The levels of heavy
metals in the liver, kidney and flesh of beef, mutton and caprine ranged from 56
to 549 μg·g-1 for Zn; 109 to 576 μg·g-1 for Fe; 0.0 to 4.0 μg·g-1 for Pb; 2.52 to 13.25 μg·g-1 for Mn; 0.00 to 19.64 μg·g-1 for Cr; 0.00 to 0.25 μg·g-1 for Cd; 0.00
to 2.71 μg·g-1 for Co and 3.59 to 538 μg·g-1 for Cu. The concentration
of Cr, Pb and Mn in the kidneys and livers of the samples were observed to be higher
than the maximum allowable level. Similarly, the exception of Cr in the liver of
sheep and goat from Anka and liver of sheep from Bukkuyum, Pb in some liver and
kidney samples and Mn in some liver, kidney samples and flesh of cattle from Anka
were found to be polluted and hence unsafe for consumption.