Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Vital Organs of Cows and Bulls at Jimeta Abattoir, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The recent widespread concern in human health due to the consumption of food product of animal origin has necessitated the need to monitor the level of heavy metal in animal tissues. This study was undertaken to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Co, Cd, and Pb) in the heart, intestine, stomach, kidney and liver of cattle from Yola abattoir in Yola Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria, by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The levels of heavy metals in the heart, intestine, stomach, kidney and liver ranged from 1.91±0.00 to 3.96±0.00 mg/kg Zn; 0.15±0.00 to 0.17±0.00 mg/kg Pb; 0.20±0.00 to 1.98±0.00 mg/kg Cu; 0.03±0.00 to 0.27±0.00 mg/kg Cd; and 0.00±0.02 to 0.00±0.00 mg/kg Co; on average. The highest concentration of zinc and copper were found in the liver while lead is deposited more in the kidney and heart. Cadmium was found to be concentrated in the kidney, while cobalt was not detected in most of the tissues. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test on the concentrations of all the metals in the heart, intestine, stomach, kidney, and liver resulted in (p>0.05), i.e. there is no significant difference in the amount of the elements in this samples. The concentrations of all the metals were low and within the international statutory safe limits.