Assessment of Cadmium, Lead, and Arsenic in Beef, Mutton, and Chevon from Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Yobe State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in beef, mutton, and Chevon meant for human consumption in some Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Northern Yobe within the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Nigeria. A total of 31 meat samples were randomly collected from abattoirs, slaughter slabs, and meat vendors comprising 12 (28.7%) from Gashua, 8(25.8%) from Jakusko, and 11 (35.5%) from Nguru LGAs respectively. Both species and sex of the slaughtered animals were noted during sampling. The samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) following microwave-assisted digestion. There were 7 (22.6%) beef, 9 (29.0%) mutton, and 15 (48.4%) Chevon samples. The overall concentrations (mean±SEM) of Cd, Pb, and As in the beef, mutton, and Chevon were 1.560±0.43 ppm, 1.047±0.41 ppm, and 0.403±0.14 ppm; 1.330±0.37 ppm, 0.926±0.33 ppm, and 0.167 ±0.07 ppm; and 1.849±0.21 ppm 1.274±0.20 ppm, and 0.734±0.38 ppm respectively. There is no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in heavy metals burden among the LGA nor the meat types nonetheless, all the mean values were above the regulatory limits. The overall sex-specific mean concentrations for Cd, Pb, and As were 1.544±0.26, 1.030±0.26 and 0.170 ±0.63 in males and 1.659±0.22, 1.149±0.19 and 0.589±0.24 in females respectively. The mean concentrations of Cd and Pb in the studied meat are above the maximum residue limits. There is a need to identify the sources of Cd and Pb in the studied meat, also human studies are essential to determine the possible implications of consuming meat from the area