Health risk assessment of heavy metal contamination for abattoir meat quality in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: The study investigated negative consequences of heavy metal (HM) contamination in meat for humans, particularly in the liver, kidney, and lean meat of beef, mutton, caprine, and chicken from a major abattoir in Enugu Metropolis, to recent poisoning and current hygiene levels. Methods: Local animal species were studied using an analytically validated wet digestion method to determine Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Co, Mn, Cd, and Zn using Perkin Elmer Analyst 700 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer-Gemini BV. Results: The levels of HMs ranged from 0.00 to 0.04±0.04 mg/kg Cr; 0.03 to 1.60±1.2 mg/kg Cu; 0.44 to 1.66±0.30 mg/kg Fe; 0.00 to 0.31±0.01 mg/kg Ni; 0.00 to 0.27±0.06 mg/kg Co; 0.00 to 0.11±0.01 mg/kg Mn; 0.00 to 0.05±0.00 mg/kg Cd, and 0.00 to 0.08±0.03 mg/kg Zn. Cr was undetectable in the liver, while Pb was not detected in other samples. The HM variations in the liver, kidney, and meat were statistically significant (P<0.05), except for Cu, Cd, Cr, and Fe. The target hazard quotient was>1 for adults and children, except for Pb and Zn. Cancer risk was primarily associated with Ni>Cr and higher in children than in adults. Conclusion: The findings highlighted the need for regular monitoring of abattoirs by authorities due to contamination arising from anthropogenic sources of heavy metals and heavy metal speciation data in various animal products and diets, and determined aggregate exposures. The study also provided data for monitoring abattoirs’ public health, food authorities, and policymakers at local, national, and international levels.