EVALUATING THE LEVELS OF HEAVY METALS IN POULTRY FEED AND POULTRY PRODUCTS (EGG AND MEAT) IN SAVAR UPOZILLA OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) and Maximum Permitted Concentration (MPC) of heavy metals in food chain are the cardinal key point for recent time of food safety even human health. Unfortunately, there are not sufficient data and study on this area of Dhaka city that is why this study has designed. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals, such as Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu, in poultry feed, meat and egg have addressed. The safeties for human consumption by Recommended RDA and MPC have been investigated in this study. As a result, the sampling is done from various location of Savar upazilla focusing point to our study. A total of 20 feed sample and 20 meat samples and 20 eggs sample were chosen from the different feed brand and farm. A total of 60 elemental samples for Cr, Pb, Cd, and Cu in poultry feed, meat and egg were analysis in laboratory. The results indicated that there were significant levels of most of the trace elements and heavy metals in the different feed samples. But, the levels were below MPC in most cases. The layer and broiler ready feed samples found safe from those elements. The heavy metal contents (Cr, Cd, Pb & Cu) of all the tested samples in meat and egg samples were found negative. Differences in most of the trace and toxic elements among the different sources of meat and eggs were not found to be significant. Differences between the broiler meat and table eggs were only substantial for Fe and Zn. Fe was significantly higher in meat than in eggs, and the opposite trend was found for Zn. Heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, and Cu) were not detected in the meat or eggs, indicating no risks from these toxic elements. The impact of negative result in meat and egg samples suspected reasons are liver metabolic activities which detoxified the heavy metals and poultry dropping bypass the metals contents or elemental metal cannot penetrate cells wall for metabolism. In conclusion, the poultry farmers are suggested to buy poultry feeds from the reputed feed company and discourage to use loose feeds. Moreover, feed marketing channel particularly loose feed marketing should be monitored properly by the regulatory authority Thus, chicken meat and table eggs, which are primary protein sources, are safe sources of human nourishment.