Investigation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in cattle from slaughterhouses in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Heavy metals toxicity in cattle can cause health related issues in humans when they ingest cow meat polluted with heavy metals. The dearth of information regarding the level of heavy metals in cattle meat consumed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, and its associated health risk to humans led to this study. Aim: to determine the level of the heavy metals- nickel, lead, cobalt, cadmium and chromium in cow muscle, intestine and liver from slaughterhouses in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria in the meat parts, as well as the health risk of consumption of the metals in the meat parts. Methodology: The heavy metals were assayed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Agilent 200 Series A. A. Health risk assessment of exposed adult men and women, adolescent and children to the heavy metals in the meat parts were evaluated via hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) calculations. Results: The result of the study showed overall mean concentration of the metals in cow muscle, intestine and liver samples ranging from 0.0417 ±0.0226 to 0.690 ±0.0570 mg/kg, fresh weight. HQ and HI values were less than 1, and ILCR values of the carcinogenic heavy metals ranged from 1.07 × 10-7 to 7.50 × 10-5. Conclusion: Consumers of cow muscle, intestine and liver in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria are at low risk of developing chronic non-cancer health related issues, and cancer due to nickel, lead, cobalt, cadmium and chromium in cow meat parts from slaughterhouses in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.