The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of lead and cadmium in the
meat, liver and kidney of sheep exposed in the local markets of the city of Latakia, and to
compare the results with those reported by other countries and with the
maximum
acceptable levels for human consumption, Lead and cadmium were determined by atomic
absorption spectrometry (AAS).
The mean concentrations of lead in meat, liver and kidney were 0.043, 0.284 and
0.118 mg/kg fresh weights, respectively, while mean concentrations of cadmium were
0.017, 0.173 and 0.252 mg/kg fresh weights, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a
significant difference in lead and cadmium concentrations between liver and kidney and in
meat.
The research was conducted at the poultry farm in Kharabo, Faculty of
Agriculture, Damascus University. 1080 chicks of Lohman hybrid, one day old,
distributed randomly and equally into six different groups, G1….G6 (180
chicks/ group) with three re
plicates in each group (60 chicks per replicate).
Chicks in all groups were fattened for 42 days on Diets composed of vegetarian
feeding stuffs, based on corn, soya bean meal and different additives. Chicks of
G1 were fed on the main diet without adding iron or copper. The chicks in G2
and G3 were fed on the main diet mixed with 80 and 160 ppm of iron
respectively. The vhicks of G4 were also fed on the main diet mixed with 8 ppm
of copper. The Chicks of G5 and G6 were fed on the main diet mixed with iron
and copper (80 and 8 ppm) and (160 and 8 ppm), respectively. Results
demonstrated that adding iron and/or copper to the broiler diet was safe for
chickens up to 42 days of age and did not affect significantly on carcass
parameters. Supplementation of broiler diet with 8 ppm of copper was not
associated with accumulation of copper in the tissues of liver, leg bone, breast,
and thigh. Adding 80-160 ppm of iron to the broiler diets was not associated
with high level of accumulation of iron in the tissues of breast and thigh but
with high concentrations (p < 0.05) in the tissues of liver and leg bone.
