Descriptive Analysis of Heavy Metals Content of Beef From Eastern Uganda and Their Safety for Public Consumption

Article Authors: Keneth Iceland Kasozi, Yunusu Hamira, Gerald Zirintunda, Khalaf F. Alsharif, Farag M. A. Altalbawy, Justine Ekou, Andrew Tamale, Kevin Matama, Fred Ssempijja, Robert Muyinda, Francis Kawooya, Theophilus Pius, Hellen Kisakye, Paul Bogere, Henry Matovu, Leonard Omadang, Patrick Etiang, Joseph Mbogua, Juma John Ochieng7, Lawrence Obado Osuwat, Regan Mujinya, Gaber El-Saber Batiha and Ochan Otim

Abstract

In this study, we initiated an effort to generate information about beef safety in Uganda. Our entry point was to assess by atomic absorption spectrophotometry the levels of essential elements copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), and non-essential elements lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) in 40 beef samples collected from within and around Soroti (Uganda). The information was used to evaluate the safety of consuming such beef against the World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The latter was accomplished by (i) estimating the daily intake (EDI) of each metal in the study area, (ii) modeling the non-cancer health risk using the target hazard quotient (THQ) and (iii) modeling the cancer risk using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The study finds that the mean concentrations (±95% CI) and EDI were in the order of Fe > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cu > Cd. Cancer risk was found to be due to Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb and significantly higher in children than adults. The latter particularly demonstrates the importance of Ni poisoning in the study area. Overall, while essential elements in our beef samples were below WHO limits (hence no health risks), non-essential elements had high health and cancer risks due to higher levels of Cr and Ni.

Bibliographical metadata

Journal Frontiers in Nutrition
Publisher Frontiers
Volume 8
Pages 592340
ISSN 2296-861X
DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.592340
License CC BY
  • 1165 Views 7 Downloads

University Researchers

    • Affiliation

    Department of Animal Production and Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Busitema University Arapai Campus, Soroti, Uganda

    School of Medicine, Kabale University, Kabale, Uganda

    Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Department of Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda

    Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda

    Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda

    Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Muni University, Arua, Uganda

    School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Soroti University, Soroti, Uganda

    Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

    Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

    Department of Humanities and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Links

    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.592340/full

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