Public Health Risks of Toxic Metals in Cattle Skin and Viscera Consumed in Makurdi, Nigeria

The study assessed the levels and public health risks of some toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ni) in the skin (ponmo) and viscera (liver) of cattle consumed in Makurdi metropolis, Nigeria. Composite samples were purchased from five markets: Modern (MM), Wadata (WD), High-Level (HL), Wurukum (WK) and North-Bank (NB) in Makurdi, acid-digested and assayed for the toxic metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Human health risk indices viz: chronic daily intake (CDI), estimated daily intake (EDI), target quotient (TGQ), and hazard ratio (HR) were calculated from metal levels and other reference data. The mean concentration (mg/kg) of Cu, Zn and Ni in cattle skin were 25.80±49.053, 26.3±19.967 and 9.00 ±0.707 respectively while those for the viscera were 18.60±19.044, 41.00±17.029 and 2.50± 2.828 respectively. The concentration of Cu in the cattle skin from Wadata Market and viscera samples from Wurukum and North-Bank markets were above USDA permissible level for Cu in meat (20 mg/kg). Viscera samples from North-Bank market also had Zn above the USDA permissible level for Zn in meat (50 mg/kg). Additionally, CDI, THQ, EDI and HR values of these toxic metals were calculated using their respective concentrations. THQ values in adults were < 1 except skin sample from Wadata and viscera from Viscera from Wurukum, while most HR values for Cu, Zn and Ni in children were high or > 1 indicating the existence of potential hazard to health from metal ingestion through the consumption of cattle skin and viscera.