Heavy metal concentration in some commercial poultry feeds available in Abuja, Nigeria

Noela Chinyelu Igwemmar *, Samuel Esimikwame Kakulu and Mary Sunday Dauda

Department of Chemistry, University of Abuja, P. M. B. 117, Gwagwalada - Abuja, Nigeria.
 
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 16(02), 005–015
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2022.16.2.1110
 
Publication history: 
Received on 20 September 2022; revised on 27 October 2022; accepted on 29 October 2022
 
Abstract: 
The concentrations of heavy metals in some commercial poultry feeds available in Abuja, Nigeria was investigated. Poultry feed rations (starter, grower, finisher and layer) of seven different feed brands available in Abuja were purchased from their various distribution outlets. The nitric acid digestion method followed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry technique were used for metal content quantification. Analytical method validation was performed using IAEA-V-8 Rye flour certified reference material and good recoveries were obtained in all the metals indicating the accuracy of the applied analytical procedure. The mean of heavy metal concentrations (μg/g dry weight) in the poultry feeds were 2.31 ± 1.23, 0.43 ± 0.20, 1.66 ± 0.82, 23.35 ± 5.26, 238.09 ± 45.80, 0.61 ± 0.26, 99.57 ± 15.63 and 68.21 ± 11.92 for Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn and Zn respectively. Generally, the levels of iron, manganese, zinc and copper in the poultry feeds were higher than FAO/WHO, National Research Council (NRC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) maximum recommended limits in feeds. Pearson correlation analysis on the metals in poultry feeds showed a significant (p < 0.01) positive strong correlations between Co/Ni (0.658), Mn/Cu (r = 0.566), Zn/Cu (r = 0.683) and Zn/Mn (r = 0.758) suggesting that these metals could have had the same pathway into the feeds. 
 
Keywords: 
Certified Reference Material; Heavy metals; Nitric acid; Poultry feed; Rye flour; Standard Organization of Nigeria
 
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