FOOD RISKS RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF HEAVY METALS (LEAD AND CADMIUM) IN THE MEAT AND EGGS OF HENS COLLECTED FROM FARMS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE (ABIDJAN AND AGNIBILÉKROU)

Contamination of foodstuffs by heavy metals is a major public health concern due to their persistence in the environment, their ability to accumulate in living organisms, and their toxic effect on humans. This study aims to assess the food risks related to the presence of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in the meat and eggs of hens collected from farms in Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan and Agnibilékrou). A survey based on food frequency was conducted. Twelve (12) composite samples of hen meat and thirty-six (36) eggs were collected across the two zones (Abidjan and Agnibilékrou). The analysis was performed using a VIARIAN brand atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) series SPECTRAA 110 equipped with a graphite furnace and a sample feeder at different characteristic wavelengths of the studied heavy metals: 217 nm for lead and 228.8 nm for cadmium. The results show that the average daily exposure dose to cadmium (0.47 µg/kg bw) through consumption of hen meat and eggs is higher than that of lead (0.16 µg/kg bw). The hazard ratios (HR) of the surveyed populations are below the value of 1. Therefore, individuals exposed to the toxins (lead and cadmium) through consumption of hen meat and eggs are not at risk.