The Occurrence of Heavy Metals (Cadmium and Lead) in the Liver of Hogs in the Region of Vojvodina

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this research is to investigate the occurrence of two heavy metals (namely cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)) in the liver of hogs bred in different locations in Vojvodina. A total of 30 liver samples were collected from ten pig farms in Vojvodina for experimental purposes in the period from December 2017 to January 2018. The samples collected were analysed for the presence of lead and cadmium. The average concentration of lead in all the samples was 0.39 mg/kg wet weight, whereas the samples from only one farm of the ten considered were found to contain a slightly higher average lead concentration than permitted by the Serbian standard. A lead concentration of 0.86 mg/kg wet weight was detected in one liver sample from this farm. The maximum permitted lead concentration was exceeded in the liver samples obtained from three farms. However, all the liver samples analysed were found to contain the permitted levels of cadmium, with an average cadmium concentration of 0.12 mg/kg wet weight and a maximum cadmium concentration of 0.48 mg/kg wet weight. The occurrence of heavy metals and their origin in the pig’s offals should be examined in greater detail in future research, especially because pig’s offals are used in the meat processing industry.