Assessment of toxic elements in selected Nigeria broiler feeds using neutron activation analysis (NAA)

Abstract

In this study, Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was used to determine the concentrations of some toxic elements Mn, Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, Sr, La, Sm, Th and Se in some selected Nigeria broiler feed samples. Each sample (A, B, C, and D) represents certain brand of the feeds. The work was carried using the Nigeria Research Reactor – 1(NIRR -1) at the Center for Energy Research and Training Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria by short and long irradiation protocols, using thermal flux of 5.0×10¹² n cm^-2 s^-1. Quality Control and Quality Assurance of the method was tested by analyzing Standard Reference Materials (NIST 1515 apple leaves,). However, the results shows the Fe concentration in sample B and Zn concentration in sample C and D were found to exceed the maximum acceptable limit with the exception of sample A. This makes the feeds contaminated with Fe and Zn not safe for broilers consumption since toxic elements are bio-accumulative and have the tendency to be transferred to human after consumption.

Key words: Broiler feed, NAA, MNSR, NIRR-1