Evaluation of Essential Metal Concentration and Possible Potential Health Risk in Chicken Giblets Commonly Sold to Consumers in Lokoja Main Market, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the concentrations of essential metals (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Se, B, P, and Zn) and potential health risks in chicken giblets commonly sold to consumers in Lokoja's main market, Kogi State, Nigeria. Using appropriate standard methods, samples were digested with 65% HNO₃, and the digest was analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) in gizzard ranged from 0.06±0.08 (Cu) to 28.1±6.9 (P), kidney 0.04±0.01 (Cu) to 24±10 (P), and liver 0.09±0.10 (Cu) to 47±11(P). All the essential metals examined were below the FAO and WHO's permissible standards. The observed trend in the accumulation of metal concentration in chicken giblets was P > Na > Ca > Fe > Mg > Zn > B > Se > K, Cu. The health risk analyses revealed that the current exposure levels will not have a major negative impact on human health, as the hazard quotient for each metal was less than one (<1) and the overall hazard index was also less than 1. Although the population will not be exposed to the potential health risks from these metals presently, there is a need to regularly assess the levels of heavy metals in chicken giblets to maintain protection against negative health effects.