This work was carried out to determine concentrations of some harmful elements (Pb, Cd, and Hg) in environmental samples from an ostrich farm (water, feed, dropping & soil) and food products (liver, muscles and eggs) of ostrich in order to identify the source of such metals to ostrich. It aimed also to investigate the correlation between the levels of such metals in the environment and their residues in food products. Two hundreds and ten water samples were collected during summer season, 2011 from an ostrich farm and in addition to slaughter house located at Elkassaseen, Ismailia Province {feed and water samples (75 of each), dropping & soil, eggs, muscles and liver samples (15 of each)}. Results were evaluated on the light of the permissible limits and/or results obtained by other researchers, in addition to the statistical analysis of all data. The results indicated that significant higher concentrations of metals were detected in both feed and water samples collected from grower and breeder flocks in comparison to those that collected from the rearing flocks. Also, there was a positive correlation between the levels of metals in soil and dropping samples and their levels in both feed and water. Moreover, dropping & soil appeared to be the main source of heavy metals contamination in the ostrich farm followed by feeds and drinking water. The obtained data clarified that, the highest level of metals was detected in liver samples, followed by muscles and lastly eggs. The results also indicated that there was a positive correlation between the accumulation of heavy metals in tissues (liver, muscles, and eggs) and their concentrations in the environment (water, feed, dropping & soil). The public health importance and the toxic effects of these metals in addition to the suggested hygienic measures to minimize environmental pollution were discussed. |
