Vol. 10, Special Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Yogeswari Raghavan, Arivuchelvan A, Murugasen S, Balasubramaniam GA, Selvaraj P, Jagadeeswaran A and Raja A

Abstract:
Lead is a non-biodegradable toxic heavy metal, posing a serious problem in India, threatening the animal and human health and quality of the environment. In this study lead concentration in poultry feed and its products i.e., chicken egg and meat was estimated in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. The samples were collected from 90 poultry farms in the Namakkal district. The collected samples were digested in the microwave digester and digested samples were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer to determine the concentration of lead. The results of the study showed that the concentration of lead in poultry feed and egg/meat samples in the Namakkal district ranges from 0.68 ± 0.12 to 5.46 ± 0.53 ppm and 0.28 ± 0.05 to 1.06 ± 0.36 ppm respectively. Hence proper monitoring and regulations are needed to curtail the lead entry into the food chain and to prevent potential of lead in causing irreversible health effects.