Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Copper, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Cobalt, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chrome, and Lead Concentrations in Liver and Muscle in Iranian Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Camel meat as healthy food has received much attention for human consumption. In the present study, liver and muscle from 60 camels (Camelus dromedarius) including 26 males and 34 females were sampled to determine the concentration of As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Co using the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Based on the obtained results, the average content of essential or toxic elements in the liver and muscle was as follows: 111.2 ± 26.51, 38.57 ± 7.97 (Zn), 3.28 ± 0.79, 2.12 ± 0.49 (Cu), 76.98 ± 14.20, 59.34 ± 11.81 (Fe), 0.87 ± 0.22, 0.48 ± 0.12 (Mn), 0.52 ± 0.27, 0.03 ± 0.01 (Co), ND ± 0.008, 0.012 ± 0.008 (Cd), 7.06 ± 1.58, 3.90 ± 0.86 (Cr), 0.85 ± 0.043, and 0.18 ± 0.02, and 1.12 ± 0.21 (As) mg kg-1. Pb concentration was lower than the detection limit (ND). The results showed that the liver concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, and Cr were significantly higher than those in the muscle. The association of sex, age, region, and sampling period, with a concentration of these elements, revealed that concentration of zinc in the liver and cobalt in the muscle were significantly higher in the male. Also, significantly higher cobalt and zinc concentrations in muscle were seen in the first 6 months of the year. Age-related differences in muscle concentrations were observed for cobalt. The concentration of trace elements and heavy metals in the liver and muscle samples were not correlated. Comparison of heavy metals concentration in both tissues with European Commission regulation showed that except Cd, the other heavy metals had a higher level than the EU standard. The results of this study showed that camel meat can be contaminated with heavy metals, but more investigations are needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jouki M, Khazaei N (2011) Effects of storage time on some characteristics of packed camel meat in low temperature. Int J Anim Vet Adv 3(6):460–464

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dawood AA, Alkanhal MA (1995) Nutrient composition of Najdi-camel meat. Meat Sci 39(1):71–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1740(95)80008-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Faye B (2013) Camel meat in the world. Camel meat and meat products. CABI CAB Internationa (Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, pp 7–16

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Jarić I, Višnjić-Jeftić Ž, Cvijanović G, Gačić Z, Jovanović L, Skorić S, Lenhardt M (2011) Determination of differential heavy metal and trace element accumulation in liver, gills, intestine and muscle of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) from the Danube River in Serbia by ICP-OES. Microchem J 98(1):77–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2010.11.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Akan JC, Abdulrahman FI, Sodipo OA, Chiroma YA (2010) Distribution of heavy metal in the liver, kidney and meat of beef, mutton, caprine and chicken from Kaasuwan Shanu Market in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Res J Appl Sci Eng Technol 2(8):743–748

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Badiei K, Mostaghni K, Pourjafar M, Parchami A (2006) Serum and tissue trace elements in Iranian camels (Camelus dromedarius). Comp Clin Pathol 15(2):103–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen S-S, Lin Y-W, Kao Y-M, Shih Y-C (2013) Trace elements and heavy metals in poultry and livestock meat in Taiwan. Food Addit Contam Part B 6(4):231–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Organization WWH (1992) Cadmium. Environmental health criteria 134. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY. World Health Organization; [cited 2017]

  9. Organization WWH (1977) Lead. Environmental health criteria 3. International programme on chemical safety. World Health Organization; [cited 2017]

  10. Organization WWH (1988) Chromium. Environmental health criteria 61. International programme on chemical safety. World Health Organization; [cited 2017]

  11. Organization WWH (2001) Arsenic and arsenic compounds. Environmental Health Criteria 224. World Health Organization; [cited 2017]

  12. Abu Damir H (1998) Mineral deficiencies, tonicities and imbalances in the camel (Camelus dromedaries): a review. Vet Bull 68:1103–1119

    Google Scholar 

  13. Faye B, Bengoumi M (1994) Trace-elements status in camels. A review. Biol Trace Elem Res 41(1):1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Faye B, Bengoumi M (2000) Le dromadaire face à la sous-nutrition minérale: un aspect méconnu de son adaptabilité aux conditions désertiques. Science et changements planétaires/Sécheresse 11(3):155–161

    Google Scholar 

  15. García-Vaquero M, Miranda M, López-Alonso M, Castillo C, Benedito J (2011) Evaluation of the need of copper supplementation in intensively reared beef cattle. Livest Sci 137(1):273–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Alkmim Filho JF, Germano A, Dibai WLS, Vargas EA, Melo MM (2014) Heavy metals investigation in bovine tissues in Brazil. Food Sci Technol 34(1):110–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ambushe AA, Hlongwane MM, McCrindle RI, McCrindle CM (2012) Assessment of levels of V, Cr, Mn, Sr, Cd, Pb and U in bovine meat. S Afr J Chem 65(1):159–164

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Khalafalla F, Ali FH, Schwagele F, Abd-El-Wahab MA (2011) Heavy metal residues in beef carcasses in Beni-Suef abattoir, Egypt. Vet Ital 47(3):351–361

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Miranda M, Alonso ML, Castillo C, Hernández J, Benedito JL (2001) Cadmium levels in liver, kidney and meat in calves from Asturias (North Spain). Eur Food Res Technol 212(4):426–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rahimi E, Rokni ND (2008) Measurement of cadmium residues in muscle, liver and kidney of cattle slaughtered in Isfahan abattoir using grafite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS): a preliminary study. Iran J Vet Res 9(2):174–177

    Google Scholar 

  21. Spierenburg TJ, De Graaf GJ, Baars AJ, Brus DHJ, Tielen MJM, Arts BJ (1988) Cadmium, zinc, lead, and copper in livers and kidneys of cattle in the neighbourhood of zinc refineries. Environ Monit Assess 11(2):107–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yabe J, Nakayama SM, Ikenaka Y, Muzandu K, Ishizuka M, Umemura T (2012) Accumulation of metals in the liver and kidneys of cattle from agricultural areas in Lusaka, Zambia. J Vet Med Sci 74(10):1345–1347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Faye B, Grillet C, Tessema A, Kamil M (1991) Copper deficiency in ruminants in the Rift Valley of East Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 123:172–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Faye B, Seboussi R, Askar M (2008) Trace elements and heavy metals status in Arabian camel. Impact of Pollution on Animal Products:97–106

  25. Abu Damir H, Tartour G, Adam SE (1983) Mineral contents in livestock in eastern Sudan. Trop Anim Health Prod 15(1):15–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Khalifa H, Fouad MT, Awad YL, Georgy ME (1973) Application of Fast Grey RA to the spectrophotometric determination of copper in liver of Egyptian camels. Microchem J 18(5):536–542

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Faye B, Saint-Martin G, Cherrier R, Ruffa A, Chacornac J-P, Genest M, Bellanger J (1992) The influence of high dietary protein, energy and mineral intake on deficient young camel (Camelus dromedarius)—II. Changes in mineral status. Comp Biochem Physiol A Physiol 102(2):417–424

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Al-Busadah KA (2003) Trace-elements status in camels, cattle and sheep in Saudi Arabia. Pak J Biol Sci 6:1856–1859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Bakhiet AO, Mohammed AA, Siham ESM, El Badwi MS (2007) Some trace-elements profile in the liver of camels, cattle, sheep and goats. Int J Trop Med 2(1):1–2

    Google Scholar 

  30. ChafiK A, Essamadi A, Eddoha R, Bagri A, Nasser B, Faye B (2014) Trace elements and heavy metals in organs of camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered in Casablanca city, Morocco. J Camel Pract Res 21(2):145–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rashed MN (2002) Trace elements in camel tissues from a semi-arid region. Environmentalist 22(2):111–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Abdelrahman MM, Aljumaah RS, Ayadi M (2013) Variation of copper, zinc, manganese and magnesium in blood serum and tissues of two breeds of Dromedary Camels in Saudi Arabia. Asian J Anim Vet Adv 8(1):91–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Chafik A, Eddoha R, Bagri A, Nasser B, Essamadi A (2014) Copper and zinc contents in different organs of animals slaughtered in Casablanca city-Morocco. J Mater Environ Sci 5:1737–1741

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Mohseni-Bandpei A, Ashrafi SD, Kamani H, Paseban A (2017) Contamination and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface soils of Esfarayen City. Iran Health Scope 6(2)

  35. Tartour G (1969) Studies on the metabolism of copper and iron in the camel. Sudan J Vet Sci Animl Husb 10(1):14–20

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ibrahim IA, Shamat AM, Hussien MO, El Hussein ARM (2013) Profile of some trace elements in the liver of camels, sheep, and goats in the Sudan. J Vet Med 2013:1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Faye B, Bengoumi M (2018) Camel clinical biochemistry and hematology. Springer

  38. Wenswoort J (1992) Paper presented at the observation on the liver copper concentration and diet of race camels camelus dromedaries. Proceedings of 1st international camel conference Dubai U.A.E.

  39. Essamadi AK (2000) Etude du métabolisme des oligo-éléments (Cuivre, Zinc, et Sélénium) chez le dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius)-Etude comparative avec les bovins

  40. Mahmud T, Rehman R, Anwar J, Ali S (2011) Minerals and nutritional composition of camel (camelus dromedarius) meat in Pakistan. J Chem Soc Pak 33(6):835–838

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. El Kasmi K (1989) Constribution à l'étude des protéines sériques et de certains minéraux chez le dromadaire: influence de l'âge et du sexe Mémoire de ler Cycle Univ Hassan II. MAROC, Rabat, p 46

    Google Scholar 

  42. Faye B, Mulato C (1991) Facteurs de variation des paramètres protéo-énergétiques, enzymatiques et minéraux dans le plasma chez le dromadaire de Djibouti. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop 44(3):325–334

    Google Scholar 

  43. Faye B, Seboussi R, Askar M (2008) Trace elements and heavy metals status in Arabian Camel. In: Faye B, Sinyavskiy Y (eds) Impact of Pollution on Animal Products. Springer, Dordrecht, NATO Science for Peace and Security Series Series C: Environmental Security, pp 97–106

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  44. Awad YL, Berschneider F (1980) Selenium content of internal organs of the camel (Camelius dromedarius, L). Egypt J Vet Sci 14

  45. McLaughlin MJ, Singh BR (1999) Cadmium in soils and plants. In: Cadmium in soils and plants. Springer, pp 219–256

  46. Kadim IT, Mahgoub O, Al-Marzooqi W (2008) Meat quality and composition of Longissimus thoracis from Arabian camel (Camelus dromedaries) and Omani beef: a comparative study. J Cam Sci 1(1):37–47

    Google Scholar 

  47. salehi M, Gharahdaghi AA (2013) production potential and recent research in Iran (Agricultural Research & Education Organization, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture, Iran). Paper presented at the camelconference2013,UK, London, SOAS University., UK, London, SOAS University

  48. Salehi M, Mirhadi A, Ghafouri KF, ASADI FM, Babak A (2013) An evaluation of live weight, carcass and hide characteristics in Dromedary vs. Bactrian×Dromedary Crossbred Camels. J Agric Sci Technol 15:1121–1131

    Google Scholar 

  49. Cay S, Uyanık A, Özaşık A (2004) Single and binary component adsorption of copper (II) and cadmium (II) from aqueous solutions using tea-industry waste. Sep Purif Technol 38(3):273–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Su C (2014) A review on heavy metal contamination in the soil worldwide: situation, impact and remediation techniques. Environ Skept Crit 3(2):24

    Google Scholar 

  51. Medicine Io (2002) Dietary reference intakes for vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The National Academy Press, Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  52. Ahmed M, Khaleeq A, Huma R, Qadir MA, Shafiq MI, Israr A, Ali A, Shahzad S (2016) Optimization and validation procedure for elemental composition of fresh and pasteurized milk in Pakistan employing microwave digestion Followed by ICP-OES: a contribution to risk assessment. Food Analyt Methods 9(10):2933–2942. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-016-0491-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. [WHO] (1977) Lead. Environmental health criteria 3. International programme on chemical safety. World Health Organization; [cited 2017]

  54. [WHO] (1992) Cadmium. Environmental health criteria 134. International programme on chemical safety. World Health Organization; [cited 2017]

  55. Anderson JO, Thundiyil JG, Stolbach A (2012) Clearing the air: a review of the effects of particulate matter air pollution on human health. J Med Toxicol 8(2):166–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Abdelbasset C, Rabia E, Abdallah B, Boubker N, AbdelKhalid E (2014) Distribution of trace elements and heavy metals in liver, lung, meat, heart and kidney of cattle, sheep, camel and equine slaughtered in Casablanca city-Morocco. IJSER 5:294–303

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the laboratory staff of the veterinary department for technical help. Industrial slaughterhouses veterinarians for sampling process assistance gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, (grant number 3/41607).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Hygiene and Aquaculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Mehdi Asli & Mohammad Mohsenzadeh

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Azizzadeh

  3. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Amir Moghaddamjafari

Authors
  1. Mehdi Asli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Azizzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amir Moghaddamjafari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammad Mohsenzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Mohsenzadeh.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

ORCID ID

Mohammad Mohsenzadeh http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7829-039X

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Asli, M., Azizzadeh, M., Moghaddamjafari, A. et al. Copper, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Cobalt, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chrome, and Lead Concentrations in Liver and Muscle in Iranian Camel (Camelus dromedarius). Biol Trace Elem Res 194, 390–400 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01788-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01788-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation