Metals in Egyptian chicken meat and liver
What it found
Chicken meat and liver from six brands in Assiut, Egypt, all contained the metals tested.
Lead, cadmium and iron were above some safety limits, but the authors' risk calculations gave a minimum health risk from eating them.
What they found
Metals found in all samples
Every sample tested positive for all 12 metals looked at: aluminium, cadmium, lead, barium, bismuth, cobalt, nickel, chromium, iron, copper, zinc and selenium. Aluminium was the metal found at the highest levels.
Lead above some limits
Lead was above the Egyptian guideline in 33% of samples, and above the FAO/WHO limit in 94% of samples. Chest muscle had the highest lead levels.
Cadmium above FAO/WHO limit
Cadmium was above the FAO/WHO limit in 17% of samples, in some chest and thigh muscles. All cadmium levels were below the Egyptian guideline.
Iron above Egyptian limit
Iron was above the Egyptian guideline in 67% of samples, including chest, thigh and liver. Liver had the highest iron levels.
Risk calculations
The authors used standard risk calculations for daily intake, non-cancer risk and cancer risk. The daily intake of metals was below recommended levels, and the non-cancer and cancer risk values were low.
Liver vs muscle
Liver collected more iron, copper, zinc and selenium than chest or thigh muscle. Lead and bismuth were higher in chest muscle than in thigh muscle or liver.
What the authors conclude
“Even though the THQ and HI values were significantly lower than 1.0 during our study, heavy metal monitoring in poultry products and byproducts is required for human security and safety.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the health risk assessment showed safety and minimum health risk for human consumption of metal residues in poultry tissues and liver.
- They advise that metal monitoring in poultry products and byproducts is required for human security and safety, especially in Egypt.
How it was done
Heavy metal pollution in food and feed is rising, and poultry can take in metals from feed, water and litter. The authors wanted to check metal levels in poultry sold in Assiut and work out the health risk for people who eat it.
They collected 360 samples of chest, thigh and liver from six chicken brands sold in Assiut city markets, 20 samples per brand. They measured 12 metals in each sample using a lab method called ICP-MS, then used standard risk calculations to estimate daily intake and health risk for Egyptian adults.
What it can’t tell you
- This study measured metals in chicken sold in one city in Egypt at one point in time. It cannot show whether levels are the same elsewhere or at other times.
- The risk calculations are estimates based on average body weight and average amounts eaten. They cannot show what happens to any one person.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Assiut University, Egypt
The paper
- Title
- Health risk assessment of metals in chicken meat and liver in Egypt
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Kamaly HF, Sharkawy AA (2023). Health risk assessment of metals in chicken meat and liver in Egypt. Environmental monitoring and assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-023-11365-9Free full textPubMed 37266708DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error