DETERMINANTS OF HEAVY METALS IN POULTRY FEEDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN CALABAR METROPOLIS

Abstract

Heavy metals were determined in selected poultry feed samples used as starter, grower, finisher, and layer from Calabar metropolis. The selected feeds were labeled and sieved through a 2mm sieve. The dried samples were digested in a mixture of tri-acids of HNO3, H2SO4, HCLO4 to obtain solutions. The reported heavy metal analysis techniques included atomic absorption spectroscopy and standard laboratory protocols. The environmental exposure pathways considered were soil, water, and air contamination from poultry manure and transfer to the food chain through chicken meat, eggs, and edible tissues. The results revealed that all the analyzed metals were detected in the magnitude of Pb<Cd<Ni<Cu<Zn respectively. While some metals remain below the NRC toxic thresholds, cadmium and lead levels in poultry feeds frequently exceed the EU/WHO/FAO limits of 0.5 mg/kg for cadmium and 5 mg/kg for lead. It was concluded that all the feeds were safe for poultry production and that further studies should incorporate larger sample sizes and analyze tissue residue data to assess long-term bioaccumulation risks