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. 2023 Jan;201(1):170-179.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-022-03144-3. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

Assessment of Trace Metals in Camelus dromedarius Meat from Mauritania

El Boukhary Ahmed  1 , Mohamed Salem El Mahmoud Hamed  2 , Babah Sidi Moktar  3 , Angelo Santana-Del Pino  4 , Mohamed Brahim  2 , Mariem Youssouf Issa  5 , Mohamed Lemine Zamel  2 , Sarah Montesdeoca-Esponda  6
Affiliations

Assessment of Trace Metals in Camelus dromedarius Meat from Mauritania

El Boukhary Ahmed et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

In Mauritania, the dromedary breeding is the most widespread pastoral activity, and it is considered as the first source of animal protein; however, the research on meat is relatively rare compared with fish, especially in relation with the presence of trace metals. In this work, livers, kidneys, and muscles of 25 Camelus dromedarius were collected from butcheries in Nouakchott (Mauritania) between February and April 2020 to study the concentration of trace metals (three essential metals: cooper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn), and four toxic metals: mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb)). Statistical treatment did not show significant differences associated with age (P = 0.7004), sex (P = 0.9353), or type of diet (0.9951) in the found concentration of the target substances, but the differences were significant between metals and between organs (P < 0.0001). The mean concentrations of the essential metals were 0.80 mg/100 g for Cu, 6.02 mg/100 g for Fe, and 3.28 mg/100 g for Zn, and the ratios between these concentrations were significant (P < 0.0001 in all cases), with [Fe] > [Zn] > [Cu]. Cu was most concentrated in the liver, Fe in the kidney, and Zn in muscle. The mean concentrations of toxic metals were 0.055 mg/kg for As, 0.064 mg/kg for Cd, 0.040 mg/kg for Pb, and 0.027 mg/kg for Hg. They also exhibited significant difference between organs. Hg and Pb showed their largest concentrations in the liver, whereas As and Cd reached their maximum values in the kidney. Therefore, the found concentrations in all cases were lower than the admissible level of trace metals.

Keywords: Camel meat; Camelus dromedaries; Dromedary meat; Mauritania; Trace metals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Adjusted mean and 95% confidence interval for concentration of essential metals by organ
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Adjusted mean and 95% confidence interval for concentration of toxic metals by organ
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