Cadmium and lead in the tissues and organs of livestock from an industrially polluted area

The occurrence of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) from industrial emissions was determined in the muscle and liver of cattle from agricultural farms near an industrial plant in Eastern Slovakia. In this study, cows were slaughtered and the concentrations of Cd and Pb analysed by the Unicam Solar 939 atomic absorption spectrometer. The highest levels of Cd and Pb were recorded in the muscle (0.300; 0.854 mg.kg-1) and the liver (0.865; 2.324 mg.kg-1). It was concluded that exposure to an industrial plant can result in a significant increase in levels of contaminants in the muscle tissues and organs of cattle.