Abstract of research

ESTIMATION OF SOME HEAVY METALS IN AN OSTRICH FARM ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR RESIDUES IN MUSCLES, LIVER AND EGGS OF OSTRICH AT ISMAILIA PROVINCE

Metawea, Y.F.

Abstract

This work was carried out to clarify the correlation between the levels of some heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) in ostrich farm environmental samples (water, feed, dropping & soil) and ostrich by-products (liver, muscles and eggs) to identify the source of such metals to ostrich. Water samples (n=210) were collected from an ostrich farm and in addition to slaughter house located at Elkassaseen, Ismailia Province [feed and water samples (75 of each), dropping & soil, eggs, muscles and liver samples (15 of each)] during summer season, 2011. Results showed significant higher concentrations of heavy metals in both feed and water samples collected from grower and breeder flocks in comparison to those collected from the rearing flocks. Also, there was a positive correlation between the levels of metals in soil and dropping samples and their levels in both feed and water. Moreover, dropping and soil appeared to be the main source of heavy metals contamination in the ostrich farm followed by feeds and drinking water. The highest level of metals was detected in liver samples, followed by muscles and lastly in eggs. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the heavy metals levels in liver, muscles and eggs and their concentrations in the environment (water, feed, dropping and soil).