Determination of nickel content in the semimembranosus muscle of pigs produced in Vojvodina

Abstract

The content of nickel was investigated in the M. semimembranosus of sixty-nine pigs from ten different genetic lines produced in Vojvodina. Nickel was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after mineralization by dry ashing. The difference in the nickel content in the analyzed muscle tissues among different genetic lines of pigs was not significant (P > 0.05). Nickel levels ranged from 12.93 to 80.18 μg/100 g, with a general average of 32.41 y.g/100 g. The average level of nickel was found to be higher than the levels observed in pork in some developed countries.