Cadmium contents in the liver and kidney for five purebred pigs from Vojvodina

Abstract

The content of cadmium (Cd) was investigated in liver and kidney for five purebred pigs (Large White - LW, n = 48; Landrace - L, n = 48; Duroc - D, n = 48; Hampshire - H, n = 48 and Pietrain - P, n = 48), produced in Vojvodina. This element was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after mineralization by dry ashing. The difference in the Cd content among the five purebred pigs was not significant in the analysed liver (F = 1.191; P = 0.315) and kidney (F = 0.867; P = 0.484) tissues. Pigs kidney Cd content was significantly higher (F = 461.650; P = 0.000) than liver. The order of the purebred pigs regarding Cd content in the liver samples in mg/kg was: H (0.057-0.261, on average 0.146) > LW (0.052-0.268, on average 0.138) > D (0.031-0.252, on average 0.133) > L and P (0.029-0.270 and 0.039-0.227, on average 0.124). The average Cd content in all investigated liver samples was 0.133 mg/kg. The order of the purebred pigs regarding Cd content in the kidney samples in mg/kg was: L (0.173-1.160, on average 0.412) > D (0.178-1.060, on average 0.398) > P (0.180-1.012, on average 0.367) > H (0.203-0.649, on average 0.366) > LW (0.168-0.654, on average 0.361). The average Cd content in all investigated kidney samples was 0.381 mg/kg. The maximum Cd content found in the liver samples was significantly below maximum level (0.5 mg/kg), while only 2.1% (n = 5) of kidney samples slightly exceeded the maximum level (1.0 mg/kg) set by EU and Serbian legislation. Obtained Cd contents in analysed liver and kidney tissues indicate Cd availability in the local agricultural environment in Vojvodina.