Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Heavy Metals from Sheep Meat and Offal in Kuwait

A total of 600 sheep samples (200 each of muscle, liver, and kidney) collected from 200 sheep carcasses slaughtered at abattoirs in Kuwait were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for concentrations of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr). These metals were detected in all (100%) examined samples; higher concentrations occurred in kidney followed by liver and muscle. The mean (±standard error of the mean) values of the metals detected in sheep muscle, liver, and kidney samples were 0.320 ± 0.061, 0.488 ± 0.042, and 0.791 ± 0.152 μg/g, respectively for Hg; 349 ± 0.074, 0.504 ± 0.049, and 0.642 ± 0.113 μg/g, respectively, for As; 0.482 ± 0.098, 0.567 ± 0.042, and 0.706 ± 0.098 μg/g, respectively, for Pb; 0.301 ± 0.344, 0.433 ± 0.032, and 0.586 ± 0.064 μg/g, respectively, for Cd; and 0.362 ± 0.064, 0.585 ± 0.044, and 0.738 ± 0.111 μg/g, respectively, for Cr. The concentrations of all heavy metals except Cr exceeded the maximum permissible limits set by various international food agencies. The estimated daily intake of each metal was lower than its provisional tolerable daily intake. The target hazard quotient and hazard index values for Hg were >1.0 in all examined sheep samples, suggesting significant health risks to the public from the consumption of sheep meat and offal marketed in Kuwait.