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Food safety aspects of primary environmental contaminants in the edible tissues of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

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Abstract

The muscle, liver, kidney and fat samples of 20 roe deer of both sexes originating from a hunting area in central Hungary were investigated for the presence of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Hg and Pb, and their contents were evaluated for possible health risk to consumers. Both As and Hg were found at a level below the limit of detection (< 0.5 mg/kg wet weight) in all samples. The median of the measured Cd concentrations was significantly higher in both the kidney and the liver (p = 0.0011) of bucks than of does. In bucks, Cd levels exceeded the respective maximum limits laid down in the European legislation in four kidney and three muscle samples, whereas in does, the measured concentrations were below the respective limits in all samples. The detected amounts of Pb exceeded the maximum limits in the kidney of one buck and eight does, in the liver of two bucks and six does, in the muscle of six bucks and nine does, whereas in all fat tissues of both bucks and does. The concentration of Pb (p = 0.02) was significantly greater in the kidney of does compared to roebucks. Based on data obtained from the present study, the consumption of organs and tissues of the investigated roe deer could be objectionable from food-toxicological point of view and may pose risk to the high consumers of wild game due to their cadmium and lead contents.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the 8525-5/2014/TUDPOL grant of the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources. Presentation of the results was supported by the Society of Hungarian Toxicologists. The authors are thankful to Jenő Reiczigel and Zsolt Abonyi-Tóth for their expert assistance in statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, Budapest, H-1078, Hungary

    József Lehel, Dóra Zwillinger, Katalin Lányi & Péter Laczay

  2. Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Veterinary Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary

    András Bartha

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  1. József Lehel
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  2. Dóra Zwillinger
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Correspondence to József Lehel.

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Herewith, the authors declare that no actual or potential conflict of interest occurred including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organisations within 3 years of beginning the submitted work that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, our work.

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Lehel, J., Zwillinger, D., Bartha, A. et al. Food safety aspects of primary environmental contaminants in the edible tissues of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 25372–25382 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0206-9

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