The Safety of Animal-derived Food Products in Areas of Technogenic Pollution

Abstract

Background: Food safety has been a concern since ancient times. In the 21st century, technogenic pollution from harmful natural and synthetic chemicals poses a significant threat to food safety. These substances can enter the various consumption chains and to be transmitted from organism to organism, ultimately reaching the human body through both animal-sourced and plant-sourced food products. Animal-sourced food is the main source of protein and essential compounds. Therefore, assessing the safety of animal-sourced food products, which are produced and consumed by populations in areas of technogenic pollution (such as factory surroundings and military conflict zones) is crucial.

Objectives: The primary goal of this research was to study the contamination of animal-sourced foods (eggs and hen) produced in urban area of one of regions of Armenia’s regions, which has a heavy legacy of industrial pollution. 

Context and purpose of this study: This study aimed to assess and compare the concentrations of alkaline, alkaline-earth and transition elements, including heavy metals, in common animal-sourced food products produced in Kapan city, Armenia, and Syunik village, which borders Kapan city. To achieve this, poultry (hen) and egg samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) to detect the following heavy metals: Li; Na; Mg; Al; K; Ca; Ti; V; Cr; Fe; Mn; Co; Ni; Cu; Zn; As; Se; Sr; Mo; Cd; Sn; Sb; Ba and Pb.

Results: The concentrations of heavy metals were elevated in all animal-sourced food samples from Syunik Village and Kaplan City. Similarly, general concentrations of alkaline and alkaline-earth metals were also increased. Comparative analysis revealed that concentrations of all studied elements were lower in Syunik Village than in Kaplan City. Notably, all detected levels were below the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC). 

Conclusions: Elevated concentrations of heavy metals were observed in all studied egg and hen samples from Syunik village and Kapan city. This increase is likely attributed to the mining industry development in the Syunik region. Although the detected levels are below the maximum permissible concentrations established by the World Health Organization (WHO), continuous monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in this area is recommended to mitigate potential health risks associated with chronic consumption of locally produced eggs. 

Keywords: food safety, animal-sourced food, heavy metals, technogenic pollution, remediation.