Lead concentrations in consumable beef tissues

Abstract

Abstract Lead, as a toxic heavy metal, pollutes the environment and through foodchain beings human. In this study, Pb levels were measured in beef muscle, liver and kidney from animals that grew‐up in a rural and an industrial area of Central Macedonia. The results were correlated with the age of animals and the breeding area. Lead levels in all tissues of animals that grew‐up in the industrial area were higher than those of the rural one. Kidney, among tissues and animals over eighteen months of age, were found mostly polluted. Nevertheless all values measured were lower than the exposure limits for lead in foods.