Meligy et al. 2024 — Toxic and essential elements in camel meat and offal, Saudi Arabia
This study measured concentrations of five elements (Co, Cr, Mn, Se, As) categorized as potentially toxic or essential in multiple tissue types of Camelus dromedarius (one-humped camel) from three breeds in Saudi Arabia. Matrices include muscle tissue (meat), liver, kidney, spleen, lung (offal), hair, and blood. Graphite furnace AAS (GFAAS) was the analytical method. Estimated daily intake (EDI) values were calculated for human consumers of camel meat and offal.
Key numbers
- Sample size: 225 tissue samples from three camel breeds (Majaheim, Hamra, Safra)
- Analytical method: GFAAS
- Elements measured: Co, Cr, Mn, Se, As (total As; speciation not performed)
- Muscle As: mean values at low-level trace concentrations; specific numerical values in tables (see source); below EU/FAO maximum limits for meat
- Offal (liver, kidney): higher element concentrations than muscle, consistent with organ bioaccumulation patterns for Cr and Mn
- Hair and blood: useful as biomonitoring matrices; Mn and Cr highest in hair
- Breed differences: some statistically significant differences between Majaheim, Hamra, and Safra breeds for specific elements
- EDI calculations: indicated no significant health risk from consumption of camel meat or offal at typical Saudi Arabian consumption rates for the elements studied
- Cr: total chromium measured; speciation to Cr-VI not performed
Methods (brief)
Tissue sampling from slaughtered camels at Saudi abattoirs; wet acid digestion (HNO3/HClO4 or equivalent); GFAAS with Zeeman background correction. Zeeman-GFAAS provides good sensitivity for trace-level As, Cr, Co at relevant concentrations. LODs not explicitly detailed in extracted text. EDI based on 70 kg adult body weight and Saudi camel consumption data.
Implications
Certification: Camel meat and offal are significant food proteins in the MENA region. This paper provides baseline contamination data for Co, Cr, Mn, Se, and As in camel tissue. Cr total measurement without speciation is a limitation for Cr-VI risk assessment.
Courses: Good example of multi-tissue biomonitoring design; illustrates differences between muscle and offal accumulation patterns for different elements.
App: Camel meat ingredient profiling; total As available but iAs speciation needed for definitive risk assessment.