Lead and cadmium levels in tissues of horses in Bursa, Turkey

Abstract

Lead and cadmium were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry in liver, kidney and muscle of horses in Bursa, a highly industrialized city in Turkey. Mean levels of lead were 254 +/- 0.71 mg/kg, 3.59 +/- 1.31 mg/kg and 5.98 +/- 2.63 mg/kg (fresh weight), in liver, kidney and muscle samples, respectively, and those of cadmium were 10.62 +/- 2.90 mg/kg, 53.34 +/- 17.51 mg/kg and 0.21 +/- 0.02 mg/kg, in liver, kidney and muscle, respectively. These levels were higher than acceptable in other European countries and show that people and animals living in Bursa are subject to heavy metal pollution.