Content of Toxic Elements (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Lead) in Eggs from an Ethically Managed Laying Hen Farm
Alessandro Guerrini,
Paola Roncada,
Khaled Mefleh Al-Qudah,
Gloria Isani,
Fausto Pacicco,
Mariantonietta Peloso,
Luca Sardi,
Doriana Eurosia Angela Tedesco,
Gianluca Antonio Romeo,
Elisabetta Caprai
Affiliations
Alessandro Guerrini
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
Paola Roncada
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Khaled Mefleh Al-Qudah
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
Gloria Isani
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Fausto Pacicco
Department of Economics, LIUC Cattaneo University, Via Corso G. Matteotti 22, 21053 Castellanza, Italy
Mariantonietta Peloso
Chemical Food Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna ‘Bruno Ubertini’, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Luca Sardi
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Doriana Eurosia Angela Tedesco
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
Gianluca Antonio Romeo
Directorate General for Animal Health and Veterinary Medicinal Products (DGSAF), Italian Ministry of Health (MOH), Office 4, Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5, 00144 Roma, Italy
Elisabetta Caprai
Chemical Food Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna ‘Bruno Ubertini’, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Domestic chicken farming has been promoted and spread in several Italian municipalities and worldwide as an aid to the self-consumption of domestically produced food. This study investigated the levels of four toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in eggs from an ethical laying hen farm, comparing the element concentrations with those possibly present in supermarket eggs. A total of 201 eggs, 141 from the farm and produced by different hen genotypes, and 60 from the supermarket, were collected. The levels of the toxic elements were evaluated in the yolk, albumen, and eggshells of all eggs. The results show that the supermarket eggs’ yolk and albumen were more contaminated with lead, compared to the rural eggs. Contrarily, the mean content of arsenic was higher in the albumen and eggshells of the rural eggs, compared to the supermarket eggs. The cadmium content was below the LOQ (0.005 mg/kg) in all samples. The mercury content was below or around the LOQ in all rural eggs. Overall, the supermarket egg albumens were significantly more contaminated than the rural ones. No significant differences were found in quality parameters for both types of eggs. The toxic element values that were detected were in line with other studies in the literature. However, despite the concentrations found not representing a risk to the consumers’ health, the results of this study raise a potential food safety issue, and it would be desirable to set specific MRLs for eggs for consumers’ protection.
