TOXIC METALS IN FOOD-PRODUCTS ORIGINATING FROM LOCALLY REARED ANIMALSIN KUWAIT

The toxicity of certain heavy metals such as Pb, Hg and Cd is well doc umented (Lippmann, 1990; Mitsumori et al., 1990; Lohani and Muttamara, 1978; Davies, 1991; Watanuki, 1978; Friberg et al., 1985 and 1986) Th e effect of environmental pollution on contamination of foods and on t heir safety for human consumption is a serious global public concern, and data on this subject have been reported by several investigators ( Alegria et al., 1990; Ellen et al., 1989; Sherloock, 1987) Since trace s of heavy metals are found in almost every food commodity, an estimat ion of the intake of food contaminants is essential and differs consid erably from country to country (Louekari and Salminen, 1986). In Kuwai t, data are not available on the levels of toxic metals in foods consu med by the various age groups nor are there any Kuwaiti standards at p resent on the permissible limits of these metals in various food commo dities. Hence, the dietary intake of these elements cannot be determin ed accurately. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of certain toxic metals in locally produced animal products.