Assessment of Trace Metals Contents in Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Tissues from Selangor (Malaysia)

This study is focused on determination of trace metals ion concentration in tissues of two domestic avian species chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) which were collected from poultry farms in Selangor, Malaysia. The concentration of metal ion were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that the highest concentration of Zn, Mn, Ni, Co and Pb were found in feathers, whereas Se and Cr were observed in the liver, and Fe in blood of both species. However, levels of Cd and As were generally found to be low for all the tissues of both species. Meanwhile, the level of Al in the pectoral muscle was low, as compare to those of Cu which were relatively high t in the liver and feather of two birds. Metal concentrations had significant interspecific variation with quail displaying higher levels of Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Fe and Pb than chicken in the tissues of most body parts. Furthermore, the level of (Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Zn, Cr and Se) in meat of chicken and quail were below than the recommended limits for human consumption.