Preliminary assessment of trace elements and toxic heavy metals in poultry feeds and the eco-health implications in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32945/atr47213.2025Keywords:
feeds, heavy metals, poultry, recommended level, trace elementsAbstract
There has been a rapid shift in the feeding practices of backyard poultry, with increasing reliance on commercial feeds. Poultry feeds are often supplemented with trace elements to meet nutritional requirements, but can become contaminated with heavy metals during production and handling processes. This study analyzed trace elements, iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and heavy metals, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), in feed samples from 10 commercial brands using microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Results showed that Fe and Cu levels exceeded the recommended limits in most feeds, as per the Philippine Society for Animal Nutritionists (PhilSAN) and the National Research Council (NRC), with Fe being highest in layer feeds (965.83mg kg-1) and Cu in booster feeds (164.26mg kg-1). Zn levels varied, exceeding limits in most booster, grower, layer, and finisher feeds. Detectable Cd was found in booster, starter, grower, and finisher feeds, while Pb was only present in some brands of booster feeds. These findings underscore the importance of stringent regulatory guidelines for regulating trace element incorporation and ensuring feed quality.
References
Aljohani, A. S. M. (2023). Heavy metal toxicity in poultry: A comprehensive review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1161354
Andresen, E., Peiter, E., & Küpper, H. (2018). Trace metal metabolism in plants. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69(5), 909–954. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erx465
Aycicek, H., Yilmaz, A., & Arslan, M. (2008). Heavy metal concentrations in animal feed and the possibility of toxicity. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 54(2), 266–271.
Berger, L. L., & Cunha, T. J. (2006). Salt and trace minerals for livestock, poultry and other animals (8th ed.). Salt Institute. https://ftpmirror.your.org/pub/misc/cd3wd/1001/_mc_ag_vet_2006_Dr_Bergers_Main_Book_rd_179840_.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Chen, G., Li, J., Han, H., Du, R., & Wang, X. (2022). Physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant responses to copper stress. International Journal of Molecular Science, 23(21), 12950. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232112950
Cooper, G. M. (2000). The cell: A molecular approach (2nd ed.). Sinauer Associates. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9921/
Dong, L., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Ren, J., Zheng, J., Diao, J., Ni, H., Yin, Y., Sun, R., Liang, F., Li, P., Zhou, C., & Yang, Y. (2023). Effects of organic zinc on production performance, meat quality, apparent nutrient digestibility and gut microbiota of broilers fed low-protein diets. Scientific Reports, 13, 10803. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37867-7
Durso, L. M., & Cook, K. L. (2014). Impacts of antibiotic use in animal agriculture on environmental and human health: A review. Animal Biotechnology, 25(2), 75–84.
European Food Safety Authority [EFSA]. (2005). Opinion of the scientific panel on contaminants in the food chain on a request from the commission related to the risks for human health arising from the presence of cadmium in food. EFSA Journal, 3(1), 1–42. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/32
European Food Safety Authority [EFSA]. (2012). Cadmium dietary exposure in the European population. EFSA Journal, 10(1), 2551. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2551
European Union. (2003). Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition (Text with EEA relevance). Official Journal of the European Union. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1831/oj
Finley, J. W., Johnson, P. E., & Johnson, L. K. (2013). Bioavailability and metabolism of trace elements as related to diet and health. Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(2), 121–128.
Gaetke, L. M., & Chow, C. K. (2003). Copper toxicity, oxidative stress, and antioxidant nutrients. Toxicology, 189(1–2), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-483X(03)00159-8
Gerber, P., Opio, C., & Steinfeld, H. (2008). Poultry production and the environment – A review. Rome, Italy: Animal Production and Health Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Poultry-production-and-the-environment-%E2%80%93-a-review-Gerber-Opio/11b57f4788910bc6263f7eebbe74c58c3eaff779
Gupta, U. C., & Gupta, S. C. (1998). Trace element toxicity relationships to crop production and livestock and human health: Implications for management. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 29(11–14), 1491–1522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103629809370045
Han, M., Fu, X., Xin, X., Dong, Y., Miao, Z., & Li, J. (2022). High dietary organic iron supplementation decreases growth performance and induces oxidative stress in broilers. Animals, 12(13), 1604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131604
Herrman, T. (2001). Sampling: Procedures for feed. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. https://krex.k-state.edu/bitstream/handle/2097/21600/KSUL0010KSREIGPPUBSMF2036a.pdf?sequence=1
Korish, M. A., & Attia, Y. A. (2020). Evaluation of heavy metal content in feed, litter, meat, meat products, liver, and table eggs of chickens. Animals (Basel), 10(4), 727. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10040727
Leeson, S., & Summers, J. D. (2001). Nutrition of the chicken. Belgium: University Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Nutrition_of_the_Chicken.html?id=JlhnQgAACAAJ
Littmann, A., Stangl, G. I., & Stangl, K. I. (2015). Risk assessment of heavy metals in food: The example of the meat production chain. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 14(2), 251–271.
Naz, S., Idris, M., Khalique, M. A., Ur-Rahman, Z., Alhidary, A. I., Abdelrahman, M. M., Khan, R. U., Chand, N., Farooq, U., & Ahmad, S. (2016). The activity and use of zinc in poultry diets. World's Poultry Science Journal, 72(1), 159–167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0043933915002755
Nguyen, H. T. T., Kheravii, S. K., Wu, S. B., Roberts, J. R., Swick, R. A., & Toghyani, M. (2022). Sources and levels of copper affect liver copper profile, intestinal morphology and cecal microbiota population of broiler chickens fed wheat-soybean meal diets. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 2249. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06204-9
National Research Council [NRC]. (1980). Mineral tolerance of domestic animals. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25/mineral-tolerance-of-domestic-animals
National Research Council. (2005). Mineral tolerance of animals (2nd rev. ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11309/mineral-tolerance-of-animals-second-revised-edition-2005
Obi, C. N., & Ozugbo, I. J. (2007). Microbiological analyses of poultry feeds sold in Umuahia main market, Abia State, Nigeria. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 22–25. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Clifford-Obi-2/publication/328542710_Microbiological_analyses_of_Poultry_Feeds_sold_in_Umuahia_Main_Market_Abia_State_Nigeria/links/5bd377a5a6fdcc3a8da91ef5/Microbiological-analyses-of-Poultry-Feeds-sold-in-Umuahia-Main-Market-Abia-State-Nigeria.pdf
Philippine Society of Animal Nutritionists [PhilSAN]. (2010). Feed reference standards (4th ed.). Laguna, Philippines: University of the Philippines. https://pdfcoffee.com/philsan-feed-reference-standards-4th-ed-edited-pdf-free.html
Rahman, M. A., Kamal, S., Salam, A., & Salam, A. (2014). Assessment of the quality of the poultry feed and its effect in poultry products in Bangladesh. Journal of Bangladesh Chemical Society, 27(1&2), 1–9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281207190_ASSESSMENT_OF_THE_QUALITY_OF_THE_POULTRY_FEED_AND_ITS_EFFECT_IN_POULTRY_PRODUCTS_IN_BANGLADESH
Ravindran, V. (2013). Poultry feed availability and nutrition in developing countries. Poultry Development Review. https://www.fao.org/4/al703e/al703e00.pdf
Richards, J.D., Zhao, J., Harrell, R. J., Atwell, C. A., & Dibner, J. J. (2010). Trace mineral nutrition in poultry and swine. Animal Bioscience, 23(11), 1527–1534. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2010.r.07
Suleiman, N., Ibitoye, E. B., Jimoh, A. A., & Sani, Z. A. (2015). Assessment of heavy metals in chicken feeds available in Sokoto, Nigeria. Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 13(1), 17-21. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20153393135
Tilman, D., Cassman, K. G., Matson, P. A., Naylor, R., & Polasky, S. (2002). Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature, 418, 671–677. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01014
US EPA. (2024, October 22). Potential well water contaminants and their impacts. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/potential-well-water-contaminants-and-their-impacts
Wilson VanVoorhis, C. R., & Morgan, B. L. (2007). Understanding power and rules of thumb for determining sample sizes. Tutorials in Quantitative Methods for Psychology, 3(2), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.20982/tqmp.03.2.p043
Wu, Y., Zhang, H., Liu, G., Zhang, J., Wang, J., Yu, Y., & Lu, S. (2016). Concentrations and health risk assessment of trace elements in animal-derived food in southern China. Chemosphere, 144, 564–570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.005
Downloads
Submitted
Accepted
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Annals of Tropical Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
