Trend analysis of heavy metal contamination and arsenic levels in complete feed for fish and other complete animal feeds

Biljana Pećanac; Jelena Janjić; Vesna Đorđević; Tatjana Baltić; Srđan Stefanović; Milica Laudanović; Jelena Ćirić

doi:10.18485/meattech.2024.65.1.8

Biljana Pećanac Veterinary Institute of the Republic of Srpska “Dr Vaso Butozan”, Branka Radicevica 18, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosna and Herzegovina
Jelena Janjić University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bulevar Oslobodjenje 18, 11000, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3351-7199
Vesna Đorđević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5187-4089
Tatjana Baltić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0496-3133
Srđan Stefanović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8011-5654
Milica Laudanović University in Belgrade - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kej oslobodjenja 18, 11 000, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6381-2803
Jelena Ćirić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8118-7676

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18485/meattech.2024.65.1.8

Keywords: Fish feed, Animal feed, Heavy metal, Level, Toxic

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyse the levels of toxic heavy metals (Mercury, Lead and Cadmium) and a toxic metalloid (Arsenic) in fish feed and animal feed from Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period from 2013 to 2018. Data from the National Veterinary Inspection Sector were provided for this study (n=438). The mean levels of As, Hg, Pb and Cd in all fish feed samples were 0.90±0.50 mg/kg, 0.02±0.05 mg/kg, 0.42±0.70 mg/kg and 0.16±0.11 mg/kg, respectively. During 2013–2018, the mean levels of As, Hg, Pb and Cd in animal feed (other complete feed) were 0.42±1.22 mg/kg, 0.01±0.02 mg/kg, 0.75±2.18 mg/kg and 0.10±0.12 mg/kg, respectively. In animal feeds sampled between 2013–2018, mean annual Pb levels increased the most among the four elements studied. In contrast, mean annual As, Hg and Cd levels in animal feeds continuously decreased during the study period. The mean annual Pb level in fish feed decreased, but continuous increases were observed in mean annual Hg and Cd levels during the study. The results show that the levels of toxic elements in fish feed and animal feed require attention and deserve a high priority monitoring program, as most feeds complied with the regulated maximum allowed concentrations of As, Hg, Pb and Cd in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the European Union, but some did not.