Essential and toxic elements in meat of wild and bred animals

Essential and toxic elements were determined by Energy Dispersive Polarised X-Rays Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDPXRF) in the meat of 145 wild and bred animals to provide the baseline data regarding meat of wild and bred animals consumed in central Italy. As far as K, Fe, Ni, Zn and Cu are concerned, no significant differences resulted between young and adult classes and between males and females for farmed and wild animals; no differences were found between the hunted and not hunted animals classes. In all samples analyzed, Mn, Cr and Mo resulted below the detection limit. As far as the non essential or toxic elements are concerned, As, Cd, V and Hg concentrations in muscle from wild and bred animals were very low and they were always below the detection limits. Among the wild animals killed with lead bullets, elevated lead concentrations in tissues were found: this fact may result in elevated lead doses from meat ingested by humans.