Assessment of Heavy Metals Content in African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals in the liver, kidney and tissue of Africa giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) in three (3) processing centers in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria with a view to determine its safeness for consumption. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy was used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in the liver, tissue and kidney of Africa giant rat. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that Mn, Zn and Cu are present in liver, tissue and kidney of Cricetomys gambianus while cobalt, cadmium, chromium, lead and nickel are below detection limit. Mn levels ranged between 0.015±0.002, 0.01±0.002 and 0.005±0.003 for liver, tissue and kidney respectively. Zn levels ranged between 0.070±0.016, 0.032±0.013 and0.044±0.006 for liver, tissue and kidney respectively. Cu levels ranged between 0.0087±0.0061, 0.000±0.000 and 0.0057±0.0001 for liver, tissue and kidney respectively. Highest manganese concentration was observed in the liver (0.015±0.002 mg/kg) while highest copper concentration was observed in the liver (0.0087±0.0061 mg/kg).The levels of heavy metals in the liver, tissue and kidney ranged from 1.91±0.00 to 3.96±0.00 mg/kg Zn; 0.15±0.00 to 0.17±0.00 mg/kg Pb; 0.20±0.00 to 1.98±0.00 mg/kg Cu; 0.03±0.00 to 0.27±0.00 mg/kg Cd; and 0.00±0.02 to 0.00±0.00 mg/kg Co; on average. The highest concentration of zinc and copper were found in the liver while manganese is also deposited more in the liver. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test on the distribution and concentrations of all the metals in the liver, tissue and kidney shows that (p<0.05), i.e. there is significant difference in the amount of the elements in this samples and are not safe for human consumption.