Heavy metals pollution is considered as one of the most important environmental problems in Egypt, in resulted from industrial and agricultural wastes that spread in air, water and soil. Among of these pollutants, cadmium and lead which have tendency to accumulate in tissues and organs of animal, birds, fish and humans being causing serious effects to different species. A total of one hundred random samples of meat (Master muscle) and edible offals (esophagus, rumen, small intestine and trachea). Twenty of each were collected from slaughtered cattle in Qena abattoir, Egypt for detection of some heavy metals residues such as lead and cadmium by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
The obtained results revealed that highest mean value of lead concentration were detected in master muscles samples (3.75 ± 0.53 ppm), while, the lowest level was detected in rumen samples (1.34 ± 0.75 ppm). Moreover, the highest mean value of cadmium concentration was recorded in master muscled (1.57±0.49ppm), while the lowest level was detected in small intestine samples (0.14±0.04ppm).
Public health hazards of such toxic heavy metals were discussed. Hygienic measure and awareness programs were implemented to avoid contamination of meat and offals with such toxic heavy metals.