Abstract
Lead and cadmium levels were estimated in 225 samples of muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattle (75 samples of each). The samples were collected from butcher shops in Mosul City and they were analyzed for the presence of these heavy metals by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentrations of lead in muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattle were 0.071, 0.472 and 0.398 mg/kg, respectively. Of these muscle, liver and kidney samples, 2.67%, 17.33% and 12% of samples, respectively, were exceeded the permissible limits for lead in these tissues which proposed by the European Commission (EC). Results showed that mean concentrations of lead in livers and kidneys were significantly higher (p
