摘要：The paper presents the results of the study of heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in kidney tissue of 78 cattle and 45 pigs from rural regions of Croatia, sampled in 2009. Cd and Pb levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry by application of graphite technique, and Hg levels by direct burning on a mercury analyser. Cd, Hg and Pb levels determined in bovine kidney tissue signicantly exceeded the levels established in pigs. The obtained results of Cd and Pb corresponded to the values from rural regions of other EU countries, while Hg levels were lower in comparison to other EU regions. In 13% of bovine kidney samples, Cd levels exceeding the maximum permitted levels (1 mg/kg) were found, while only in 1.15% of bovine kidney tissue, Pb levels exceeded the maximum permitted ones (0.5 mg/kg). Levels exceeding the maximum permitted quantity were not found in porcine kidneys. Maximum permitted Hg levels are not set forth in EU or Croatian legislation; thus the results were compared with reference values. In only 1.15% of bovine kidney samples, Hg levels exceeded 0.3 mg/kg, while no such case was found in pigs. The results have conrmed the need to control Cd, Hg and Pb levels in bovine kidney tissue on slaughter line. At the same time, porcine kidney tissue is suitable for consumption by general population as Cd and Pb levels were below maximum permitted ones.
