DETERMINATION OF COPPER (HEAVY METAL) FROM TABLE EGGS

IN AND AROUND TIRUPATI

K.YASWANTH SRINIVAS1, S.SOMASEKHARA GOUD2, C.S.SWETA3, R.A.SUPRIYA3, A.JAGADEESH BABU4, T.MADHAVA RAO5

1. STUDENT OF 3rd YEAR, B.V.Sc & A.H

2. VAS (ON CONTRACT BASIS), APLDA, HYDERABAD
3. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
4. PROFESSOR
5. PROFESSOR AND UNIVERSITY HEAD
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH, COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SCIENCESU, TIRUPATI

ABSTRACT METHODS AND MATERIALS RESULTS COPPER AND CANCER

Environment problems related to The results of the present investigation are as follows ● Copper is a key player in cell growth. In order to
26 egg samples were collected
pollution of soil, food and water have proliferate, cells require ATP.
been increased with industrialization. Each egg was cut separately with forceps ● Like all cells, tumor cells produce energy in two
different ways: respiration, which requires oxygen,
This work aims to quantify the heavy Contents were placed in a clean glass jars and glycolysis, which does not. Of the two,
metal copper concentration of edible respiration is the more efficient way to make ATP.
eggs which directly affect human Samples were dried at 75 °C to get constant weight However it involves a number of enzymes, and
health. one of the most important ones requires copper for
1 gram was digested with 20 ml nitric acid overnight According to Roychowdhury et al. 2003, permissible its activity.
Total concentration of copper on level of copper in table eggs is 10 ppm. ● Copper imbalances have been associated with a
Next day, boiedl on hot sand bath for 5 minutes number of pathological conditions, including
whole egg basis was determined
Above results indicate that copper levels in eggs cancer.
using inductively coupled plasma Added 10 ml of sulphuric acid ● Publishing in PNAS scientists at EPFL have found
collected from different areas of tirupati are below
atomic emission spectrometry. permissible limit. Hence safe for human consumption that copper in drinking water -- given at the
Continued digestion until solution becomes clear maximum levels permitted in public water supplies
accelerated the growth of tumors in mice.
Samples were transfered to volumetric flask
COPPER TOXICITY ● The study strongly suggests that copper is an
essential factor for the growth of tumors in humans
Filled upto 100 ml with distilled water
as well.
● There is perhaps no greater medically and publicly ● copper depletion may reduce breast cancer in
Copper levels were determined with help of ICP-AES
misunderstood epidemic in the world today than that of patients at high risk
copper toxicity.
● Copper toxicity is a buildup of stored bio-unavailable copper in
the body that at high levels affects both physical and mental
INTRODUCTION health.
● It is the duality of copper’s nature that makes it so confusing to
● Global environment is polluted with heavy many, not understanding that the blood copper level has no
metals which leads to an increased interest in correlation to stored tissue copper.
metal contamination of food stuffs. ● ”Many of the most metabolic disorders of our time are
● related in some way to a copper imbalance.’ ~ Dr. Paul eck
● Amongst them eggs represent an important ● Copper toxicity is common in individuals suffering with wilson’s
disease
and nutritious diet food in the daily diet. CONCLUSION
● Copper is an essential element required by
Though the above results show that the eggs contain
all living things on Earth, but in humans, too
copper levels below permissible limit and can be
much or too little can play havoc with health.
consumed, the copper levels in these samples exceeded
● Despite considerable interest in the trace amount of copper that is normally present in average
element contents of egg by nutritionists and eggs which is 0.8 ppm [Source: Food Standards
environmental scientists, available data about Agency 2002 The Composition of Foods (6th
copper level in egg is scarce. edition)]. Their effect on the local population due to
prolonged consumption of these contaminated eggs is
● Therefore heavy
h metal incidence in eggs is unknown and deserves further detailed investigation
taken as the present area of study of water and feed used to feed these poultry birds.
emphasizing more on the copper content and
to check whether it lies in the permissible
range for consumption. REFERENCES

● ROYCHAUDARY et al 2003
● Food Standards Agency 2002 The Composition of
Foods (6th edition)
● Wikipedia