A proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis of concentration of major/trace and toxic elements in broiler gizzard and flesh of Tehsil Gujar Khan area in Pakistan

Abstract Ten gizzard and three flesh samples of the broiler were collected from different locations in Tehsil Gujar Khan District Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The samples were dried, crushed and ground. Pellets were prepared by pressing the powder of the samples and that of the Bovine liver 1577c reference material obtained from NIST, USA. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) installed at National Center for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan has been used as a reliable and improved technique to determine concentration of various major/trace and toxic elements e.g. S, Cl, K, Ca, Cl, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Zn, Ti, Cd, Ga, Cr, V and Ni, in the Gizzard and Flesh samples of the broiler. The concentrations of all the detected elements in the samples are statistically significant. The certified and measured values of the elements in the reference material were in agreement with each other within a deviation of 7%. S, Cl, K and Ca are within tolerable limits and are good for human consumption. Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn were more than the acceptable limits of World Health Organization, WHO whereas Ga, As, Sn, Sb and Pb are not detected in most of the samples.