الفهرس 
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Abstract
Heavy metals are important from the viewpoint of their toxicity and essentiality.Their toxic residues in food of animal origin are directly related to human illness. The present study was designed to estimate the levels of metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in the tissue of imported frozen meat and liver of cattle sold in El-Minia City, El-Minia, Egyptduring September 2018 to August 2019 . A total of 60 samples, 30 of each of imported frozen beef and imported frozen liver, were randomly collected from frozen meat retail markets. The metalsconcentration in the prepared samples was determined using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.
The achieved results declared that the levels of lead (mg/kg) in the examined frozenmeat samples ranged from 0.405 to 2.295 with amean value of 1.127 ± 0.152 while in frozen liver samples ranged from 0.047 to 5.333 with a mean value of 2.030 ± 0.297.Lead concentrationsweredetected in 13 (43.33%), and 26 (86.7%) of the examined frozen meat and liver samples, respectively.Lead concentration exceeded the permissible limit set by the ES in 13 (43.33%) and 24 (80%) of the examined frozen meat and liver samples, respectively.
The minimum, maximum and mean levels of Cd (mg/kg) in the examined frozen meat samples were 0.052, 3.602 and 0.279±0.126, respectively, and in frozen liver samples were 0.006, 1.659 and 0.559 ± 0.100, respectively. Of the frozen meat analyzed samples, 28 (93.33%) were positive for cadmium, while of frozen liver samples, 27 (90%) were positive.Cadmium levels exceeded the permissible limit set by the ES in 28 (93.33%) and 14 (46.67%) of the investigated frozen meat and liver samples, respectively.
Copper levels (mg/kg) of the examined frozen meat samples ranged between0.013 and 2.128 witha mean value of 0.735 ± 0.132. For liver samples the levels ranged between 3.093 and 113.060 with a mean value of 31.056± 4.575.Of the 30 examined imported frozen meat samples 24 (80%) showed detectable levels of Cu,while all sample (100%) of imported frozen liver showed detectable levels.Copper concentrations exceeded the limitallowed by FAO/WHOin 3.33 and 33.33% of the examined imported frozen meat and liver samples.
Lead and copper concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in frozen liver samples than in frozen meat. Meanwhile,cadmium levels showed non-significant (P>0.05)difference between frozen liver and meat samples, despite numerically higher in liver samples.
The public health hazards of such metals from the analyzed food items had been discussed.