Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Poultry Feed Samples from Erbil Governorate.

This study evaluates the concentrations of five toxic heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, and Br) in thirty poultry feed samples collected from different locations in Erbil Governorate, Iraq, utilizing X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of samples quickly and accurately, making it valuable for detecting heavy metals in food products. The average concentrations significantly exceeded international safety thresholds, set by nutrient requirements of poultry. These findings highlight a major contamination concern and underscore the urgent need for stricter regulatory standards and monitoring in poultry feed production. Toxic heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, and Br) were found. The average concentrations of Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, and Br in poultry feeds are 334.1199.65, 163.894.88, 33.8112.8, 44.6711.55, and 25.7810.067 ppm, while the maximum tolerable limit is 250, 25, 10, 500, and 1 ppm, respectively. The findings additionally present a comparison of heavy metal concentrations in local chicken feed vs. those detected in 30 industrial chicken feed samples within the research area. This research emphasizes significant pollution in chicken feed this raising concerns over, for both human consumers and poultry. This study recommends implementing stricter quality control measures and regular monitoring of poultry feed in Erbil to reduce heavy metal contamination, along with encouraging the use of safer alternative feed sources, such as food leftovers, to minimize health risks.