Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, selenium and zinc concentrations in liver, kidney and muscle in Australian sheep

•Study estimated the concentration of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Mo, Se and Zn in sheep liver, kidney and muscle.•Levels were within acceptable ranges.•For potentially toxic elements As, Cd, Pb and Hg the contribution of Australian sheep meat to consumer exposure is low.

Matched muscle, liver and kidney samples from 152 sheep in different states of Australia were analysed for trace elements. Mean levels found in muscle, livers and kidneys were 0.010, 0.010 and 0.011 mg kg−1 (fresh weight) for arsenic; 0.0035, 0.280 and 0.853 mg kg−1 for cadmium; 0.006, 0.060 and 0.044 mg kg−1 for cobalt; 0.74, 66.0 and 2.72 mg kg−1 for copper; 0.007, 0.040 and 0.057 mg kg−1 for lead; 0.0025, 0.0034 and 0.0061 mg kg−1 for mercury; 0.014, 1.05 and 0.44 mg kg−1 for molybdenum; 0.09, 0.31 and 0.95 mg kg−1 for selenium; and 40.4, 37.2 and 20.8 mg kg−1 for zinc. The lead, mercury and arsenic concentrations in meat and organs may be regarded as low, but the concentrations of cadmium in kidney and livers are sometimes relatively high. Apart from cadmium, lead and selenium, tissue trace element concentrations were not related to the age of the investigated animals. Differences in essential and non-essential trace element accumulation in sheep reared in different regions (states and territories) of Australia were also evaluated. Cadmium, lead and selenium were the only elements that appeared to show significant regional differences. Overall the results show that concentrations of the elements considered are within current acceptable ranges.