Millions of people across the world are at risk from arsenic-related diseases including cancer. Contamination of drinking water with arsenic is thought to be the foremost cause of human arsenic toxicity. Recently, high concentrations of arsenic have been reported in grains and vegetables, but little is known about chicken meat and eggs as a source of arsenic. Human arsenic exposure from poultry products and possible environmental contamination from poultry excreta cannot be ignored. This review gives an overview of arsenic contamination in chicken meat, eggs, and excreta. In available studies arsenic in chicken meat and eggs (0-100 μg/kg) is below the tolerable limits for humans. This may be of concern for human health when humans are exposed to multiple sources of arsenic. A high level of arsenic is reported in poultry excreta from chickens consuming arsenic in food or water. As the poultry industry grows, use of arsenic-rich poultry manure as fertilizer could contaminate the food chain.
Keywords: arsenic, chicken meat, excreta, food chain
