Background: Considering high importance of heavy metals residue from view point of food safety, this study was conducted to determine the contents of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in different tissues (liver, heart and muscle) of marketed chickens in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods: Chicken tissues were collected from four popular brands distributed in different markets in Mashhad, followed by preparing through acidic digestion and analyzing using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. All statistical significant differences were defined at p<0.05 using SPSS v. 16.0.

Results: Mean concentration (±standard deviation) of heavy metals in the liver, heart and muscle of chicken samples were 3.87 ± 3.94, 3.77 ± 2.77 and 2.27 ± 1.07 mg/kg (for Cr), 3.79 ± 3.64, 2.65 ± 1.88 and 1.65 ± 1.09 mg/kg (for Pb) as well as 0.37 ± 0.09, 0.32 ± 0.1 and 0.28 ± 0.07 mg/kg (for Cd), respectively, indicting higher heavy metals levels in liver and heart samples compared to those of muscle ones (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The contents of some heavy metals in chicken samples are warning that highlights its public health risk in this region of Iran. Therefore, more effective monitoring procedures and surveillance programs should be applied by the authorities of regional veterinary organization.