Accumulation of heavy metals in food as one of the environmental pollutants due to the development of urban industries and human activities, is one of the threats to public health. The purpose of this study, as the first report in Sanandaj, one of the strategic cities of western Iran, was to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in the meat of different species of sheep, calves, turkeys and ostriches. In a cross-sectional study, the content of selenium, lead, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, zinc, nickel, copper, and chromium in 170 meat samples prepared from meat distribution centers in Sanandaj was investigated. The content of these elements was measured by the ICP-MS method in the meat of beef, sheep, turkey, and ostrich. Data were analyzed using parametric tests of ANOVA and one-sample t-test, and the correlation coefficient and the relationship among the concentration of metals were also calculated and compared in studied species. The results showed that the mean content of selenium, nickel, cobalt, and chromium in the studied species did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05). However, the mean content of lead, cadmium, arsenic, zinc, and copper showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was also found between cadmium and selenium in turkey meat. With the exception of copper and selenium, the concentrations of other metals were higher than allowed in the meat of the studied species. The Target Risk (TR) of cancer for lead, cadmium, and arsenic in some species studied was higher than allowed (more than 10− 4). Due to the excessive accumulation of carcinogenic heavy metals in sheep, beef, turkey, and ostrich meat, it is necessary to monitor and remove barriers to environmental pollutants.
