Estimation of some heavy metals in cow's milk in Zagazig City

Abstract EN

This study estimated the residues of some heavy metals of toxicological concern in milk.

One hundred and fifty samples from dairy farm, market raw milk and vendors milk were collected from Zagazig City.

Collected samples were examined for presence of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) by using atomic absorption spectrometry.

The mean concentrations were 0.716, 2.001, 2.11 for Pb ; 0.871, 3.39, 4.11 for Cd ; 0.911, 5.79, 6.37 for Hg ; 2.81, 7.21, 7.72 for zinc and 2.111, 4.44, 4.45 (ng / L) for copper in farms, markets and vendors milk samples, respectively.

The percentages of significant dairy farms, market milk and vendor samples exceeded the maximum permissible limits were 30, 44 and 52 % for lead, 26, 100 and 100 % for cadmium, 12, 22 and 28 % for mercury, 22, 26 and 32 % for zinc, 50, 90 and 96 % for copper.

The statistical analysis regarding the data obtained from farms, markets and vendors milk revealed a low moderate and high significant differences in lead, copper, cadmium, mercury and zinc respectively.

The public health and suggest precaution to minimize the level of such heavy metals in milk were discussed.