ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Concentrations of Cadmium, Lead and Mercury
in Raw Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Buffalo
and Camel Milk
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1
Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
2
Research Center of Nutrition and Organic Products, Shahrekord Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
Submission date: 2018-07-02
Final revision date: 2018-09-03
Acceptance date: 2018-09-03
Online publication date: 2019-08-01
Publication date: 2019-09-17
Corresponding author
Ebrahim Rahimi
Professor, Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran, Islamic azad university, shahrekord branch, 166 Shahrekord, Iran
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(6):4311-4318
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ABSTRACT
Toxic heavy metals and especially lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) can easily transmit
to humans through consumption of contaminated milk. The present research was done to study
the concentrations of Pb, Cd and Hg in different types of milk samples. In total, 1100 bovine, ovine,
caprine, buffalo and camel raw milk samples were collected in different regions of Iran and analyzed
to determine concentrations of Pb, Cd and Hg by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric
method. The mean recoveries of the analytical method were 88%, 93%, and 96%, for Hg, Cd and Pb,
respectively. The mean Cd, Pb and Hg contents obtained from 1100 samples were 3.62±0.35 ppb (range:
0.06-14.03 ppb), 11.73±1.09 ppb (range: 0.12-33.62 ppb) and 4.35±0.42 ppb (range: 1.03-10.38 ppb),
respectively. The highest concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg were found in raw bovine samples (4.05±0.38,
12.36±1.21 and 5.76±0.53 ppb, respectively), while raw camel milk harbored the lowest concentrations
of heavy metals. Milk of 5≤ year-old animals had the highest concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg. Milk
samples of all studied animals collected in spring had the highest concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg heavy
metals (P<0.05). The mean concentrations of Cd and Hg heavy metals were lower than the allowed
limits announced by the standard organizations, while those of Pb were higher. These results highlight
the importance of periodically monitoring levels of Cd, Pb and Hg heavy metals in milk of bovine,
ovine, caprine, buffalo and camel – especially in spring and summer seasons and also in 5≤ year-old
animals in Iran.