Heavy Metals as Contaminants in Local and Imported Dairies & Dairy Products

Abstract

An evaluation of the contamination of some milk & milk products with heavy metals in Misrata city north of north of Libya has been conducted. The metals of Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, Cupper, Cromium, Nikel, Zinc, Manganese, Iron contents in dairy samples were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) The results showed that heavy metals Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mn & Fe in Fresh milk are 0.002, 1.62, 0.19,0.15,0.20, 0.25,0.59,0.25,0.79 µg/L respectively and in Pasteurized fresh milk are 0.005,1.67, 0.20,0.16,0.22, 0.56,0.38, 0.28 ,0.87 µg/L respectively and in Sterilized milk are 0.005,1.58, 0.15,0.20, 0.25,0.56,0.37, 0.26, 0.99µg/L respectively ,and in Yoghurt (plain/flavored) 0.007,1.97, 0.16, 0.19, 0.35, 0.54, 0.56,0.37,0.59 µg/kg respectively and in Soft cheese are 0.004,2.16, 0.58, 0.71, 0.46, 0.65, 0.85,0.27,0.77 µg/kg respectively, and in Ricotta cheese are 0.003,1.65, 0.14, 0.29, 0.55,0.45 ,0.75,0.46,0.67 µg/kg respectively, and in Butter are 0.002,0.77, 0.65, 0.19,0.77,0.45,0.96,0.45,0.69 µg/kg respectively ,and in fermented milk are 0.00, 0.00,0.17,0.28,0.63,0.67,0.77,0.37,0.67 µg/L respectively and in ice cream are 0.005, 0.42, 0.18,0.29,0.17 ,0.88,0.74, 0.49,0.69 µg/kg respectively and in formula milk are 0.00,0.00, 0.15,0.49, 0.38, 0.29, 0.37,0.48,0.41 µg/kg respectively, where the highest Hg was in yoghurt samples (0.007 )while the highest level of Cd was in soft cheese (2.16 µg/kg) and the highest level of Pb was in butter (0.65 µg/kg) and the highest level of Cu was in formula milk(0.49 µg/kg) and the highest level of Cr was in butter(0.77 µg/kg) and the highest level of Ni was in ice cream (0.88 µg/kg) and the highest level of Zn was in butter (0.96 µg/kg) and the highest level of Mn was in ice cream (0.49 µg/kg) Finally the highest level of Fe was in sterilized milk (0.99 µg/ L) by results of this study we are recommending to check levels heavy metals in all imported dairy products especially butter ,ice cream and formula milk because babies might be subject to over doses of some toxic heavy metals, might affect their health.