Evaluation of levels of essential elements and heavy metals in milks of dairy donkeys, goats and sheep in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, V and Ba in donkey, goat, and sheep milk samples. Fifty-six individual milk samples were collected from 17 lactating donkeys, 19 goats, and 20 sheeps in three different Turkish Farms. The samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Minimum and maximum levels of Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn in donkey milk samples were 108.6-202.7, 48.6-76, 355-670, 565-1053, 279-637, 1.86-5.8, 0.052-0.277, 1.78-10.97 mg L-1; in goat milk samples were 201.7-1087, 81.7-138.8, 818-1132, 972-1802, 678-1323, 1.91-4.48, 0.052-0.576, 1.72-4.68 mg L-1; in sheep milk samples were 219-640.5, 119.7-238.9, 946-1895, 881-1474, 1103-1962, 2.83-4.72, 0.032-0.719, 1.52-6.68 mg L-1, respectively. These results showed that the concentrations of macro elements in donkey milk samples were lower than those found out for goat and sheep milk samples. Heavy metal concentrations of both donkey, goat, and sheep milk samples were lower than the detection limit of 1 mg L-1.