AAS DETECTION OF HEAVY METAL IN SHEEP CHEESE (THE BANAT AREA, ROMANIA)

Abstract

. In this paper we present results of the measurement of some heavy metals in sheep cheese samples from three hill and alpine areas in the Banat area. We analysed, using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, the following heavy metals: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Cd. The concentration ranges in the cheese samples were: 7.22-8.85, 1.36-1.83, 17.39-23.17, 0.691-0.886, 0.020-0.102, 0.002-0.010, 0,214-0.225, 0.193-0.314 and 0.001-0.003 mg/kg for iron, manganese, zinc, cooper, cobalt, nickel, chromium, lead and cadmium, respectively. Analysing experimental data shows that the specific soil and climate factors in the area favour cheese assortments with normal heavy metal contents under the form of essential elements and of low concentrations of heavy metals potentially toxic or toxic much below admitted toxicity levels.