Determination of some heavy metals concentration in some dairy products from three different regions of basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Ninety samples of cow and buffalo’s milk besides their products (cheese and cream), which were collected from three different regions in Basrah city (Basrah centre, Abu Al-Khaseeb and Al-Zubair), were investigated. Levels of some heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd) were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results showed a trend for three products in which the order in terms of quantities of the levels of Fe, Cu and Pb are: milk > cheese > cream of cows and buffaloes. However, the levels of Ni and Cd were not detected in all samples in this study. Statistical analysis showed that the differences between all different regions were statistically significant (P˂0.05). It was also found that the mean levels of Fe in cow and buffalo’s products for different regions higher than those recommended by WHO standard and codex. Likewise, the mean contents of Cu and Pb have exceeded the WHO permissible limits.