Recent Advances in the Chromatographic Analysis of Emerging Pollutants in Dairy Milk: A Review (2018–2023)

Abstract

Emerging pollutants (EPs) encompass natural or synthetic substances found in the environment that pose potential risks, but which have only recently been recognized or monitored. EPs consist of various categories, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, mycotoxins, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Through several pathways, EPs can access food, potentially leading to health impacts when safe concentrations are exceeded. Milk, being a highly nutritious food product that is heavily consumed by many consumers of different ages, is a crucial food matrix where EPs should be regularly monitored. In the literature, a large number of studies have been dedicated to the determination of different EPs in dairy milk, employing different analytical techniques to do so. Chromatography-based techniques are the most prevalent means used for the analysis of EPs in milk, demonstrating significant efficiency, sensitivity, and accuracy for this specific purpose. The extraction of EPs from a complex matrix like milk is essential prior to performing chromatographic analysis. This review comprehensively covers relevant research papers on the extraction and subsequent detection and determination of EPs in milk using chromatographic methods from 2018 to 2023.