The concentration of particulate matter in the barn air and its influence on the content of heavy metals in milk

Abstract

Heavy metals are one of the components of smog, which is mainly the product of burning fossil fuels in residential buildings. These elements, introduced into the body of cattle by inhalation, may enter the milk. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of particulate pollution in the atmospheric air on the concentration of particulate matter in the air of a dairy cattle barn and on the content of selected heavy metals in milk from cows present in the building. Measurements were taken between November and April (148 measurement days). The calculations carried out showed a high correlation (RS = + 0.95) between the concentrations of particulates measured outside and inside the barn, which is indicative of a significant impact of the atmospheric air on the particulate pollution level of the livestock building. The number of days in excess of the daily standard for PM10 inside was 51. The conducted analysis of the chemical composition of the milk collected under high particulate pollution (February) showed that the permitted lead level had been exceeded—21.93 µg/kg (norm 20.00 µg/kg).