Assessment of milk contamination by some heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and mercury) of dairy cattle herd in Qazvin province and its effects on human health

Document Type : Full Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Animal ScienceResearch Department, QazvinAgricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, , AREEO, Qazvin, Iran

2 Department, Qazvin Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Qazvin, Iran

3 Animal Science Research Department, Qazvin Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Qazvin, Iran

4 Qazvin Livestock Farmers Union Laboratory

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of some heavy metals in the milk produced by dairy farms in Qazvin province. For this study, milk samples of 35 industrial dairy herds under the auspices of the Livestock Breeders Union of Qazvin province in different cities including Abyek, Qazvin, Takestan, Buin Zahra and Alborz were collected by direct reference in two consecutive days. Immediately after sampling, the samples were sent to a specialized laboratory for measuring levels of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and mercury. Then, the obtained data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. The results showed that the concentrations of lead, cadmium and chromium in the produced milk were 1.43± 3.77, 0.70± 2.24 and 1.07±1.27 μg / kg respectively.  There was no significant difference in the concentration of these elements among different cities. The concentrations of nickel and mercury in the produced milk were 0.63± 0.30 and 0.39± 0.37 μg / kg respectively. In terms of nickel and mercury concentrations, the difference between different cities of the province was significant and in Abyek was higher than others (P=0.02 and p=0.02 respectively). In conclusion, concentrations of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and mercury) in milk produced in dairy farms was less than the standard levels, thus milk produced in Qazvin province can be considered as a healthy product from heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and mercury) for human consumption.
 

Keywords


1.Anetta, L. 2012. Concentration of selected elements in raw and ultra-heat treated cow milk. Journal of microbiology. Biotechnology and food sciences 2: 795–802.
2.Bakircioglu, D., Y. B. Kurtulus, and G. Ucar. 2011. Determination of some traces metal levels in cheese samples packaged in plastic and tin containers by ICP-OES after dry, wet and microwave digestion. Food and Chemical Toxicology 49 (1): 202-207.
3.Bilandžić, N., M. Dokić, M. Sedak, B. Solomun, I. Varenina, Z. Knežević and M. Benić. 2011. Trace element levels in raw milk from northern and southern regions of Croatia. Food Chemistry 127: 63-66.
4.Bluthgen, A. H. 2000. Contamination of milk from feed. Bulletin of the international dairy federation 356: 43-47.
5.Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881. 2006. Setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.
6.Coni, E., A. Bocca, P. Coppolelli, S. Caroli, C. Cavallucci and M. T. Marinucci. 1996. Minor and trace element content in sheep and goat milk and dairy products. Food Chemistry. 57: 253–260.
7.Eftekhari, M., M. Mostashari-Mohasses and M. Hadi-Tavatori. 2016. Chromium and its role in glucose metabolism and nutrition of dairy cows. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources 5(19): 12-22.
8.FAO. 2017. Food and agricultural organization. Available from: http://www.fao.org/agriculture/dairy-gateway/milk-and-milk-products/en/#.VXCwWs9Viko.
9.Gumpu, M. B., S. Sethuraman, U. M. Krishnan and J. B. B. Rayappan. 2015. A review on detection of heavy metal ions in water–An electrochemical approach. Sensors and actuators B: chemical 213: 515-33.
10.Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. 2011. Food & Feed-Maximum limit of heavy metals. ISIRI No. 12968. Karaj: ISIRI. 
11.IDF Standard. 1979. Metal contamination in milk and milk products. Int. Dairy Fed. Bull. Document no. A. Doe37
12.Ismail, A., M. Riaz, S. Akhtar, J. E. Goodwill and J. Sun. 2017. Heavy metals in milk: global prevalence and health risk assessment. Toxin Reviews38: 1, 1-12.
13.Ismail, A., M. Riaz, S. Akhtar, T. Ismail, M. Amir and M. Zafar-ul-Hye. 2014. Heavy metals in vegetables and respective soils irrigated by canal, municipal waste and tube well waters. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part B 7(3): 213-19.
14.Khan, N., I. S. Jeong, I. M. Hwang, J. S. Kim, S. H. Choi, E. Y. Nho, J. Y. Choi, K. S. Park and K. S. Kim. 2014. Analysis of minor and trace elements in milk and yogurts by inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Food Chemistry 147: 220-224. 
15.Meshref, A. M. S., W. A. Moselhy, N. El-Houda and Y. Hassan. 2014. Heavy metals and trace elements levels in milk and milk products. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization. 8(4): 381-8. 
16.Miclean, M., O. Cadar, E. A. Levei, R. Roman, A. Ozunu and L. Levei. 2019.  Metal (Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn) Transfer along Food Chain and Health Risk Assessment through Raw Milk Consumption from Free-Range Cows. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, 4064: 1-14.
17.Najarnezhad, v., M. Akbarabadi. 2013. Heavy metals in raw cow and ewe milk from north-east Iran, Food Additives & Contaminants: Part B 6:3, 158-162.
18.Noel, L., R. Chekri, S. Millour, C. Vastel, A. Kadar, V. Sirot, J. C. Leblanc, T. Guerin. 2012. Li, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo levels in foodstuffs from the Second French TDS. Food Chemistry 132:1502-1513.
19.Nordberg, G.F., B. A. Fowler, M. Nordberg and L.T. Friberg. 2007. In: Handbook on the toxicology of metals (3rd ed.). Academic Press Inc., USA.
20.Ogabiela, E. E., U. U. Udiba, O. B. A. desina, C. Hammuel, F. A. Ade–Ajayi, G. G. Yebpella, U. J. Mmereole and M. Abdullahi. 2011. Assessment of metal levels in fresh milk from cows grazed around Challawa industrial estate of Kano, Nigeria. Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research 1: 533-538.
21.Pilarczyk, R., J. Wojcik, P. Czerniak, P. Sablik, B. Pilarczyk, A. Tomza-Marciniak. 2013. Concentrations of toxic heavy metals and trace elements in raw milk of Simmental and Holstein–Friesian cows from farm. Environ. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185: 8383-8392.
22.Qin, L. Q., X. P. Wang, W. Li, X. Tongand W. J. Tong. 2009. The minerals and heavy metals in cow’s milk from China and Japan. Journal Health Science 55(2): 300-305.
23.Rey-Crespo, F., M. Miranda and M. López-Alonso. 2013. Essential trace and toxic element concentrations in organic and conventional milk in NW Spain. Food and Chemical Toxicology 55: 513-518. 
24.Richards, L.A. 1968. Agriculture Handbook No. 60: Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkaline soils. IBH Publications Company, New Delhi, India.
25.Simsek, O., R. Gultekin, O. Oksuz and S. Kurultay. 2000. The effect of environmental pollution on the heavy metal in content of raw milk. Food/Nahrung 44 (5): 360-363.
26.Sola-Larrañaga, C and I. Navarro-Blasco. 2009. Chemometric analysis of minerals and trace elements in raw cow milk from the community of Navarra, Spain. Food Chemistry 112: 189-196. 
27.Swarup, D., R. C. Patra, R. Naresh, P. Kumar, P Shekhar. 2005. Blood lead levels in lactating cows reared around polluted localities; Transfer of lead into milk. Science of the Total Environment. 15(1-3): 67-71.
28.Zain, S.M., S. Behkami, S. Bakirdere and I. B. Koki. 2016. Milk authentication and discrimination via metal content clustering – a case of comparing milk from Malaysia and selected countries of the world. Food Control 66: 306-314.
29.Zheng, N., Q. Wang, X. Zhang, D. Zheng, Z. Zhang, S. Zhang. 2007. Population health risk due to dietary intake of heavy metals in the industrial area of Huludao city, China. Science of the Total Environment 387: 96–104.