HEAVY METAL RESIDUES IN MILK AND . SOME DAIRY PRODUCTS IN DAMIETTA GOVERNORATE AND THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

A total of 85 random raw milk and cheese samples (40 raw cow's I

milk and 45 samples from Damietta, hard and processed cheeses "15 I samples each") were collected from different outlets in Damietta I I Govemorate during the period from October 1999 to September 2000. Raw I milk samples were collected from different dairies along the main road of I heavy traffics during summer and winter seasons. All samples were I digested and analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. for I

determination of lead, cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc.

Lead concentration in raw milk ranged from 0.850 to 2.725 ppm with a mean of 1.885 ppm during summer season, while in winter samples it varied from 0.850 to 4.050 ppm with a mean of 2.268 ppm, meanwhile, the overall mean of lead was 2.076 ppm in examined raw milk samples. Statistical analysis showed that 37 (92.5%) out of 40 raw milk samples having lead level above its permissible limit. The calculated daily intake of lead was 415.2 µg for adult person and this amount representing 83.04% of provisional Acceptable Daily Intake. Cadmium level in raw milk samples v ranged from 0.058 to 0.308 ppm with a mean of 0.120 ppm during summer season, while it varied from 0.108 to 0.883 ppm with a mean of 0.361 ppm • during winter season. It was noticed a highly significant seasonal variation of Cd levels during two different seasons (P<O.O 1 ). The overall mean of Cd

was 0.241 ppm. Statistical analysis indicated that 33 (82.5%) out of 40 raw milk samples having Cd above its permissible limit. The calculated daily intake of Cd was 48.2 µg for adult person and this value representing 68.85% of provisional ADI. Mercury levels in raw milk samples ranged