Ecological and Health Risk Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Natural and Powdered Milk for the Baby and Their Foods Available for Consumption in AL-Amirah City – Iraq

Abstract

This study focused on estimating lead and cadmium levels in 108 samples dedicated to feeding children, including buffaloes milk, cow’s milk, infant dried powder milk, liquid pasteurized milk, condensed milk, and food consisting of rice, wheat, cereal and fruits, from different regions and local markets from Amarah city, which is considered one of the most important components of the basic meals for children was determined using atomic absorption spectrometer. The results showed accumulations of lead and cadmium elements in the studied samples with a concentration rate of 0.95, 0.244 and 0.65, 0.146 and 0.25, 0.073 and 0.387, 0.251 and 0.499, 0.295 mg / kg in buffalos’ milk, cows, infant dried powder milk, liquid pasteurized milk and condensed milk respectively. The concentration rate for foods consisting of rice 0.279, 0.0815 mg / kg, wheat 0.227, 0.092 mg / kg, cereal 0.1965, 0.0595 mg / kg and fruits 0.317, 0.091 mg / kg for lead and cadmium, respectively. On the other hand, the results of the chemical analyze of this study showed that there is contamination with lead and cadmium elements in the studied samples and it was more than the permissible limits globally and at an insecure level for human consumption.