Determination and health risk assessment of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) in different brands of pasteurized milk

The contamination of milk and its products with heavy metals has toxic and dangerous effects on human health. This study aimed to determine the heavy metal concentration and health risk assessment resulting from them in four different brands of Pasteurized milk consumed in Gorgan city, Iran. This study was performed during three seasons (summer, autumn and winter). Sixty different samples of pasteurized milk of four common brands were selected and analysed. Samples were digested in the laboratory by using nitric acid method digestion, and the heavy metal concentration was measured by using the linear regression based on the height of the peaks of the voltammograms. Also, health risk assessment was analysed by Oracle (R) Crystal Ball. According to the results, the overall mean (n = 60) concentration of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in all of the analysed milk samples was 0.02, 0.023, 0.97 and 4.31 mu g/g, respectively. Based on these results, about 67% had Pb content lower than the codex limits, almost 70% of all milk samples had Cd content higher than the permissible limit, and Cu concentration in all milk samples was under the mentioned permissible limits. Zn concentrations in all samples were exceeded the permissible limits. HRI values in adults and children via consumption of pasteurized milk in all of the analysed samples were within the safe limits (HRI < 1). Based on these findings, monitoring of contaminants in milk and other dairy products prevented the probably side effects of these heavy metals on human health.