Minerals and heavy metals in raw and ultra heat treated commercial milks in Pakistan

Abstract

The study was aimed at assessment of heavy metals in street vended raw and branded milk to identify possible gateways of milk toxicity. 15 samples of processed and 24 of raw milk were collected from Multan city. Atomic absorption spectrometry revealed milk offered for sale in the region to be potentially contaminated with higher levels of some most critical elements i.e. Pb (0.048 – 0.418mgL^-1), Cd (0.0015 - 0.125 mgL^-1), Ni (0.044 - 0.294 mgL^-1), and Cu (0.0037 - 0.273 mgL^-1). Exceptionally higher levels of Cd (0.102 mgL^-1) were recovered in street vended raw milk as compared to processed branded milk (0.042 mgL^-1). The study signified deleterious outcomes of industrial and agricultural revolution parallel to poor phyto-sanitory and sanitary measures during animal feeding and milking. The study suggest comprehensive and nationwide survey to identify the metal polluted red zones, their toxicity levels and milk intoxicating channels either from environment, animal feed or water.