The occurrence of eleven elements in dairy cow´s milk, feed, and soil from three different regions of Slovakia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the concentrations of eleven essential, potentially toxic and toxic elements (arsenic – As, calcium – Ca, cadmium – Cd, copper – Cu, iron – Fe, mercury – Hg, magnesium – Mg, nickel – Ni, lead – Pb, selenium – Se, zinc- Zn) in raw cow’s milk (spring, summer, and autumn season), feed (spring and autumn season) and soil (spring season) from three different environments by routine methods in the certified testing laboratory. The samples were collected in the undisturbed region around Novoť, the moderately disturbed region around Tulčík, and the strongly disturbed region around Čečejovce. The concentrations of all toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb) and two essential elements (Cu, Se) in milk were under the limits of quantification (LOQ) from all investigated areas and during all seasons. Concentrations of other elements in milk from the undisturbed and disturbed areas were significantly different, generally with the highest levels in summer. In soil samples, the significantly highest concentrations of Ca, Cu, Ni were found in a strongly disturbed area, Mg and As in moderately disturbed area, and Fe, Se, Zn, Hg, and Pb in an undisturbed area. Cadmium was under the LOQ. In feed, the concentrations of essential elements, except of Se, were higher in the autumn. The significantly highest concentration of As, Ni were recorded in a moderately disturbed area and Pb in the undisturbed area in both seasons. Cadmium and Hg were under the LOQ. Despite the higher level of some elements in soil (Fe, Mg, Ca) from all regions, there were not elevated concentrations of any element in feed or milk. The concentrations of all toxic elements in milk were under the permitted limits. Thus, the milk from all investigated areas was not contaminated with the elements posing a health risk for consumers and it is considered safe for human consumption.

Essential and non-mutagenic elements in raw ewe milk

“…The calcium concentration in ewe milk was higher in summer. Similar results were found in a different region of Slovakia, Tulcik, where Ca concentrations in spring were significantly lower than those in summer or autumn [18]. Our results support also the conclusion of experiments with ewes, where the total calcium content tended to increase throughout the milking season with the lowest concentration in February and higher concentration in June [27] or in the late stage of lactation [28].…”

“…These compounds transfer in the environment-animal-food system and cause human health issues. The studies are often published on metal monitoring in animal milk [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Analysis of 45 trace elements and 6 macroelements (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, S) in cow milk revealed that there are clear differences between the organically and conventionally produced milk.…”

“…The relation between the metals in feed, water, and milk was reported [17]. However, no relations were found between the occurrence of toxic metals in soil, feed, and milk [18]. The elevated concentrations of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu) in the environment did not affect their concentrations in cow milk [19].…”

Evaluation of Cadmium and Copper Levels in Food Chain Under Arid Regions of Punjab, Pakistan

“…The present readings are more than the concentration range of 0.0284-0.0723 mg/L reported by Munir et al [35]. Toman et al [36] noted that the quantity of Cd in cow's milk was 0.002 mg/L, which is lower than the findings of a recently completed study, but higher than the previously reported value of Cd (0.02 mg/L) by Chirinos-Peinado and Castro-Bedriñana [37]. The mean level of Cu in the cow's milk sample varied from 0.0167 to 0.690 mg/L.…”

Content of heavy metals in cow milk-raw materials of Poltava district (Ukraine)

“…Наші дослідження збігаються з результатами авторів, які зробили висновок, що вміст Кадмію, Свинцю та Миш'яку у молоці-сировині не перевищував гранично допустимих концентрацій (Sarsembayeva et al, 2019). Таку ж тенденцію спостерігали інші вчені, які з'ясували, що концентрації одинадцяти есенціальних, потенційно токсичних та токсичних елементів (As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) у молоці окремих районів Словаччини були в межах норми (Toman et al, 2020). Подібні результати отримали також дослідники з Туреччини щодо вмісту важких металів у коров'ячому молоці-сировині (İslamoğlu et al, 2020).…”