Assessment of Toxic Metals in Dairy Milk and Animal Feed in Peshawar, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

Aims: To assess the concentration of toxic heavy metals [Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Nickle] in dairy milk and animal feed of urban and rural areas and correlate them. Study Design: It was a cross-sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study The study was conducted on the dairy milk and animal feed in milk farms of Peshawar. The samples were collected during June – July of 2010. Methodology: The study area was divided into two zones urban area which was located in the centre of the city and rural area comprising of peri urban villages. Fifty milk samples were collected, 30 from urban and 20 from rural areas. Feed samples were also collected. Milk and feed samples were prepared by wet digestion method using HNO3 and H2O2 as described by Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) of North America, 1990. This was followed by analysis on Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Results: The results showed that the mean concentration of toxic heavy metals under study namely Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Nickle were greater in dairy milk than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of these elements as given by Joint Expert Committee on Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization. In comparison of urban and rural areas it was found that higher concentration of Cadmium, Copper, and Nickle was found