Cadmium and lead in water, milk and animal feeds

ABSTRACT

Drinking water, milk and animal feed [concentrates, hay and tiben] samples were collected from three dairy farms in Sharqia Governorate. The collected samples were analyzed for cadmium and lead by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The obtained results revealed that the average concentrations of cadmium and lead were 0.02 and 0.23 ppm in the examined water samples and 0.113 and 1.51 ppm in the milk samples. The average concentration of cadmium was 2.1, 2.4 and 1.5 ppm in the examined concentrates, hay and tiben, respectively. Meanwhile, the average concentration of lead in concentrates, hay and tiben was 9.87, 15.6 and 12.1 ppm, respectively. The obtained results revealed that the concentration of cadmium and lead was above the acceptable limit in the examined water, milk and animal feed. Presence of cadmium and lead in high concentrations above the acceptable level in the examined water, milk and animal feed have adverse toxic effects to man and animals consuming such contaminated materials