Toxic Elements in Sheep Milk, Whey, and Cheese from the Environmentally Burdened Area in Eastern Slovakia and Health Risk Assessment with Different Scenarios of Their Consumption.

The study aimed to determine the content of 17 elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, and Zn) in samples of sheep milk, cheese, and whey (36 samples in total) collected from a farm in an environmentally burdened area due to the long-term mining and industrial activity in Slovakia as well as to determine the possible risk of consumption via health risk assessment calculations. Consumption of 120 g of milk, 500 g of milk, 20 g of cheese, and 100 g of cheese were used in calculations for children and adults, respectively. According to the results, concentrations of four elements are controversial. Lead concentrations in all types of samples exceeded the maximum permissible lead limit in milk set by European Union legislation. The content of Se and As is problematic for children's consumption, and the target hazard quotient for As and Al is higher than one (considered potentially not safe) in all scenarios. According to the target system approach, lead concentrations in milk and cheese could adversely influence the nervous system and kidneys of adults' and children's developmental and reproductive systems. Considering the worst-case scenario, consuming sheep milk and cheese from the monitored areas could represent a risk and be potentially harmful to human health, mainly for children. However, further monitoring of the levels of elements and concentrations in environmentally burdened areas and more robust data on consumption are needed.

Mutagens in raw ewe milk in Orava region, northern Slovakia: metals.

The aim of this work was to determine the concentrations of selected mutagenic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Se) in raw ewe milk from undisturbed environment in Orava region, northern Slovakia. There are possible sources of some of the analyzed metals which may be distributed from the metallurgical plants located in the Ostrava region, Czech Republic, and Katowice, Poland. In total, forty milk samples were analyzed in June and August using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The differences in elements concentrations between the seasonal periods were not significant except of iron (p < 0.0001). The concentrations of most of the metals in ewe milk were low and under the permissible or recommended limits. However, arsenic and selenium concentrations were elevated and could pose a risk of the mutagenic effect, particularly in children. The frequency of element occurrence in June was as follows: Se > Fe > As > Cu > Mn > Ni > Co > Pb > Cr > Cd, and in August: Se > Fe = As > Cu > Mn > Pb > Co > Ni > Cr > Cd. The correlation analysis revealed very strong positive correlation between Cu:Pb (p < 0.05), very strong negative correlation between Fe:Se (p < 0.05). The strong correlations were also found between other elements. The present study showed that milk produced in the relatively undisturbed environment might contain various mutagenic elements. The relationships between the elements might result in the additive or synergistic effects of elements and increase the risk of their mutagenic effects even in low concentrations. Therefore, attention must be paid to the monitoring of metals in the areas where food sources destined especially for child nutrition are produced.

Determination of Essential and Toxic Elements in Raw Sheep's Milk from Area of Slovakia with Environmental Burden.

Concentrations of selected essential (Ca, Mg, Zn, Se, Fe, Cu) and toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Ni) were analyzed in milk of sheep (300 ewes of Tsigai breed) depending on lactation stage in area of Slovakia with slightly disturbed environment. To determine the real state of environment in the selected area, the study was extended to include analyses of the soil and animal feed (green pastures). Analyses of elements in soil were performed using ICP-OES and elements in feed and milk using the AAS-HG, AES-ICP, AAS-ETA, AAS-AMA, and AAS-F. Analyses of soil samples and feed samples revealed the presence of toxic elements in this area, but their concentrations did not affect concentrations in milk and were below the LOQ (limit quantification). Significant decrease of Ca as well as Mg and Zn (P < 0.05) concentrations was found between early and middle stages of lactation and significant increase between the middle and late of lactation period. Concentration of Se and Fe in milk during the lactation significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the last stage of lactation. Concentration of Cu in milk of sheep was below LOQ during all stages of lactation. In the milk of sheep during the lactation stages, the significant positive correlations between concentrations of the following elements were observed: Ca-Mg, Fe-Se, Ca-Se, Ca-Fe, Mg-Se, Mg-Fe, Ca-Zn, and Mg-Zn. The low concentrations, below LOQ of selected toxic elements in milk of ewes, indicate the safety of this milk for direct consumption or for further food processing.

Concentrations of toxic metals and essential elements in raw cow milk from areas with potentially undisturbed and highly disturbed environment in Slovakia.

Dietary composition and husbandry practices largely determine the essential trace element status and the toxic metal exposure of livestock and consequently their concentrations in animal products. The main objective of this study was to determine the real contamination of selected areas of Slovakia compared with existing Environmental regionalization of the Slovak Republic (SR) created by the Ministry of the Environment SR. Another aim of this study was to determine the content of essential and toxic metals in feed and milk of dairy cows on selected farms in Slovakia referred to the suitability of the use of milk from these areas to other food processing. This article deals with the analysis of the content of selected elements in feed and milk of dairy cows in the area of Novot (Northern Slovakia; area with undisturbed environment) and Cecejovce (Eastern Slovakia; highly disturbed environment). Eleven elements have been analyzed (essential elements: calcium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, copper; toxic elements: arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel). Samples of feed and milk were collected five times during the spring season and five times during the autumn season in 2016. Analysis of samples was performed in Eurofins Bel/Novamann (Nové Zámky, Slovak Republic). Analyses were performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy and atomic emission spectrometry. The obtained values of the individual elements in the feed and milk were evaluated by Student's t test. Significantly higher contents of essential elements Ca, Zn, Fe, Mg, and Cu were found in the feed of dairy cows in Cecejovce (P < 0.001). Significantly higher (P < 0.001) As and Ni content in feed in Cecejovce in autumn season was also recorded. However, the content of these elements in feed did not affect their milk content. The content of Ca, Zn, and Mg in milk was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in Novot in both investigated seasons. Some essential elements and toxic elements in feed and milk were below the LOQ (limit of quantification). Reduced content of Ca and Zn in milk in both farms compared with optimal limits, decreased Ca and Mg content in feed in Novot, and a significant increase of Ca and Mg in feed in Cecejovce in autumn season were found. It can be concluded, due to the low content of toxic elements on these farms, that the use of milk of dairy cows from these areas for direct use or for dairy product processing is appropriate and poses no health risk to the consumers.