Assessment of Toxic Element Contamination in Honey, Milk, and Eggs from Algiers (Algeria) Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Exploring Health Implications of Pollution.

Abstract

Consumption of foods such as milk, honey, and eggs contaminated with toxic elements above established norms poses a health risk to the population. This study explores the potential of products from beehives, poultry, and dairy as indicators of environmental pollution caused by toxic substances (Pb, Cd, Hg), seeks contamination sources, evaluates the exposure level, and assesses health risks. Through the analysis of samples from three distinct regions in Algiers, including 30 milk, 30 honey, and 30 poultry egg samples, the study assesses levels of toxic elements (lead, cadmium, and mercury) using ICP-MS and analyzes consumer exposure risk. The analysis of honey reveals levels of Pb (0.282 μg/g) > Cd (0.161 μg/g) > Hg (0.017 μg/g), the analysis of eggs shows levels of Pb (0.399 μg/g) > Cd (0.239 μg/g) > Hg (0.027 μg/g), and the results in milk show levels of Cd (0.250 μg/g) > Pb (0.131 μg/g) > Hg (0.019 μg/g). The risk analysis indicates a risk associated with milk consumption for both adults and children, whereas for honey and eggs, the risk is limited to children only in polluted areas. Future research should expand to other toxic elements in different food matrices in both northern and southern Algeria to evaluate the health risk for African and European consumers.