Abstract
The paper focuses on determining the content of monitored contaminants (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in 53 samples of raw sheep milk collected in 2013 and 2014 on the sites Poráč and Matejovce nad Hornádom (middle Spiš). The area is characterized by historical mining and metalworking activity (mining and processing of polymetallic ores rich in Hg, Cd and Pb). Currently, the area is one of the most mercury contaminated areas in Central Europe. All statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical software Statistica 10.0 (Statsoft, USA). Descriptive data analysis included minimum value, maximum value, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The results of the studied contaminant content show that the limit value for cadmium (10 μg.kg-1) was exceeded in 25 samples. In the case of lead, the limit value of 20 μg.kg-1 was exceeded in 16 cases. The limit value for copper (0.4 mg.kg-1) was exceeded in one case. The limit value for zinc is not defined by a legislative standard. The risk level of the studied contaminants in the samples of raw sheep milk decreases as follows: Cd > Pb > Hg > Cu > Zn. It can be concluded that frequent and long-term consumption of the raw sheep milk originating from the studied sites poses a health risk. The content of the contaminants in the milk and their eventual transition into dairy products should be monitored over a longer term in more detail.
Highlights
Heavy metals and/or trace elements are ubiquitous components of the environment that may be of natural origin: volcanic activity, fires, geogenic origin (Rutter et al, 2008), or anthropogenic origin: metal industry, mining, heavy industry, transportation (Cui et al, 2005; Navarro et al, 2008; Singh et al, 2005)
To evaluate a health risk resulting from the consumption of raw sheep milk, the obtained data on the content of the studied contaminants were compared with limit values defined by the Codex Alimentarius of the Slovak Republic (PK SR, 2006) and EC Regulation 1881/2006 (EC, 2006)
Due to the fact that the sites of interest were characterized in the past by intensive extraction and processing of mercury (Árvay et al, 2014), mercury is considered to be the main heavy metal in terms of quality assessment of the raw sheep milk in this paper
Summary
Heavy metals and/or trace elements are ubiquitous components of the environment that may be of natural origin: volcanic activity, fires, geogenic origin (Rutter et al, 2008), or anthropogenic origin: metal industry, mining, heavy industry, transportation (Cui et al, 2005; Navarro et al, 2008; Singh et al, 2005). The paper focuses on the evaluation of the contamination level of raw sheep milk by heavy metals To evaluate a health risk resulting from the consumption of raw sheep milk, the obtained data on the content of the studied contaminants were compared with limit values defined by the Codex Alimentarius of the Slovak Republic (PK SR, 2006) and EC Regulation 1881/2006 (EC, 2006).
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