Review on Chemical Residues in Milk and Their Public Health Concern in Ethiopia

Samuel Aytenfsu,Gezehegne Mamo

doi:10.4172/2155-9600.1000524

Samuel Aytenfsu, Gezehegne Mamo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9600.1000524

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Abstract

Chemical residues which could contaminants cow milk are chlorinated pesticides, organophosphates, herbicides, fungicides, antihelminthetic drugs, antibiotic, hormones, detergents and disinfectants, nitrites, poly chlorinated, poly brominated biphenyles, dioxins, mycotoxins, heavy metals and somatotropin hormone. Antibiotics such as betalactams, tetracycline, amino glycosides (e.g. streptomycin, neomycin and gentamycin), macrolides (e.g. erythromycin) and sulfonamides are the source of residues. Because of the public health significance, milk and milk products contaminated with antibiotics beyond a given residue levels, considered unfit for human consumption. Problems associated with antibiotic residues in milk include the risk of allergic reactions and occurrence of antibioticresistant bacteria, teratogenicity risk to the foetus, hypoplasia in developing teeth, aplasia of bone marrow, chronic insidious intake lead to elevated cancer risk and disruption of body’s reproductive, immune, endocrine and nervous system. Organochlorine pesticides are substances containing contaminants classes: The dichlorodiphenylethanes, the chlorinated cyclodienes (aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, etc.), and the hexachlorocyclohexanes (lindane). The most common effects of the wide spread of organochlorine compounds in the environment are birth defects, neurological effects, behavioral effects, reproductive effects and cancer. The occurrence of chemical residues in the milk of lactating cows is a matter of public health concern, since dairy products are widely consumed by infants, children and many adults throughout the world. Governments have responsibility for making regulations to protect consumers against harm arising from chemical in food. The regulation of illegal residues in foods is a cooperative effort of Food Safety and Inspection Services, Feed and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. However, in Ethiopia not yet attention given regarding to set standards, control measures and monitoring program of chemical residues in animal originated foodstuff.

Highlights

Milk production inextricably linked to the environment
Animals may become exposed to chemical substances during their production cycle which have been identified to date could come from drugs aimed at treating diseases or application of chemicals for the control of weeds, insects, fungi and rodents has enabled agricultural productivity and intensity to increase
Heat treatments like pasteurization were not effective in the reduction of formation of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) [33]. It has relatively increased in cheese samples because of its affinity to casein fraction in milk and due to the water solubility of this toxin lower level of AFM1 found in cream and butter than that of bulk-tank milk. All of these findings indicated that AFM1 with different levels could be available in dairy products made from contaminated milk

Summary

Introduction

Milk production inextricably linked to the environment. Animals may become exposed to chemical substances during their production cycle which have been identified to date could come from drugs aimed at treating diseases or application of chemicals for the control of weeds, insects, fungi and rodents has enabled agricultural productivity and intensity to increase. Chemical residues which have been or are found in milk are chlorinated pesticides, organophosphates, herbicides, fungicides, antihelminthetic drugs, antibiotic, detergents and disinfectants, nitrites, polychlorinated, poly brominated biphenyles, dioxins, mycotoxins, heavy metals and somatotropin hormone Any of these compounds may persist at collection, preparation processes of dairy products and they considered as residues [2,3,4]. Most of chemical contaminants in milk and dairy products are antimicrobials (antibiotics and sulfonamides), anthelminthitic drugs, pesticides, detergents and disinfectants, nitrites, polychlorinated, dioxins, mycotoxins, heavy metals and somatotropin hormone [18]. All of these findings indicated that AFM1 with different levels could be available in dairy products made from contaminated milk This subject is a serious problem for the public health since all the age groups including infants and children consume these products worldwide. It defined as being the time required after a drug administered to an animal to ensure that drug residues in marketable products (meat, milk, eggs, viscera or other edible products) are below a determined maximum residue limit (MRL) (Table 3) [41]

Conclusions and Recommendations

Findings

Conflict of Interest