Survey of lead in green cheese from Baia Mare area during 2007-2010 period.

Abstract

Lead is a pervasive environmental pollutant with potential public health hazard as a food contaminant of animal origin. The aim of the study was the evaluation of green cheese contamination with lead in nine surrounding localities around the industrial area Baia Mare (0-60 km). Lead determination was carried out during 2007-2010 periods on 272 green cheese samples collected from free market or private households. Lead concentration was measured by mass spectrometer with inductive coupled plasma (ICP-MS) Perkin Elmer. Lead mean concentration in green cheese was inversely, not always significantly correlated to distance from the polluting source, lead levels decreasing significantly only in samples originating from localities between 5 to 10 km. Comparing the lead levels from the industrial area with the levels obtained from the control area (Sighetul MarmaŃiei), the values were significantly higher during the entire period. Nevertheless, the samples from localities between 6 to 10 km were not significantly modified during 2008-2010 for the localities placed at 6 km and in 2010 for the localities at 7 km. Lead mean level presented an yearly decrease tendency in green cheese samples originating from either polluted or unpolluted areas. There were significant differences in the polluted area samples in 2010 comparative to 2007. The mean annual lead level surpassed the maximum levels according to Commission of Regulation (E.C.) 1881/2006 (0.1 mg/kg), excepting those in unpolluted control area.