This study detected and determined the hazard quotient of residue levels associated with ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline in milk and milk products vended in Zaria and Sabon-gari Local Government Areas. Overall, 400 milk and fermented milk products were gathered randomly. After screening via a microbial inhibition assay, sixty-five (65) samples showed the presence of antagonistic agents. The residues of ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and were detected in 29 (44.62%), 21 (32.31%), 21 (32.31%), and 34 (52.31%) samples respectively. The residual levels in all the positive samples for ampicillin and ciprofloxacin exceeded the Codex Alimentarius Commission's recommended limits. In contrast, residue levels exceeded the Codex limits in 15 (71.43%) gentamicin samples and 32 (94.12%) tetracycline samples. The mean residue levels of ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline were 429.70±297.12, 374.28±262.74, 411.52±226.73, and 407.60±262.69 µg/L, respectively. In Nigeria, the average per capita milk consumption contributed to a mean estimated daily intake (EDI) of 0.14 for adults and 0.55 for children for ampicillin, while EDI for ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline were at 0.13 and 0.52; 0.14 and 0.57; and 0.14 and 0.54, for adult and children respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) calculated using the Nigerian average data was less than one (1) for adults and children. Based on the global average per capita milk consumption, the overall EDI values for tetracycline were 1.42 and 5.69, gentamicin was 1.50 and 6.01, ciprofloxacin was 1.37 and 5.47, and ampicillin was 1.44 and 5.75 for adult and children respectively. The HQ (Global Average) for all antibiotics was less than one in adults, but only ampicillin and ciprofloxacin exceeded one in children. The novelty of this study lies in the comprehensive assessment of the hazard quotient of antibiotic residues in milk and milk products sold in Zaria and Sabon-gari Local Government Areas.
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