Survey of Lead in Milk from Baia Mare Area during 2007-2010 Period
Abstract
The presence of heavy metals in milk and milk products represents a high risk for human health and therefore monitoring of heavy metals is compulsory. The aim of the study was the evaluation of milk contamination with lead in nine surrounding localities of industrial area Baia Mare (0-60 km). Lead determination was carried out during 2007-2010 period on 207 milk samples collected from free market or private households and originated from different localities situated at increasing distances from polluting source, Baia Mare industry (S.C. Romplumb S.A. and S.C. Cuprom Bucuresti/Baia Mare-branch). Lead was determined by mass spectrometer with inductive coupled plasma (ICP-MS) Perkin Elmer. The mean concentration of lead in milk was inversely but not significantly (p>0.05) correlated to the distance from the polluting source, lead levels decreasing significantly (p <0.05) only in samples from Baia Sprie (8 km) in 2008 and TăuŃii Magherăus (10 km) in 2007-2009 period. Comparative to the control, unpolluted area (Sighetul MarmaŃiei), in samples from each location, each year, lead levels were significantly (more frequently p< 0.001) higher. Lead mean level presented a yearly not significant (p>0.05) up and down tendency in milk samples from either polluted or unpolluted areas. Mean annual lead level, excepting those in control, unpolluted area, over passed the maximum levels according to Commission Regulation (E.C.) 1881/2006 (0.02 mg/kg) in each year and entire period with minimum 22% in 2010 and maximum 37% in 2007.a) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
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