Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

ICP-MS Analysis of Trace Element Concentrations in Cow’s Milk Samples from Supermarkets in Istanbul, Turkey

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Milk is a very important content of the human diet. The present study was performed to determine the concentrations of trace and toxic trace elements in 21 different milk samples in Turkish supermarkets. We aimed to evaluate the potential health risks of toxic elements to humans through ingestion. The concentrations of 19 elements lithium (Li), beryllium (Be), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb), barium (Ba), lead (Pb), bismuth (Bi), mercury (Hg), thallium (Tl), and uranium (U) in milk samples were determined by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The accuracy and precision of the method were verified by experiments. Nutritional trace elements were found to be below their reference intake levels. Although we found wide variation between the toxic element levels in the samples, none of the concentrations reached a health-threatening level. This is the first study presenting a wide range of elements including the toxic ones in a different variety of milk samples sold throughout the Turkish supermarkets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. (NCM) National Council on Milk. Turkey Milk Industry Statistics Summary Report (2017)

  2. Pilarczyk R, Wójcik J, Czerniak P, Sablik P, Pilarczyk B, Tomza-Marciniak A (2013) Concentrations of toxic heavy metals and trace elements in raw milk of Simmental and Holstein-Friesian cows from organic farm. Environ Monit Assess 185:8383–8392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3180-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN (2014) Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol 7(2):60–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Şemen S, Mercan S, Yayla M, Açıkkol M (2017) Elemental composition of green coffee and its contribution to dietary intake. Food Chem 15(215):92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.07.176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. European Commission (2006) European commission, regulation (EC) no. 1881 (2006): 19 of December 2006, setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Official Journal, L364:5–24

  6. Rehnberg GL, Strong AB, Porter CR, Carter MW (1969) Levels of stable strontium in milk and the total diet. Environ Sci Technol 3(2):171–173. https://doi.org/10.1021/es60025a005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gimou MM, Pouillot R, Charrondiere UR, Noël L, Guérin T, Leblanc JC (2014) Dietary exposure and health risk assessment for 14 toxic and essential trace elements in Yaoundé: the Cameroonian total diet study. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A 31(6):1064–1080. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2014.909953

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ozgur S, Sümer H, Koçoğlu G (1996) Rickets and soil strontium. Arch Dis Child 75:524–526

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Burger A, Lichtscheidl I (2019) Strontium in the environment: review about reactions of plants towards stable and radioactive strontium isotopes. Sci Total Environ 653(2019):1458–1512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Akele ML, Abebe DZ, Alemu AK, Assefa AG, Madhusudhan A, de Oliveira RR (2017) Analysis of trace metal concentrations in raw cow’s milk from three dairy farms in North Gondar, Ethiopia: chemometric approach. Environ Monit Assess 189:499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6203-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cadar O, Tănaselia C, Miclean M, Levei E, Şenilă M, Şenilă L (2016) Analysis of minor and trace elements in cow, goat and sheep milk in the NW part of Romania. ProEnvironment Promediu 9(26):67–70

    Google Scholar 

  12. O'Kane SM, Pourshahidi LK, Mulhern MS, Weir RR, Hill S, O'Reilly J, Kmiotek D, Deitrich C, Mackle EM, Fitzgerald E, Lowis C, Johnston M, Strain JJ, Yeates AJ (2018) The effect of processing and seasonality on the iodine and selenium concentration of cow’s milk produced in Northern Ireland (NI): implications for population dietary intake. Nutrients 10(3):287. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10030287

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rey-Crespo F, Miranda M, López-Alonso M (2013) Essential trace and toxic element concentrations in organic and conventional milk in NW Spain. Food Chem Toxicol 55:513–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.01.040

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gong J, Xiao M (2016) Selenium and antioxidant status in dairy cows at different stages of lactation. Biol Trace Elem Res 171:89–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0513-2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Qu XY, Zheng N, Zhou XW, Li SL, Wang JQ, Zhang WJ (2018) Analysis and risk assessment of seven toxic element residues in raw bovine milk in China. Biol Trace Elem Res 183:92–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-1116-x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Farid SM, Enani MA, Wajid SA (2004) Determination of trace elements in cow’s milk in Saudi Arabia. JKAU: Eng Sci 15(2):131–140

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sola-Larrañaga C, Navarro-Blasco I (2009) Chemometric analysis of minerals and trace elements in raw cow milk from the community of Navarra, Spain. Food Chem Volume 112, Issue 1, 1 January, 189–196. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.05.062

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Cashman KD (2011) Trace elements, nutritional significance. In Encyclopedia of dairy science 2nd edition, Vol. 3, (Academic press, 2011), pp. 933–940

  19. Pechová A, Pavlata I, Dvořák R, Lokajová E (2008) Contents of Zn, Cu, Mn and Se in milk in relation to their concentrations in blood, milk yield and stage of lactation in dairy cattle. Acta Vet BRNO 77:523–531. https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200877040523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Juhlin J, Fikse WF, Örde-Öström IL, Barrefors P, Lundén A (2010) Factors relating to incidence of spontaneous oxidized flavor and copper in cow’s milk. Acta Agric Scand, Sect A—Anim Sci 60(2):94–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2010.488270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Flynn A (1992) Minerals and trace elements in Milk. Adv Food Nutr Res 36:209–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Archibald JG (1958) Dairy Sci Abstr 20:711

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tsongas TA, Meglen R, Walravens PA, Chappell WR (1980) Molybdenum in the diet: an estimate of average daily intake in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr 33:1103–1107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (1996) Trace elements in human nutrition and health. Geneva : World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/37931/Accessed 31 January 2019

  25. Baastrup PC, Schou M (1967) Lithium as a prophylactic agents. Its effect against recurrent depressions and manic-depressive psychosis. Arch Gen Psychiatry 16(2):162–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Nabrzyski M, Gajewska R (2002) Content of strontium, lithium and calcium in selected milk products and in some marine smoked fish. Nahrung Jun 46(3):204–208. https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-3803(20020501)46:3<204::AID-FOOD204>3.0.CO;2-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Murthy GK, Thomas JW (1974) Trace elements in milk. CRC Crit Rev Environ Control 4(1–4):1–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643387409381609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Jensen RG (1995) Handbook of milk composition. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384430-9.X5000-8

  29. Archibald JG (1947) Cobalt in cows’ milk. J Dairy Sci 30(5):293–297. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(47)92352-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rosas I, Belmont R, Armienta A, Baez A (1999) Arsenic concentrations in water, soil, milk and forage in Comarca Lagunera, México. Water Air Soil Pollut 112:133–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Pena Betancourt SD, Posadas Pena SD (2018) Detection of lead and cadmium in milk from Holstein cattle located in Mexico City. EC Nutrition 13:6

    Google Scholar 

  32. EEC (2008) Amending Council Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs as regards recommended daily allowances, energy conversion factors and definitions. Official Journal of the European Union, Commission directive 2008/100/EC

  33. EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (2015) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Database. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/iris. Accessed 21.01.2019

  34. MAFF (1997) Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 1994 Total Diet Study: Metals and Other Elements. Food Surveillance Information Sheet No 131

  35. WHO (1996) Thallium—International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). Environmental Health Criteria Document No. 182, WHO Geneva

  36. Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS) (2009) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Risk Assessment Information System. Available at http://risk.lsd.ornl.gov. Accessed on 27/01/2019

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr. Selda Mercan for laboratory analysis and Dr. F. Sinem Hocaoglu-Emre for evaluating the data and checking the manuscript.

Funding

This study did not receive any specific grant or support from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey

    Devrim Saribal

Authors
  1. Devrim Saribal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Devrim Saribal.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saribal, D. ICP-MS Analysis of Trace Element Concentrations in Cow’s Milk Samples from Supermarkets in Istanbul, Turkey. Biol Trace Elem Res 193, 166–173 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01708-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01708-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation