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Comprehensive Assessment of Essential and Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Bovine Milk and Their Feeds in Different Agro-climatic Zones of Sri Lanka

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Abstract

Fresh milk is an important source of essential mineral supplement for humans. However, the levels of trace elements in milk are an important component of its safety and quality. Trace elements also act as a bio-indicator of agricultural pollution. Samples of raw cow milk (n = 68), animal feed [forage (n = 36) and concentrates (n = 14)], and water (n = 35) were collected from different agro-climatic regions of Sri Lanka. The concentrations of 15 trace elements including toxic heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and As were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted digestion. Among the studied trace elements, the mean elemental concentrations of Se, Cd, As, and Cu in cow milk were 18.1, 1.45, 7.35, and 71.7 μg L−1, respectively. The mean concentrations of these elements in forage were 0.216, 0.066, 0.046, and 9.21 mg kg−1, and in concentrate feed were 0.329, 0.202, 0.229, and 2.28 mg kg−1, respectively. The As content of the studied milk was well below the maximum permissible level while 15% of the samples had Pb exceeding the permissible limit of 20 μg L−1. However, As, Cd, and Pb levels in drinking water provided to animals were well below the WHO permissible limits. The results of this study revealed that the trace elements in cow milk depend mainly on the feed, and hence, levels of these contaminants in feed materials should be monitored. Although due to the consumption of milk, the populations have a minor exposure to trace elements and also minimum health risks, a detailed study with a large number of samples is highly recommended.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the National Livestock Development Board and farms that have kindly cooperated in collecting samples.

Funding

The work of this research was funded by the National Research Council (NRC) of Sri Lanka - Target Oriented Research Grant (TO 14-05) offered to RC. Sample collection was carried out under the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA CRP D52038 grant offered to CKD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instrument Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    Saranga Diyabalanage

  2. Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, Orugodawatta, Wellampitiya, Sri Lanka

    Maheshika Darshani Kalpage & Champa Kumari Kularatne Dissanayake

  3. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Dinithi Gayangi Mohotti & Rohana Chandrajith

  4. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Ruchika Fernando

  5. Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Russell David Frew

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  1. Saranga Diyabalanage
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  2. Maheshika Darshani Kalpage
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  4. Champa Kumari Kularatne Dissanayake
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Correspondence to Rohana Chandrajith.

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Diyabalanage, S., Kalpage, M.D., Mohotti, D.G. et al. Comprehensive Assessment of Essential and Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Bovine Milk and Their Feeds in Different Agro-climatic Zones of Sri Lanka. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 1377–1388 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02242-4

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