HEAVY METAL ASSESSMENT IN POWDER MILK SAMPLES FOR CHILDREN IN KERBELA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

Abstract

In this research, six heavy metals such as cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in children's powder milk used by children at three age-old; first from 1 to 6 month, second from 6 to 12 month, and third from 1 to 2 year. Powder milk samples were collected from local markets in Karbala Governorate, Iraq. Heavy metals were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Alas, some of the health risk parameters due to heavy metals in the present study such as Estimation of daily intake, Target Hazard Quotient, Hazard Index, and cancer risk were calculated. The results showed that the average values of Co, Cr, Se, Zn, Pb, and Cd concentration for all samples of powder milk in parts per million (µg/kg) were 100.25±16.69, 32.73±3.66, 79.62±11.38, 78±1.11, 63.92±7.72, and 1.11±0.16, respectively. While, the average values of the Target Hazard Quotient for all samples in the current work were 0.069±0.013, 0.228±0.031, 0.336±0.05, 0.005±0.0003, 0.338±0.052, and 0.021±0.002, respectively. Moreover, the average values of cancer risk due to Pb and Cd in all samples of the present study were 1.13E-05±7.43E-6 and 7.46E-6±8.15E-7, respectively.  According to the safe limits of heavy metals recommended by WHO and EPA, the results of Pb concentration in most samples were high. While, the values of health risk parameters did not exceed the permissible limits.