Abstract

Heavy metal contamination is a rising issue in food safety and quality due to its negative effects on human health. Increased urbanization and industrialization have led to heavy metals entering the food chain through natural (High backyard) and anthropogenic sources (mineral fertilizers, industries, and polluted water). These sources directly or indirectly contaminated human food through air, water and soil uptake which cause various diseases like kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, stomach disease, lungs and carcinogenic in large exposure. The present study was conducted to measure the total concentration of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) in three milk sources i.e., Brands, Dairy and Vendors through nitric acid (HNO3) digestion method using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Samples were collected from Raiwand, a region of Punjab, Pakistan. Results were analyzed with the permissible limits of heavy metals as per WHO-FAO regulations and the impacts of these trace heavy metals on the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and overall Health index (HI). Among the three milk sources studied, vendor milk showed higher levels of Cd, Pb and Cu contamination than the other samples. More than 80% of tested milk samples Cd, Pb, and Cu samples lie beyond the prescribed permissible limits in all sources. Still, there is a negligible effect on consumer health as per the defined THQ and HI as it's below the defined permissible limit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of ≤ 1.0. The children are supposed to be more affected by consuming vendors’ milk as significantly different from THQ and HI as compared to adults. Overall reduction was observed in the study metals concentration as compared to the previous studies in Pakistan and worldwide after the implication of Food Department (PFA) and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) regulations.