Determination of Trace Elements in Cow's Milk in Saudi Arabia

Milk and its products are very common in our food list due to its nutrient value, since it is a source of some vitamins and a lot of mineral constituents which are necessary for proper development and functioning of different tissues and organs. However, overdose of these vitamins and mineral constituents can be harmful. This study was directed to measure the concentrations of Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu) and Lead (Pb) in cow's milk samples available commercially in Saudi Arabia using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Two types of milk samples were analyzed. These were - fresh cow's milk and liquid milk prepared from cow's milk powder. The mean elemental concentration values in ppb of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in fresh cow's milk were: (31.4 ± 0.4), (48.9 ± 0.6), (944.9 ± 2.4), (4.7 ± 0.2) and (3.5 ± 0.2) respectively. Those in cow's milk powder were :.(20.6 ± 0.8), (36.9 ± L.l), (956.8 ± 3.2), (3.1 ± 0.3), and (2.2 ± 0.2) respectively. These values are compared with Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values and also with the corresponding values of different countries available in the literature.