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. 2021 Sep;199(9):3303-3311.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-020-02470-8. Epub 2020 Nov 12.

Heavy Metals in Raw Milk and Dietary Exposure Assessment in the Vicinity of Leather-Processing Plants

Chuanyou Su #  1   2 , Huimin Liu #  1 , Xueyin Qu  3 , Xuewei Zhou  1 , Yanan Gao  1 , Hongjian Yang  2 , Nan Zheng  1 , Jiaqi Wang  4
Affiliations

Heavy Metals in Raw Milk and Dietary Exposure Assessment in the Vicinity of Leather-Processing Plants

Chuanyou Su et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the contamination levels of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) in raw milk and the subsequent potential health risk to local consumers close to leather-processing plants in China. The As and Pb concentrations in milk from contaminated areas were 0.43 ± 0.21 and 2.86 ± 0.96 μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than in milk from unpolluted farm, with values of 0.20 ± 0.05 and 2.32 ± 0.78 μg/L, respectively. The Cr and Cd levels in milk from contaminated areas were 1.21 ± 1.57 and 0.15 ± 0.04 μg/L, respectively, which were slightly higher than in milk from unpolluted farm, with values of 0.87 ± 0.61 and 0.13 ± 0.04 μg/L, respectively, (P > 0.05). Target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values for As, Pb, Cr, and Cd from milk consumption were calculated for individuals aged 3 to 69. The THQ followed a descending order of As > Pb > Cr > Cd, with values of 0.0066-0.0441, 0.0033-0.0220, 0.0019-0.0124, and 0.0007-0.0046, respectively. The HI values (0.0124-0.0832) were far below the threshold of 1.

Keywords: Arsenic; China; Heavy metals; Lead; Leather-processing plants; Risk assessment.

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