Determination of heavy metals in cow's and buffalo's fresh raw milk from different areas of Pakistan

Purpose The presence of heavy metals in milk causes many acute and chronic physiological dysfunctions human organs. present study aims to investigate the cow's buffalo's two major cities, Karachi Gujranwala, Pakistan estimate metal intake by humans from this source. Design/methodology/approach In total, 48 samples 2 cities were drawn animals' udder avoid contamination. Each sample was digested with nitric acid at 105 o C (degree Celsius) on a pre-heated electric hot plate atomic absorption spectroscopy (flame type). Air-acetylene technique analyzed chromium, cadmium lead, hydride method arsenic samples. Findings results revealed highest mean lead concentration (19.65 ± 43.86 ppb) samples, followed chromium (2.10 2.33 (0.48 0.73 ppb). Cadmium not detected any sample, assuming cadmium's occurrence below detection level. concentrations all do differ statistically. Lead higher than (p < 0.05). However, between reveals lower level those conducted elsewhere. met World Health Organization's (WHO) safety guidelines (1993). Research limitations/implications Although toxicity body, could be measured because level, which is 1 ppb. Practical implications This will help reduce toxic our environment, sources metals, particularly industrial sector identified. feed water consumed milking animals carefully used for feeding them. Social diseases malfunction organs organ systems since these cause carcinogenicity humans. Arsenic cancer while encephalopathy (a brain disease). Originality/value reports attributes four independent variables raw that scarcely reported Pakistan.