JOURNAL OF FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, Vol 25, No 1 (2018)

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ESTIMATION OF HEAVY METALS IN INFANT FORMULAS, TEA WHITENERS AND MILK AVAILABLE IN LOCAL MARKETS OF PAKISTAN

Javeed Ashraf Awan, Farhat Yasmeen, Humayun Ajaz, Arjumand Iqbal Durrani, Abdullah Khan Durrani, Bazigha Bibi

Abstract


As the number of toxicants increasing in the environment day by day, the contamination of the food is increasing as well. Because of consuming this contaminated food, the safety of people is at risk to dangerous level. Children are mainly affected by these toxicants due to week immunity. A survey was carried out with the aim to assess the levels of cadmium, zinc, lead, copper and nickel in different milk formulas available in local markets of Pakistan. Also, a number of tea whiteners and milk samples from various sources were assayed. The wet acid digestion method was used for the analysis of different samples and concentration of different metals was detected by using atomic absorption spectrometer. Cd, Zn< Pb, Cu and Ni was detected in 86% , 100%, 54%, 59% and 100% respectively of the assayed samples However, concentration of all the heavy metals were within safe limits as world health organization standards except Pb. Pb concentration was detected much higher than safe limits in infant formulas, tea whiteners as well as the milk samples from various sources.


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Faculty of Engineering and Technology

University of the Punjab

Lahore-54590-Pakistan