Abstract:
The presence of toxic metals in food is being recognized as a priority by standards organization and constitutes an analytical challenge. Factors that lead to pollution of milk by heavy metals include environmental conditions, the manufacturing process and the possible contamination during several steps of the manufacturing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate samples of raw milk, determining the concentration of three heavy metals (pb, cd and cr) in milk produced in Kiboga district and comparing the results with the permissible residue limits by FAO.30 samples of raw bovine milk were collected from 3 sub counties of kiboga district (Muwanga, Dwaniro and Bukomero sub county). i.e. 10 samples from each sub county from different farms. Samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The mean concentration of pb and cd (0.188mg/kg and 0.0107mg/kg) respectively, were detected to be lower than the permissible residue limits (0.3mg/kg and 0.2mg/kg) respectively by FAO and the mean concentration of cr (0.129mg/kg) was detected to be higher than the permissible residue limit (0.05mg/kg) by FAO
KEY WORDS: Metals, raw bovine milk, atomic absorption spectrophotometry(AAS)
