Assessment of Some Trace Elements in Some Dairy Products and Table Eggs Retailed in Egyptian Markets

The aim of this study was to determine the content of lead, cadmium, aluminum, copper and mercury in some dairy products and hen’s egg samples (80 samples) collected from different supermarkets in Kalyobia Governorate, Egypt. All collected samples were homogenized and packed in polyethylene bags and stored below -20 ̊C prior to analysis. Atomic absorption spectrometer was used for analysis of metals. Results revealed that lead and copper were found above the permissible limit (Pl) in all types of cheeses while, aluminum and copper only were below the permissible limits in milk powder (0.97 ± 0.07 and 0.15 ± 0.002) mg/kg; respectively. The mean of heavy metals levels (mg/kg) for home produced and fresh egg samples were 0.28 ± 0.03 and 0.36 ± 0.025 for lead; 0.10 ± 0.006 and 0.15 ± 0.07 for aluminum; 2.84 ± 1.01 and 3.00 ± 0.92 for copper and 0.17 ± 0.09 and 0.52 ± 0.11 for mercury, respectively, while cadmium couldn’t be detected from any of the examined samples. It was concluded that the imported whole milk powder was polluted with some heavy metal residues especially lead; cadmium and mercury in compared with other examined dairy products. Home produced eggs are less contaminated by heavy metals than commercial eggs.