Overview
This single-author study measured lead and cadmium by flame atomic absorption in raw milk from four species collected at farms, vendors and dairy centers in northern Iraq, and compared the results with international limits. Results are reported by collection site (Table 1) and by species (Table 2). Protein and fat content were also measured but are not metal results.
Key numbers
- Laylan milk: lead 0.41 - 0.53 (0.470) mg/kg; cadmium 0.03 - 0.06 (0.045) mg/kg (Table 1).
- Altun Kupri milk: lead 0.05 - 0.13 (0.090) mg/kg (Table 1).
- Cow milk: lead 0.01 - 0.03 (0.02) mg/kg; cadmium 0.01 - 0.05 (0.03) mg/kg (Table 2).
- Buffalo milk: lead 0.06 - 0.09 (0.075) mg/kg (Table 2).
Methods (brief)
Two milliliter or two gram portions were wet digested with nitric and perchloric acid in a water bath and analyzed by air-acetylene flame atomic absorption. Reagent blanks were subtracted. No detection limits, certified reference materials or recoveries are reported.
Evidence Fitness
Twenty samples per species, but the text says 100 samples of milk and dairy products while listing only 80 milk samples, and no non-milk dairy product results are given. The printed lead means for sheep (0.03 mg/kg) and goat milk (0.04 mg/kg) lie below their own printed minimums, and per-site counts are not stated, so analytical and reporting quality is uncertain. The milk is raw and fat content is not altered, so this is a proxy for reduced-fat milk and does not measure it directly.