Heavy metal concentrations in dairy products from sheep milk collected in two regions of southern Italy

Inorganic or aggregated forms of chemical substances (metalloids, heavy metals etc.) in feed and food represent a severe risk for their long-term toxicological effects. Heavy metals are widely dispersed in the environment. The toxicity induced by excessive levels of some of these elements, such as chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), are well known. The toxic metal content of milk and dairy products is due to several factors – in particular – environmental conditions, the manufacturing process and the possible contamination during several steps of the manufacturing processes. Southern Italy with more than 1.000.000 sheep represents an important source of income for rural areas of this territory. The milk from sheep is almost entirely used to produce cheese. At present, no data are available concerning levels of heavy metal contamination in milk and dairy products from sheep in Calabria and Campania – two regions of southern Italy. The aim of this work was to detect the concentrations of some heavy metals in milk collected from ewes in several farms in Calabria and Campania and to evaluate to what extent these metals may be present in dairy products for human consumption. This study is a part of a work published elsewhere.