Content of major and trace elements in raw ewes’ milk used for production of traditional white brined cheese

Abstract

The content of minerals (major and trace elements) in raw ewes’ milk produced in traditional way in different regions in Macedonia is the subject of this study. The households from where the milk samples were collected are exposed to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. The concentration of 17 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, and Zn) was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after performing microwave digestion. The analyses of ewes’ milk did not show any significant variation in the levels of major elements. The concentration of Ca, Mg, Na and P were in the range of 1131-2070 mg.kg-1, 98.3-183 mg.kg-1, 223-400 mg.kg-1 and 569-1080 mg.kg-1, respectively. The levels of Ag, As, Cd, Co, Ni and Pb in all the analyzed milk samples were below the detection limit although some households were located in areas exposed to environmental contamination with heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn). The raw ewes’ milk contains Cu in the range of 0.66-1.47 mg.kg-1, Fe of 1.42-3.82 mg.kg-1, Mn of 0.04-0.16 mg.kg-1 and Zn of 2.90-6.27 mg.kg-1. The soil composition, the traditional utensils and containers used for milk storage correlated with higher concentration of trace elements (Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr, Zn) in some of the analyzed milk samples. The obtained results point out that ewes’ milk produced in households and used for manufacturing of traditional dairy products is safe for consumption.