Determination of toxic elements in infant formulae by using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer

In present work concentrations of toxic elements (TEs), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in seventeen imported samples of infant milk-based (IMF) and infant soy-based formulae (ISF), were measured, to evaluate whether the intakes of understudy TEs accomplished within recommended permissible levels. The TEs were analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer, prior to microwave induced acid digestion. The validity of methodology was tested by simultaneously analyzing certified reference material and standard addition method. It was observed that ISF contains higher concentration of understudy toxic analytes as compared to IMF. The all three TEs, Al, Cd and Pb were detected in different branded infant formulae, in the range of (1070–2170), (10.5–34.4), and (28.7–119) μg/kg, respectively. The estimated intakes of TEs as μg/kg/week for infants (>1 year) through milk formulae are well below the recommended tolerable levels of these elements.