ASSESSMENT OF TOXIC HEAVY METAL RESIDUES IN SOME TYPES OF CHEESE BY USING ICP-OES

A total of 52 random samples including white soft cheese (Fiume cheese, Double cream, Mallawi, Mature sheep, Pramely with pepper, Pramely, Talaga and Plant double cream cheese), Ras and processed cheese were collected from different locations in Assiut Governorate. The collected samples were evaluated for the presence of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg) by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). All the examined soft, Ras and processed cheeses were contaminated with investigated trace elements with different values except Cd, Se and Hg were not detected in some types of cheese. The concentration ranges in the investigated samples were found to be 0.0145- 0.0429, 0.0000-0.0008, 0.4632- 4.9452, 0.0000-0.0038, 0.0267-0.1377 and 0.0000-0.0144 ppm for lead, cadmium, iron, selenium, manganese and mercury, respectively. High trace metal and mineral accumulation levels in the samples were found in Mallawi and Ras cheese for Pb, Fiume and Ras cheese for Cd, Fiume, processed and Ras cheese for Fe, Pramely, Double cream and Ras cheese for Se, Ras, Pramely and Fiume cheese for Mn and Fiume and double cream cheeses for Hg, respectively. Also, levels correlations between elements were tested.