Level of lead and cadmium in infant formulae.
The concentration of heavy metals, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), were estimated in formula (powdered milk) and cow milk. Eleven samples of infant formulae which represent most kinds of formulae used for feeding infants from birth up to 2 years were taken from pharmacies. Sixteen samples of cow's milk were collected two times during the year from 8 dairy shops in 4 districts in Alexandria. All samples were digested by trichloroacetic acid extraction method and analyzed using atomic absorption. The mean level of Pb and Cd 0.1431+/-0.0402microg/ml and 0.0018+/-0.0006microg/ml, respectively in cow's milk, while it was 0.1563+/-0.0624microg/ml and 0.0012+/-0.0011microg/ml, respectively in infant formulae. The Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) for Pb in cow's milk varied from 2.83-5.74microg/kg BW/week. This intake was lower than Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of 25 microg/kg BW/week established by WHO expert group. EWI of Cd in cow's milk was also below the PTWI in all samples. In infant formulae EWI of Pb varied between 8.77-24.08 microg/kg BW/week for newborn, 7.08-18.146microg/kg BW/week for six months old and 6.54-22.32 microg/kg Bw /week for one year old. This intake was also lower than PTWI for all different ages, but the highest intake on body weight basis' which is likely to be near to PTWI, was found in infant formulae 2-a and 11-c.
Hafez
Lamia M
LM
Regional Center for Food and Feed, Agriculture Research Center, Alexandria, Egypt. lamia_hafez@yahoo.com.
Kishk
Amal M
AM