Abstract

Soil and water pollution of milk products by heavy metals is a common fact in Northern Nigeria. In the present study, atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used for the quantitative determination of copper, zinc and lead level while some biochemical constituents analysed in fresh cow milk collected from Dangana, Mukugi and Gulu localities of Niger State, Nigeria were determined using standard methods. The results showed milk from Mukugi with the highest Copper content (0.59 ± 0.01 mg/L) while Gulu samples had the lowest (0.56 ± 0.02 mg/L). Zinc levels were highest (0.40 ± 0.03) mg/L in Gulu milk but lowest (0.25 ± 0.03 mg/L) in Mukugi samples. Lead was detected in milk from the three locations with the highest (0.63 ± 0.24 mg/L) obtained from Dangana area. Cholesterol and total fat levels were highest (15.00 ± 6.27 mg/ml and 4.08 ± 0.10 mg% respectively) in Mukugi area. While a significant (P<0.05) difference existed in Cholesterol and fat values, reducing sugars and protein levels were not significantly (P>0.05) varied between milk samples from the studied locations. The detection of lead, high cholesterol and fat levels in some samples necessitates further monitoring in other areas and some caution in the rampant consumption of such milk.

Key words: Copper, zinc, lead, biochemical parameters, cow milk.