Lead and Cadmium Bioaccumulation in Fresh Cow’s Milk in an Intermediate Area of the Central Andes of Peru and Risk to Human Health

Abstract

The dairy basin of the Mantaro River located in the centre of Peru faces serious anthropogenic disturbances as it receives emissions and discharges from the metallurgical mining activity located in the headwaters of the basin and milk contaminated with lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) endangers the environmental and human health, especially children. To measure the concentrations of Pb and Cd in milk and the dangers of their consumption in the Peruvian population, 40 milk samples were collected and quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentration of Pb in milk was 15 ± 2.6 µg/kg, which represented 75% of the Maximum Limit (ML), and that of Cd was 505 ± 123 µg/kg, which exceeded the ML by more than 194 times. The estimated weekly intake of Pb for people aged 2–85 years was below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) references, determining risk coefficients (CRD) < 1. Weekly Cd intake was much higher than the PTWIs and CRDs were between 14 and 34, indicating that consumers would experience carcinogenic health effects, with children being at higher risk than adults, therefore, milk from the area is not safe for consumption. Cd would be transferred mainly through the soil (water)-grass-milk pathway, due to its presence in irrigation water and in fertilizers that contain Cd. The main pathway for Pb entry would be air-soil (water)-milk grass, from the fine particles emitted into the air by the mining-metallurgical activity, developed approximately 90 km from the study area.

Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic in Raw Milk Produced in the Vicinity of a Mini Mineral Concentrator in the Central Andes and Health Risk

“…The Pb contents in the forages used to feed the cows in the study area were higher than those reported in another cattle-raising area of the Mantaro Valley, which was 5.8 mg/kg [ 63 ], while the Cd level was ten times lower than those found in this study, and would be because the high amounts of phosphorous fertilizers and irrigation with water from a highly polluted canal.…”

Mechanisms of Gills Response to Cadmium Exposure in Greenfin Horse-Faced Filefish (Thamnaconus septentrionalis): Oxidative Stress, Immune Response, and Energy Metabolism

“…Due to marine environmental pollution and overfishing, the wild filefish population has declined. Recently, research on filefish mainly focused on fishery resource assessments, population structure and distribution, reproductive behavior, feeding habits, artificial breeding methods, and early embryonic development [10]. There have been limited studies on the filefish's defenses against marine heavy metal pollution [11,12].…”

Socio-Environmental Risks Linked with Mine Tailings Chemical Composition: Promoting Responsible and Safe Mine Tailings Management Considering Copper and Gold Mining Experiences from Chile and Peru

“…The immediate effects are a decrease in nutrients such as vitamin C and Fe, significantly affecting the immunity associated with malnutrition, while long-term effects are associated with increased cancer risks [ 127 ]. Likewise, the consumption of livestock products such as meat, milk, and eggs can be compromised when animals are fed with food from crops that have bioaccumulated heavy metals [ 128 ]. One of the foods most used in animal feed, corn, has high levels of heavy metals when planted near mine tailings [ 128 ].…”

“…Likewise, the consumption of livestock products such as meat, milk, and eggs can be compromised when animals are fed with food from crops that have bioaccumulated heavy metals [ 128 ]. One of the foods most used in animal feed, corn, has high levels of heavy metals when planted near mine tailings [ 128 ]. Figure 24 shows a conceptual diagram that summarizes all aspects related to the toxicological process and socio-environmental risks discussed in this chapter.…”