Metal levels in fodder, milk, dairy products, and tissues sampled in ovine farms of Southern Italy

Environ Res. 2005 Sep;99(1):48-57. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2004.11.002. Epub 2004 Dec 25.

Abstract

We measured Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, and Pb levels in samples of fodder, milk, dairy products, and tissues collected from 12 ovine farms in the regions of Campania and Calabria (Southern Italy). The areas in which the farms are located show different levels of anthropogenic pressure. The main purpose of this study is the identification and the analysis of relationships among metal concentrations observed in samples representative of different links in the food chain. Particularly, we apply univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical techniques to identify the correlation structure of our data set and to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic activity. We discuss the results, focusing the analysis on the spatial and the temporal patterns of metal concentrations.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis*
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Dairy Products / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / pharmacokinetics
  • Food Chain
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Italy
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis*
  • Metals, Heavy / pharmacokinetics
  • Milk / chemistry
  • Seasons
  • Sheep / growth & development
  • Sheep / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Metals, Heavy