Paper Key : IRJ************050
Author: Hamusonde Brighton
Date Published: 06 Jan 2025
Abstract
The study was an experimental design that sampled cow milk around Nakambala Sugar estate in order to investigated the concentration of cadmium, chromium, lead and copper in milk samples from cows grazing around Nakambala Sugar Estate. Results indicated that milk was polluted with Cu (sample A 0.0388, B 0.0379) with Cd having the highest concentration (A 0.078, B 0.0799). The concentrations of Pb (A 0.0019, B 0.002) and Cr (A 0.0055, B 0.0061) were much lower than the WHO permissible thresholds. The study also intended to assess the potential human health risks posed to consumers through the consumption of milk from cows grazing around Nakambala Sugar Estate. Results indicate that consumers of the milk are potentially in danger of copper and cadmium poisoning or may develop illnesses related to effects of these metals since concentrations of some metals were beyond the permissible limits. Finally, the study intended to suggest some recommendations for mitigating heavy metal pollution in milk from cows grazing around Nakambala Sugar Estate. Mitigation of heavy metal pollution could not be brought forth because the source of heavy metal contamination in milk could not be established; is it from the estate or from the polluted water from Kafue river?
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