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Abstract A total of 300 random samples of imported milk products represented by 80 samples of cheeses including Feta, Edam, Cheddar and Processed cheese (20 of each), 80 samples of milk powder type A,B,C & D (20 of each ), 40 samples of condensed milk type E & F ( 20 of each) and 100 samples of butter ghee types a,b,c,d & e ( 20 of each) were collocted from different retail outlets at different localities in Alexandria City for detection of their heavy metals residues. However, copper concentration ranged from 0.36 to 21.0 p.p.m, which were higher than Egyptian Standard (1993) except type ”C” milk powder which agreed with the Egyptian Standard (1993). Meanwhile copper concentrations in condensed milk samples exceeded the limits of Underwood (1977). Lead concentration ranged from 2.5 to 7.5 p.p in. exceeding the Egyptian standard (1993), except Feta and Edam cheeses which were less than the Egyptian standard (1993), but butter ghee samples were the least levels for lead concentration of milk samples except type ”e” of butter ghee samples, meanwhile lead concentration in more than 5% of milk samples exceeded IDF (1979). 64 Cadmium concentration ranged from 0.25 to 1.0 p.p.m. meanwhile the maximum findings of all tested samples exceeded the Egyptian 65 Standard (1993) and IDF (1979) requirements, except processed cheese, ”E” condensed milk, ”d” and ”e” butter • ghee which had not been detected any cadmium residues. Zinc concentration ranged from 14.25 to 185.75 p.p.m. for cheeses except Feta, Edam and Cheddar cheeses, which had the highest figures comparing with other samples. Milk powder samples ranged from 6.75 to 43.50 p.p.m. for zinc figures. The concentration of zinc in condensed milk samples ranged from 11.75 to 19.25 p.p.m. however the figures of zinc concentration in butter ghee samples ranged from 1.25 to 16 p.p.m. were lower than other samples. The findings of the examined brands of milk products constitute a serious public health risk from a toxicological point of view for humans consuming these products. Therefore, a systematic and comprehensive programme of monitoring of heavy metal contamination of milk products is recommended and should be continued for the foreseeable future in order to establish the true contribution of milk products to the dietary intake of heavy metals. |