ABSTRACT
Concentration of the essential elements as Zn and Cu and potentially toxic elements as
Pb, Cr and Cd in goat milk samples from two different farming systems were measured, to
assess whether the toxic and essential elements are within recommended levels. Quantitative
analysis of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were performed using an atomic absorption
spectrophotometer. Toxic heavy metals from intensive and extensive farms for Pb and Cd were
found 0.187, 0.038 and 0.019, 0.037 ppm, respectively while essential metals such as Zn, Cu
and Cr were 0.641, 0.533; 0.168, 0.093 and 0.021, 0.023 ppm, respectively. No significant
differences were found for Cr (P> 0.05) among the two farms while Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd were
differed statistically significant (P< 0.05). Further investigations of heavy metal levels in milk
in a greater number of farms from Mediterranean region of Turkey are necessary to determine
the situation more profound.