Level of Chromium and Zinc in Groundwater and...

Level of Chromium and Zinc in Groundwater and Cows' Raw Milk in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Author Name : Sha Md. Shahan Shahriar, Md. Jahidul Islam, Md. Abu Hanif, Sayed M A Salam

ABSTRACT

Chromium and zinc are essential minerals that the body needs in trace amounts. However, the high concentration of these metals are potential health risk to human health. The concentration of chromium and zinc were determined in groundwater and cows' raw milk in Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. Total 30 groundwater samples and 30 milk samples were collected from various regions in Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. Atomic absorption spectrometry technique was used for determination of the metals. Chromium concentration in groundwater and milk samples were obtained in the range from 3.9 µg/L to 17.5 µg/L and 4.3 µg/L to 14.7 µg/L, respectively. The highest level of chromium in groundwater and milk samples were found 17.528 µg/L and 14.745 µg/L, respectively.  The level of zinc in groundwater and milk samples were found in the range from 0.36 mg/L to 1.08 mg/L and 0.65 mg/L to 1.95 mg/L, respectively. The highest concentration of zinc in groundwater and milk samples were found 1.083 mg/L and 1.953 mg/L, respectively. These values were compared with standard allowable limit and also with the corresponding values of different countries available in literature. The results of this study revealed that the concentration of chromium and zinc were observed within maximum limit both in groundwater and cows' raw milk.

Key words: Chromium, Zinc, Groundwater, Milk.