Ecological Assessment of Heavy Metals Content in Locally Produced Milk and Dairy Products

The study provides an ecological safety assessment of milk and dairy products based on the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc). Six samples of dairy products (milk, sour cream, and cottage cheese) collected in December 2025 from two localities in the Kharkiv region (Artemivka and Rokytne) were analyzed. Laboratory analysis was performed using atomic absorption spectrometry on an MGA-915MD spectrophotometer.

The results showed that the concentration ranges were 0.002–0.021 mg/kg for lead, 0.0001–0.0014 mg/kg for cadmium, 0.0037–0.0952 mg/kg for copper, and 0.428–0.761 mg/kg for zinc. Sour cream sample No. 1 exceeded the Ukrainian regulatory standard for lead content, reaching 0.021 mg/kg, which requires increased attention and repeated monitoring. Samples from Artemivka generally exhibited higher average concentrations of all four elements compared to Rokytne. Overall, the studied sample batch is evaluated as environmentally safe, but the findings underscore the necessity of systematic laboratory monitoring of local dairy products. Future research should focus on expanding the sample size, seasonal sampling, and analyzing water, feed, and soil to identify potential heavy metal pathways into the food chain