Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Baby Formulas in Bani Waleed City/Libya

Mohamed Omar Abdalla Salem; Salim Saed Salim Shouran; Hamzah Saad Ahmed Massuod; Ilyas Ammer Saeed Salem

المؤلفون

Mohamed Omar Abdalla Salem Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Bani Waleed University, Bani Waleed, Libya
Salim Saed Salim Shouran Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Sciences, Bani Waleed University, Bani Waleed, Libya
Hamzah Saad Ahmed Massuod Department of Medical Laboratories, Higher Institute of Medical Science and Technologies, Al-Shati, Libya
Ilyas Ammer Saeed Salem Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Education, Bani Waleed University, Bani Waleed, Libya

الكلمات المفتاحية:

Baby Formulas، Iron (Fe)، Lead (Pb)، Cadmium (Cd)، Copper (Cu)، Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

الملخص

This investigation sought to assess concentrations of metallic contaminants in infant nutritional products commercially available in Bani Waleed City, Libya. Thirty specimens were systematically acquired from retail establishments, promptly transferred to analytical facilities under controlled conditions, and preserved at 4°C until processing. Quantitative analysis of iron (Fe), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu) was conducted using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) following standardized protocols. Laboratory results demonstrated cadmium concentrations below instrumental detection limits (0.01 mg/kg), while measurable quantities of iron (8.2 - 16.4 mg/kg), copper (0.8 - 1.8 mg/kg), and lead (0.02-0.1 mg/kg) were identified. All values remained substantially beneath WHO-established safety thresholds (Pb/Cd < 0.1 mg/kg; Cu < 10 mg/kg), confirming regulatory compliance for infant consumption.