# Health Risk Assessment of Metal(loid) Contamination in Raw Cow’s Milk from the Colombian Caribbean Region

## TL;DR

This study assesses metal contamination in raw cow's milk in Colombia's Caribbean region, finding significant health risks from toxic elements like lead and chromium.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on metal(loid) contamination in raw milk and evaluates health risks for different age groups in the Colombian Caribbean region.

## Key findings

- Metal(loid) concentrations in milk were higher during the rainy season, except for mercury.
- The hazard index exceeded 1 for both adults and children, indicating significant health risks.
- Carcinogenic risk from chromium exceeded safe levels for both children and adults.

## Abstract

Milk is a daily source of essential nutrients, but the presence of trace metals raises significant health concerns about the quality of dairy products. This study investigated the presence of and human health exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in raw cow milk produced in the Caribbean region of Colombia, during both dry and rainy seasons. A total of 100 samples were collected from farms in five zones and analysed for toxic metal(loid)s, including Pb, Cr, Hg and As. Metal(loid) concentrations were generally higher during the rainy season, except for Hg, which showed elevated concentrations during the dry season. During the rainy season, values increased by factors of 20, 44, 3 and 0.5 for Pb, Cr, As and Hg, respectively. The year-round median concentrations of Pb, Cr, As and Hg in milk were 2.23, 44, 2.93 and 0.18 µg/L, respectively. The hazard index (HI) was higher than 1 in both adults and children, indicating a significant health risk of exposure to metal(loid)s in the milk‐consuming population. Frequent milk consumption posed no public health concern for carcinogenic risk related to Pb and As across age groups. However, the estimated carcinogenic risk for Cr exceeded the USEPA guidance reference value for both children (1.7·10−4) and adults (4.8·10−4) indicating a potential public health concern across all age groups. In conclusion, it is essential not to underestimate the health risks associated with frequent milk consumption. Immediate action and stricter regulations on consumption are urgently needed to prevent potential public health emergencies.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12011-025-04728-5.