Metal levels in economically important bivalve species from Turkey

Concentrations of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined in economically important bivalve species: oyster (Ostrea edulis), wedge clam (Donax trunculus), manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarium) and warty clam (Venus verrucosa) from the Marmara and Aegean seas. Samples were collected seasonally between 2008 and 2009. Metal levels of bivalves were found in the following ranges: As 0.02–3.40, Cd 0.02–2.80, Cr 0.19–0.82, Cu 0.82–25.06, Hg?<?LOD–0.12, Ni 0.09–0.73, Pb 0.05–4.16 and Zn 6.85–899?mg?kg^?1. The most abundant elements were Zn?>?Cu?>?As. In addition, the results showed that oysters had the highest concentrations of Zn in all seasons. The next abundant heavy metal detected was Cu in oyster and other clam species. It was concluded that in the future, these metals should be monitored regularly.     

江西抚州烟区土壤及烟叶重金属污染状况评价

为了弄清江西抚州烟区土壤和烟叶中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn和Hg等重金属含量和污染状况,运用内梅罗指数和相关分析法,对这些重金属元素在土壤和烟叶中的含量进行了测定。结果表明,该烟区土壤中重金属含量总体上低于我国土壤二级标准（GB15618-1995）,但其污染程度已处于警戒线水平,Cd和Hg为烟区土壤主要风险因子。土壤和烟叶中重金属含量顺序分别为Zn> Pb> Cr> Cu> Ni> As> Cd> Hg和Zn> Cu> Pb> Cd> Cr> Ni> As> Hg,土壤中Hg、Cd、As和烟叶中Ni、Cr变异系数均较大。烟叶中重金属富集系数顺序为Cd> Zn> Cu> Hg> Ni> Cr> Pb> As,烟叶Cd富集系数高达11.67,表明烟草属于Cd强烈富集作物。     

Plant Availability of Heavy Metals in Soils Previously Amended with Heavy Applications of Sewage Sludge

Plant uptake is one of the major pathways by which sludge-borne potentially toxic metals enter the food chain. This study examined the accumulation of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in wheat, carrots and spinach grown on soils from 13 sites previously amended with sewage sludge. Winter wheat, carrots and spinach were grown consecutively under field like conditions. The results showed that plant availability of heavy metals differed widely among the crop species. The accumulation of Cd, Ni and Zn in the plants showed the greatest increases compared to their background levels. The Cu and Pb accumulation in the plants grown on sludge-amended soils showed only small increases compared to those grown on uncontaminated soils. Multiple regression analysis of various soil properties showed that the surest way to control the accumulation of metals in food plants is by controlling their concentrations in the soils. Furthermore, soils with a non-acidic pH and a clayey texture tended to achieve better control of metal accumulation in food plants compared to those with an acidic reaction and a coarse texture. Metal concentrations in the plants generally correlated well with those extracted from soils in 0·005 M DTPA, 0·05 M EDTA-(Na)₂, 1 M NH₄NO₃ and 0·05 M CaCl₂. The EDTA, however, proved to be a more reliable and consistent test in predicting the accumulation of metals in the plants. The results also showed that liming soils to pH 7 effectively reduced the metal contents in carrots and spinach, but liming to pH 6·5 had little effect on metal concentrations in wheat grain. © 1997 SCI.     

北京市售大米重金属含量监测及膳食风险评估

监测市售大米重金属含量,为北京市食品安全风险评估提供参考和数据支撑,采集了市售大米样品537件,分析其9种重金属(Cd、Cr、Cu、Fe、Mn、Ni、Pb、Sr和Zn)含量。采用内梅罗综合污染指数法评价市售大米的重金属污染水平,采用健康风险评价模型进行食用安全评估。结果如下:大米Cd、Cr、Cu、Fe、Mn、Ni、Pb、Sr和Zn含量平均值分别为0.02、0.02、2.27、2.63、9.10、0.15、0.07、0.17和14.27 mg/kg。大米重金属污染程度依次为:PbZnNiCuCdCr,其风险等级依次为:CuZnCdPbCrNi。结果表明,大米重金属的内梅罗综合污染指数较低,表明当前北京市售大米整体状况较好、处于安全水平;大米重金属对儿童的THQ贡献率高于成人,相关部门应加强有毒重金属监督与相应膳食指导。     

临沂植烟土壤重金属空间分布特征与生态健康风险评价

土壤重金属空间分布与风险评价对土壤重金属污染防治具有重要的指导意义。以传统适宜烤烟种植区山东省临沂市为研究对象,通过布点采样和地理信息系统制图,分析了土壤重金属的空间分布以及地区、土类间的差异,采用地积累指数、污染指数分析了土壤重金属富集污染水平,并对土壤重金属潜在生态风险和人体健康风险进行了评价。结果表明,临沂植烟耕层土壤重金属As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb和Zn平均含量分别为3.85、0.09、47.56、14.45、0.07、18.04、17.82和29.21 mg/kg;空间分布上,北部、中部和西南地区土壤重金属含量相对较高;8种重金属中仅Cd和Hg在部分土壤中表现出富集和污染;土壤重金属潜在生态风险大小顺序为Hg > Cd > As > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cr > Zn,其中部分土壤Cd和Hg对当地环境具有显著潜在生态风险;而土壤中所有重金属均没有显著的人体健康风险。因此,临沂植烟土壤存在一定程度的Cd和Hg污染风险,应采取措施进行控制。     

Uptake of metals during chelant-assisted phytoextraction with EDDS related to the solubilized metal concentration

The use of chelants to enhance phytoextraction is one method being tested to make phytoextraction efficient enough to be used as a remediation technique for heavy metal pollution in the field. We performed pot experiments with sunflowers in order to investigate the use of the biodegradable chelating agent SS-EDDS for this purpose. We used singly and combined contaminated soils (Cu, Zn) and multimetal contaminated field soils (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb). EDDS (10 mmol kg(-10 soil) increased soil solution metals greatly for Cu (factor 840-4260) and Pb (factor 100-315), and to a lesser extent for Zn (factor 23-50). It was found that Zn (when present as the sole metal), Cu, and Pb uptake by sunflowers was increased by EDDS, butin multimetal contaminated soil Zn and Cd were not. EDDS was observed in the sunflower roots and shoots at concentrations equal to metal uptake. The different metal uptake in the various soils can be related to a linear relationship between Cu and Zn in soil solution in the presence of EDDS and plant uptake, indicating the great importance of measuring and reporting soil solution metal concentrations in phytoextraction studies.     

Metal Contents,Bioaccumulation, and Health Risk Assessment in Wild Edible Boletaceae Mushrooms

Eight wild edible Boletaceae mushrooms (227 samples) and their soils were collected from 40 locations, Yunnan province, China. Four essential metals (Fe, Mg, Zn, and Cu) and 2 toxic metals (Pb and Cd) were determined. The results showed that Boletaceae mushrooms have abundance of 4 essential metals. The highest Pb mean value was 0.70 mg/kg DW, lower than legal limits, but Cd contents significantly exceeded legal limits. Generally, bioconcentration factor (BCF) indicated that Zn and Cu were easily bioaccumulated by mushrooms. However, the BCF_Cd of Boletus griseus reached to 6.40. Target hazard quotients showed Cd was the main risk metal in Boletaceae mushrooms. The metal compositional variability and the similarity of metal contents were further determined by principal component analysis. Regression model analysis indicated that Cd contents in mushrooms were positively correlated with soil Cd contents, and negatively correlated with soil pH, except for the samples of Boletus bicolor.     

Study on heavy metals levels and its risk assessment in some edible fishes from Bangshi River,Savar, Dhaka,Bangladesh

Concentrations of eight heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, and As) in the muscles of ten species of fish collected from Bangshi River at Savar in Bangladesh were measured in two different seasons. The concentrations of the studied heavy metals, except Pb in Corica soborna, were found to be below the safe limits suggested by various authorities and thus gave no indication of pollution. The present study also showed that, Zn was the most and Cd was the least accumulated metal in the studied fish muscles. ANOVA analysis clearly revealed that there was a significant variation (CI = 95%) of the heavy metal concentrations in different fish species in the Bangshi River. Significant positive correlations between the heavy metal concentrations in fish muscles were also observed in both seasons. From the human health point of view, this study showed that there was no possible health risk to consumers due to intake of studied fishes under the current consumption rate.     

马铃薯及耕地土壤重金属含量的测定及健康风险评价

目的 对青海大学农林科学院试验田马铃薯和其根系土壤中镉、铬、铜、铅、镍、锌的含量进行检测及评价。方法 使用石墨消解仪对样品进行前处理, 使用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪测定马铃薯和土壤中的Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Ni和Zn等6种重金属含量; 采用单因子指数法和内梅罗综合指数法对重金属污染程度进行分析评价; 采用目标危险系数法(target hazard quotient/total target hazard quotient, THQ/TTHQ)对马铃薯进行单一及复合重金属摄入健康风险评价。结果 该研究区土壤中6种重金属单项污染指数均小于1, 综合污染指数小于0.7, 未对土壤造成污染, 马铃薯中除了Cu和Zn污染处于安全水平, Cr和Ni污染达到轻污染水平, Cd和Pb污染达到重污染水平 , 根据富集系数(bio-concentration factor, BCF ) 发现马铃薯对Cd和Pb有一定的富集能力; 成人和儿童因食用马铃薯而摄入重金属Cu、Ni和Zn的单一健康风险指数和复合健康风险指数均大于1, 对儿童和成人存在健康风险。结论 该研究区土壤中重金属污染程度较低, 而马铃薯中重金属的残留对人体健康存在隐患。     

HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN VEGETABLES IN TURKEY ARE WITHIN SAFE LIMITS FOR Cu, Zn, Ni AND EXCEEDED FOR Cd AND Pb

Copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) contents of various vegetables (cucumber, tomato, green pepper, lettuce, parsley, onion, bean, eggplant, peppermint, pumpkin and okra) produced in Kayseri, Turkey and the soils in which they were grown were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP–OES). These plants are the basis of human nutrition in the study area. The results obtained from the urban area were higher than those of the rural area as a result of pollution. The order of the elements in various vegetables and their concentration ranges in μg/g were Cu (22.19–76.5), Cd (0.24–0.97), Ni (0.44–13.45), Pb (3–10.7) and Zn (3.56–259.2). The concentrations of Cu, Zn and Ni in vegetables studied are within the recommended international standards. The results also show that onion (0.97 μg/g) and peppermint (76.5 μg/g) have the ability to accumulate more Cd and Cu than the other vegetables studied, respectively. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the levels of Zn and Pb in all vegetables analyzed from urban and rural areas. Concentrations of metals analyzed in samples could be related to their concentration in the corresponding soils. Enhanced levels of metals observed in some vegetable species could be related to their concentration in the corresponding soils.     

Complexation with dissolved organic matter and solubility control of heavy metals in a sandy soil

The complexation of heavy metals with dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the environment influences the solubility and mobility of these metals. In this paper, we measured the complexation of Cu, Cd, Zn, Ni, and Pb with DOM in the soil solution at pH 3.7-6.1 using a Donnan membrane technique. The results show that the DOM-complexed species is generally more significant for Cu and Pb than for Cd, Zn, and Ni. The ability of two advanced models for ion binding to humic substances, e.g., model VI and NICA-Donnan, in the simulation of metal binding to natural DOM was assessed by comparing the model predictions with the measurements. Using the default parameters of fulvic and humic acid, the predicted concentrations of free metal ions from the solution speciation calculation using the two models are mostly within 1 order of magnitude difference from the measured concentrations, except for Ni and Pb in a few samples. Furthermore, the solid-solution partitioning of the metals was simulated using a multisurface model, in which metal binding to soil organic matter, dissolved organic matter, clay, and iron hydroxides was accounted for using adsorption and cation exchange models (NICA-Donnan, Donnan, DDL, CD-MUSIC). The model estimation of the dissolved concentration of the metals is mostly within 1 order of magnitude difference from those measured except for Ni in some samples and Pb. The solubility of the metals depends mainly on the metal loading over soil sorbents, pH, and the concentration of inorganic ligands and DOM in the soil solution.     

长期沼液灌溉对槟榔芋根区土壤理化性质及重金属含量的影响

目的 探究施用沼液对槟榔芋根区土壤理化性质及重金属含量的影响。方法 采集连续施用沼液6年和未施用沼液的槟榔芋种植地块土壤, 测定土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr、Hg、As共7种重金属的含量并进行污染风险评价, 同时测定土壤的基本理化指标, 分析土壤中重金属含量与土壤理化性质间的相关性。结果 长期沼液灌溉会显著增加槟榔芋根区土壤中有机质、碱解氮和速效钾含量, 但也会导致土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr显著累积, 尤其Cu和Zn含量均超出了GB 15618—2018中规定的风险筛选值。连续施用沼液增加了土壤重金属的综合污染水平和潜在生态风险, 总体呈现轻度污染等级, 具有中等水平的潜在生态风险, 其中Cu对综合污染水平的贡献率最大, Cd和Hg对综合潜在生态风险的贡献率最大。土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr之间可能存在污染同源性, 其含量基本与土壤有机质、碱解氮和速效钾呈极显著正相关, 与速效磷呈显著负相关。结论 沼液还田虽然会提高槟榔芋根区土壤整体养分状况, 但长期沼液灌溉也增加了土壤重金属的污染风险, 尤其是Cu、Cd、Hg可能引起的污染问题要引起重视。     

Gehalt an Schwermetallen (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in Bachforellen im Leine-Raum G?ttingen

Zusammenfassung Um das Ausmaß der Belastung der Leine mit Schwermetallen (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) durch die Abwässer der Stadt Göttingen zu erforschen, wurden die Schwermetallgehalte in Bachforellen, die der Leine an zwei Probenahmestellen, oberhalb bzw. unterhalb Göttingen (Abb. 1) entnommen worden waren, mit Hilfe des Atom-Absorptions-Spektrometer ermittelt.Die durchgeführten Schwermetalluntersuchungen (im Gesamtfisch, Muskulatur und Leber) ergaben im Vergleich der obengenannten Fangorte eine statistisch gesicherte Zunahme einiger Schwermetalle durch die in diesem urbanisierten Raum anfallenden Abwässer. In der Fischmuskulatur waren nur Cd, in der Leber Cd, Hg, Zn und im Gesamtfisch Cd, Cu, Zn signifikant erhöht.Sämtliche Schwermetallwerte der Fischmuskulatur lagen unterhalb der in der Literatur vorgeschlagenen, als zulässig zu betrachtenden Höchstwerte.

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The levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Ph, Zn) in brook trouts from the River Leine in the area of Göttingen (West Germany)

Summary In order to evaluate the load of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) imposed on the River Leine by the city of Göttingen (medium-sized town) the content of heavy metals in fish samples (which had been collected at two points on the River Leine, upstream, respectively downstream of Göttingen — Fig. 1) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Analysis of heavy metals in brook trout (total fish, flesh, and liver) showed a statistically significant definite increase in some heavy metals, caused by the sewage from the city of Göttingen. In the flesh only Cd in the liver Cd, Hg and Zn and in the total fish Cd, Cu and Zn had been increased significantly. All the values of heavy metals in the flesh were lower than the suggested maximum allowable concentrations.

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Diese Arbeit wurde am Institut für Agrikulturchemie der Universität Göttingen (Direktor: Prof. Dr. E. Welte) angefertigt     

Soil and vegetable compositional relationships of eight potentially toxic metals in urban garden fields from northern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Human exposure to heavy metals is attributed to consumption of vegetables raised in polluted soil environment. We examined the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in soils and lettuce (Latuca sativa) and amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus) in 15 garden fields under long‐term wastewater irrigation. RESULTS: The concentrations of As (0.3–2.1 mg kg^?1), Cd (0.07–0.3 mg kg^?1), Co (4.6–9.1 mg kg^?1) and Cr (21.6–36.2 mg kg^?1) in the gardens were consistent with background concentrations in soils, but Ni (12.6–25.7 mg kg^?1), Cu (12.5–24.6 mg kg^?1), Pb (25.7–71.6 mg kg^?1) and Zn (52.3–158 mg kg^?1) concentrations were double the concentrations normally encountered in arable fields in the region. The concentrations of Cd and As in the vegetables were within safe limits, but Co (0.14–0.67 mg kg^?1 fresh weight (fw)) and Ni (1.0–2.7 mg kg^?1 fw) concentrations in lettuce were relatively high for leaf vegetables. The concentration of Pb (0.65–4.80 mg kg^?1 fw) was above safe limit of 0.3 mg kg^?1 fw, while the concentrations of Cu (1.3–2.7 mg kg^?1 fw and Zn (10.2–23.6 mg kg^?1 fw) were close to the unsafe limits for leaf vegetables. There were no strong linear correlations between soil metal concentrations and bio‐concentrations in the vegetable crops. CONCLUSION: We surmise that leaf vegetables can accumulate metals in their tissues to unsafe levels even when total metal concentrations in these soils are below the allowable concentrations in agricultural soils. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Monitoring of metallic micronutrients and heavy metals in herbs,spices and medicinal plants from Austria.

Medicinal, aromatic and spice plants grown in different regions of Austria were monitored as to their Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn contents. Since the plants were grown under common field conditions, the essential elements were within the usual ranges for plant material. The contamination level with the toxic heavy metals, Pb and Cd, can be classified as normally low. Most samples contained less than 0.2 mg kg^у Cd and less than 1.5 mg kg^у Pb on a dry weight basis. Comparison with previous investigations suggests that contaminations with Pb occur rather by chance, whereas enhanced Cd values are restricted to some species having a tendency to accumulate this heavy metal. Some such species are St. John´s wort, poppy, yarrow, chamomile and absinth. Careful choice of growing site and appropriate soil management can reduce the Cd uptake of these critical species. These precautions are important when larger amounts of the product are consumed.     

广东蔗区土壤重金属元素的监测和评价

本文利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪对广东蔗区有代表性区域的甘蔗种植土壤中Cd、Hg、As、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn、Ni重金属含量进行监测,利用酸度计对土壤pH值进行监测,采用单因子指教法和多因子综合评价法评价重金属污染程度。结果表明：土壤以酸性为主,重金属的污染指数范围为0．078～1．3,其中As为1.3,受到轻度污染,Cd为0．94,处于警戒线;综合污染指数为1．1,说明广东蔗区土壤受到重金属轻度污染。     

青岛市花生产地土壤环境质量的现状分析

对青岛市花生产地土壤重金属Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn和Ni的含量进行了调查分析,并采用单项质量指数与综合质量指数相结合的方法对环境质量状况进行了评价。结果表明,各重金属的平均含量均低于“食用农产品产地环境质量评价标准”（HJ332—2006）规定的限值,土壤环境质量定为1级,属于清洁水平,适宜发展无公害花生生产。但莱西一个监测点的土壤样品重金属Cu、Ni含量超标。若以国家土壤自然背景值为标准,Cu的超标率增加了将近3倍,表明Cu在土壤中已经产生了一定的积累。Hg与As的含量呈显著负相关（P〈0．05）,Hg和Ni、Cr与Cu之间呈显著正相关（P〈0．05）,其它元素之间的相关性未达到显著水平。推测个别元素超标的情况仅属于点源污染,不会引起复合污染。青岛市3个花生优势产区莱西、平度、即墨土壤重金属的环境质量均属于1级,适宜作为无公害花生的生产基地。     

Concentration and distribution of heavy metals in urban airborne particulate matter in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in airborne dust collected at three sites with different traffic densities from August 2001 to July 2002 in the Frankfurt am Main area. Bulk samples of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of <22 microm were collected on cellulose nitrate filters using air filtration devices. Fractionated samples of PM with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of <10 microm were collected using an eight-stage Andersen impactor. Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, V, As, Sb, Cu, Cr, Co, and Ce were determined by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry, Pt and Rh were determined by adsorptive voltammetry, and Pd was determined by total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. The results show that the highest airborne heavy metal concentrations occurred at the main street with a large volume of traffic. With the exception of Co, V, Ce, and Mn, the heavy metals had an elevated enrichment factor compared to their concentrations in the continental crust. The main street site was especially contaminated with Sb, Zn, Cu, V, and Ni. Motor vehicles are the likely source of emissions. With the exception of Cr, Cu, and Zn, most of the airborne heavy metal concentrations determined for impactor samples deviate slightly from the results for total airborne dust. Heavy metal particle size distributions can be divided into three groups. For metals such as As, Cd, Pb, and V, the main fraction can be found in fine particles with a diameter of <2.1 microm, whereas Ce, Cr, Co, and Ni occur mainly in coarse particles with a diameter of >2.1 microm. Cu, Mn, Sb, Zn, Pt, Pd, and Rh occur in high concentrations in the medium range of the impactor stages (particle diameters of 1.1-4.7 microm). Metal concentrations in fine dust particles are needed to assess the human health risks of their inhalation.     

Modeling of the solid-solution partitioning of heavy metals and arsenic in embanked flood plain soils of the rivers Rhine and Meuse

The aim of this study is to predict the solid-solution partitioning of heavy metals in river flood plain soils. We compared mechanistic geochemical modeling with a statistical approach. To characterize the heavy metal contamination of embanked river flood plain soils in The Netherlands, we collected 194 soil samples at 133 sites distributed in the Dutch part of the Rhine and Meuse river systems. We measured the total amounts of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the soil samples and the metal fraction extractable by 2.5 mM CaCl2. We found a strong correlation between heavy metal contamination and organic matter content, which was almost identical for both river systems. Speciation calculations by a fully parametrized model showed the strengths and weaknesses of the mechanistic approach. Cu and Cd concentrations were predicted within one log scale, whereas modeling of Zn and Pb needs adjustment of some model parameters. The statistical fitting approach produced better results but is limited with regard to the understanding it provides. The log RMSE for this approach varied between 0.2 and 0.32 for the different metals. The careful modeling of speciation and adsorption processes is a useful tool for the investigation and understanding of metal availability in river flood plain soils.     

CHANGES IN Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu AND Zn LEVELS DURING THE PRODUCTION OF KAŞAR CHEESE

ABSTRACT

Levels of Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn in milk, curd, pressed curd, fresh cheese, whey, rennet and scalding water taken from two different Ka?ar cheese plants (A and B) in Ankara, Turkey were investigated. The milk used in plant A contained higher amount of Pb, Fe and Zn than the milk used in plant B. Pb level during processing in both dairy plants showed a significant increase from milk to curd (626.2–912.3 µg/kg for plant A and 265.2–371.8 µg/kg, dry weight, for plant B) (P < 0.01). Similarly, Fe, Cu and Zn contents of the curds in plant A and B showed an important increase with respect to the milk (P < 0.01). During transition of the curd to pressed curd and of pressed curd to fresh cheese, almost all metals tested showed a decrease because of the loss of these metals into whey and scalding water. The results showed that curdling the milk was the most important contamination step.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Heavy metals may enter the human body through food, water, air or absorption through the skin, and can cause metabolic anormalies. Heavy metals may reach our foods from a number of sources. The more important of these are: soil; the chemicals applied to agricultural land; the water used in food processing or cooking; and the equipment, containers and utensils used for food processing, storage or cooking. Milk and milk products are the basic components of the human diet, and among milk products cheese holds an important place. Ka?ar cheese ranks second with respect to consumption, significantly contributing to the Turkish diet. In order to prevent the health risk of consuming contaminated cheeses, it is very important to determine the effect of equipment and process variation on the heavy‐metal content of Ka?ar cheese. The results of this study would help the regulatory authorities to establish a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan and to identify important contamination sources for Ka?ar and similar kind of cheeses.