Mineral and toxic heavy metal levels in cheeses produced in the province of Kocaeli

Mineral and heavy metal levels of in the commonly produced White cheese, Kashar cheese and Köy cheese in the province of Kocaeli were investigated. Kocaeli was divided into 5 areas for the research. At total of 60 cheese samples were collected from Kocaeli including 27 White cheese samples, 17 Kashar cheese samples and 16 Köy cheese samples. Samples were prepared with microwave wet digestion system and were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optic Emission Spectrometry ( ICP?OES ) instrument. Results were analyzed statistically by descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. In order to understand whether there is a statistical difference between sample groups, Duncan's test was used.The mineral and heavy metal composition of the cheese produced in the province of Kocaeli were ranked as Na > Ca > K > Mg > Zn > Se > Fe > Co > Al > Cr > Mn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Hg > As > Cd in descending order. Mineral levels of samples were found as Ca 3768,7±450,6 mg/kg, Na 4852,2±554,8 mg/kg, Mg 78,07±26,39 mg/kg, K 322,14±24,73 mg/kg, Al 1,49±0,7 mg/kg and Se 20,724±8,245 mg/kg, heavy metal levels of the samples were Mn 0,79±0,35 mg/kg, Fe 10,538±3,084 mg/kg, Co 1,58±0,61 mg/kg, Cu 0,25±0,2 mg/kg, Zn 29,36±17,54 mg/kg, Cr 1,18±0,34 mg/kg, Ni 0,42±0,29 mg/kg and toxic heavy metal levels of the samples Cd 1,433±1,184 µg/kg, Pb 344,0±110,6 µg/kg, As 48,63±31,03 µg/kg, Hg 242,37±74,07 µg/kg