INSIGHT INTO THE RISKS OF MILK CONSUMPTION, POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

The study aimed to identify the health risks associated with consuming processed milk contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for adults and children. The risk analyses were performed by applying specific exposure and toxicity indices, which allowed a differentiated comparison between age groups and types of milk. The results highlighted significant variations in the risk level depending on the contaminant and consumer category, with higher values observed in the case of adults. At the same time, the statistical correlations performed between the risk indices suggested the existence of interdependence between exposure to heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, highlighting the potential cumulative effect of these emerging contaminants.