A Rapid Routine Methodology Based on Chemometrics to Evaluate the Toxicity of Commercial Infant Milks Due to Hazardous Elements

Abstract The toxicity and the health risk assessment associated to presence of some hazardous elements (HEs) in dried (infant formula powdered) milks due manufacturing packaging process, raw materials used, environmental conditions, etc. need be determined. With this aim, a new methodology based on combination quotients non-supervised (as cluster analysis (CA) principal component (PCA)) chemometric techniques is proposed study. was exemplified using concentration 27 elements, them HEs, measured 12 powdered milk samples produced for children adults Brazil Colombia. values were obtained by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acid microwave digestion. Elemental concentrations vary depending upon type (initiation, growing-up, follow-on adult milks). However, hazard (HQ) carcinogenic (CR) showed no HEs milks. designed made possible conclude that adults’ are more characteristic naturally present milk. Children major trace minor elements. Between infant milks, sample H, babies between 36 months, identified as poor quality. Moreover, it deduce while fortification process applied probable metal metalloid source, together with manufacturing, skimming not contamination source Graphical abstract