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Journals / Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi / 2025 / Volume: 14 Issue: 2

Mineral and Heavy Metal Contents of Traditional Cheeses Produced in Southeastern Anatolia, Türkiye

Güneydoğu Anadolu’da Üretilen Geleneksel Peynirlerin Mineral ve Ağır Metal İçerikleri, Türkiye

Semra Gürbüz(MARDİN ARTUKLU ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-7099-0308
Aslı Çelikel(MARDIN ARTUKLU UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-0583-295X
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-12-24
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings underscore the importance of regularly monitoring heavy metals, including Pb, Cd, and As, in traditional cheeses to ensure food safety and protect public health.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study aimed to determine the mineral and heavy metal contents of traditional cheeses from the Southeastern Anatolia region of Türkiye, and to assess inter-provincial differences as well as potential public health risks.
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Key Findings & Data:A total of 30 cheese samples were analyzed for 15 minerals using the Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), including Mardin Melted Cheese (Mardin), Şırnak Herbed Cheese (Şırnak), Batman Koçer Cheese (Batman), Diyarbakır Braided Cheese (Diyarbakır), and Urfa/Şanlıurfa Cheese (Şanlıurfa).
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings underscore the importance of regularly monitoring heavy metals, including Pb, Cd, and As, in traditional cheeses to ensure food safety and protect public health.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:ICP-MS · Traditional cheeses · Mineral

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the mineral and heavy metal contents of traditional cheeses from the Southeastern Anatolia region of Türkiye, and to assess inter-provincial differences as well as potential public health risks. A total of 30 cheese samples were analyzed for 15 minerals using the Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), including Mardin Melted Cheese (Mardin), Şırnak Herbed Cheese (Şırnak), Batman Koçer Cheese (Batman), Diyarbakır Braided Cheese (Diyarbakır), and Urfa/Şanlıurfa Cheese (Şanlıurfa). Intergroup differences were evaluated using ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests, relationships between minerals were assessed with correlation analysis, and geographical origins were examined using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Mean mineral concentrations, from highest to lowest, were Na > Ca > K > Mg > Zn > Fe > Al > Pb > Cu > Cd > Mn > Cr > Ni > Se > As. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive associations between certain minerals, such as Pb and Cd, and notable negative associations, such as Zn and Ni, suggesting some elements co-occur while others vary inversely due to shared environmental or production-related factors. Principal Component Analysis identified six components explaining 80.80% of variance, showing province-specific patterns: higher Pb and Cd in Şırnak, elevated Ni, Mg, and Mn in Şanlıurfa, increased Ca and Zn in Diyarbakır and Batman, and an intermediate composition in Mardin. These findings underscore the importance of regularly monitoring heavy metals, including Pb, Cd, and As, in traditional cheeses to ensure food safety and protect public health.

Özet

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Güneydoğu Anadolu bölgesindeki Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Diyarbakır ve Şanlıurfa illerinde üretilen geleneksel peynirlerde mineral ve ağır metal düzeylerinin belirlenerek iller arası farklılıkların ve olası halk sağlığı risklerinin değerlendirmesi amaçlanmıştır. Toplam 30 peynir örneği, İndüktif Eşleşmiş Plazma–Kütle Spektrometresi – ICP-MS yöntemi ile 15 mineral açısından analiz edilmiştir. Mineral maddelerin konsantrasyonlarındaki gruplar arası farklar ANOVA ve Kruskal–Wallis testleri ile, mineral maddeler arasındaki ilişkiler korelasyon analizi ile ve peynirlerin coğrafi orijinleri Başlıca Bileşen Analizi (PCA) ile değerlendirilmiştir. Analizi yapılan minerallerin ortalama konsantrasyonları büyükten küçüğe Ca > Na > K > Mg > Zn > Fe > Al > Pb > Cu > Cd > Mn > Cr > Ni > Se olarak belirlenmiş olup, Mg, K ve Ca Mardin peynirlerinde oldukça yüksek konsantrasyonlarda bulunmuştur. Peynirlerde Pb, Cd ve As gibi ağır metallerin düzenli olarak izlenmesinin gıda güvenliğinin sağlanması açısından önemli olduğu değerlendirilmiştir.

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Cite This Article

Gürbüz, S., Çelikel, A. (2025). Mineral and Heavy Metal Contents of Traditional Cheeses Produced in Southeastern Anatolia, Türkiye. Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 14 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1820603

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