Detection of heavy metals in children playing products and its associated health risk assessment in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Children have higher threats due to their exposure and higher susceptibility to the environmental pollutants. The current study put an effort on detecting different heavy metals in children play products and its related effects on children’s health. Heavy metals were detected in the selected samples from the local markets of city Lahore by using flame atomic absorption spectrometer (iCE 3000 series). Results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Ni and Zn) except Pb and Cd are below the EU migration limits. The concentration of Pb in all samples and the concentration of Cd in nineteen samples exceeds from the limits. Highest values of Pb and Cd detected in poster paints were (8.33 ± 1 mg/kg) and (0.94 ± 0.1 mg/kg), respectively. In crayons and playing dough highest values of Pb and Cd detected were (10.94 ± 1 mg/kg), (2.75 ± 0.1 mg/kg) and (9.313 ± 01 mg/kg), (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/kg), respectively. Obtained results are further used to calculate both the oral and dermal health risks of these playing products. The value of the total health risk assessment was less than 1 in all the selected playing products. The maximum value of the total health risk assessment is detected in crayon (3.97E-02), which can cause serious health problems. Therefore, it is needed to make laws which limit the use of heavy metals in these playing products in Pakistan.