TITLE:
Determination of Different Trace Heavy Metals in Children’s Plastic Toys Imported to the West Bank/Palestine by ICP/MS-Environmental and Health Aspects
AUTHORS:
Mutaz Al-Qutob, Ahmad Asafra, Tharwat Nashashibi, Ahmad A. Qutob
KEYWORDS:
Plastic Toys, Heavy Metals Content, Palestinian Markets, Israeli Markets
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.12,
September
23,
2014
ABSTRACT: The main
aim of this study is to assess the quality of inexpensive plastic toys imported
to Palestinian Markets. The content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, As, Se,
Ba, and Zn) was analyzed in 50 plastic toys purchased from local markets in
Palestine and 17 plastic toys purchased from Israeli markets for comparison. After
the digestion of samples with concentrated nitric acids and hydrogen peroxide
using a microwave digester, the concentrations of the selected heavy metals
were determined by ICP-MS Agilent 7500 in Al-Quds University. Results revealed
that 40% of the Palestinian toy samples had high concentration (above international limits) of Pb, 30% of Cd, 34% of Cr, 6% of Hg, 42% of As,
32% of Se, 20% of Ba, and 40% of Zn. On the other hand, 95% of the Israeli
samples were safe, and their concentrations were less than the maximum
internationally allowable limits. In the same context, ten toy samples (2.5 gm
each) had been crushed and dipped for 8 hours in a solution of artificial
saliva. The solution was acidified and tested for heavy metal concentrations,
but none of the migration concentrations exceeded the international maximum
allowable limit. High levels of heavy metal concentrations, found in the
plastic toys from the Palestinian markets could form a health hazard to
children and put their lives at risk. It could be also an indirect source for
environmental pollution.