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Contamination by hazardous elements in low-priced children’s plastic toys bought on the local markets of Karachi, Pakistan

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Abstract

Children’s plastic toys may contain toxic metals to which infants and young children can be orally exposed and may pose acute or chronic adverse health effects. This research aims to evaluate the total metal concentrations (TMCs) of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Mn in children’s plastic toys bought in the local markets of Karachi, Pakistan, and compare TMCs to different toy safety regulatory limits. A total of 44 children’s plastic toys sourced in the Karachi local markets were analyzed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for contamination of hazardous elements. Toy samples were divided into two groups: plastic toys (DCT) and plastic toys with paints or coatings (DPCT). For plastic toys, 83% (19) of samples had TMCs that exceeded European Union (EU) toy safety regulation limits for Pb, and 65% (15) of samples that exceeded for Cd. For plastic toys with paints or coating, 43% (9) of samples had TMCs that exceeded EU migration limits for Pb and 24% (5) for Cd. More than 20 samples exceeded the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC), Canadian, and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) toy safety regulation limits. In toy samples (n = 44), very high TMCs of Pb (64%), Cd (45%), Cr (5%), and Ni (2%) were observed. Zn, Cu, and Mn TMCs existed but were below the regulation limits. The contamination levels of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni and smaller extent of Zn, Cu, and Mn still pose health issues in children and may cause serious problems in their health.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Global Environmental Lab (Pvt) Ltd (PNAC Accredited Lab) for analyzing samples in this research work.

This work was carried out in collaboration between Department of Chemistry (University of Karachi) and Globel Environmental Lab (Pvt) Limited (PNAC Accredited Lab).

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Karachi.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Dur-e-Shahwar Gul, Anam Gul, Asad Khan Tanoli & Tehseen Ahmed

  2. Global Environmental Lab (Pvt) Ltd., Karachi, Pakistan

    Mubashir Ahmed Mirza

Authors
  1. Dur-e-Shahwar Gul
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  2. Anam Gul
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  3. Asad Khan Tanoli
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  4. Tehseen Ahmed
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  5. Mubashir Ahmed Mirza
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Contributions

Authors DSG and AKT managed the literature searches. Sampling strategy, collection, sorting, investigation, and samples preparation were performed by DSG and AG. Elemental analysis was performed by MAM. Statistical analysis, interpretation, calculations, and editing were performed by AG and DSG under the assistance of TA. The first draft of the manuscript was written by DSG and AG, later on revised by AKT and TA. DSG completed her M.Phil. degree from UOK under the supervision of AKT. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asad Khan Tanoli.

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Highlights

• This research compared the metal levels in the context of two different toy groups.

• Results are compared from EU, BIS, US, and Canadian toy safety regulatory limits.

• All samples contained Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Zn.

• 64% of samples detected Pb, and 45% showed Cd levels that exceeded EU regulatory limits.

Supplementary Information

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Gul, DeS., Gul, A., Tanoli, A.K. et al. Contamination by hazardous elements in low-priced children’s plastic toys bought on the local markets of Karachi, Pakistan. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 51964–51975 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19362-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19362-0

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