Analysis of Hazardous Elements in Children Toys: Multi-Elemental Determination by Chromatography and Spectrometry Methods

Abstract

This paper presents the results of determination of hazardous metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and metalloid (As, Sb) levels in toys available in the Polish market. Two independent sample preparation methods were used to determine the concentration and content of the metals and metalloids. The first one is defined by the guidelines of the EN-71 standard and undertook extraction in 0.07 mol/L HCl. This method was used to conduct speciation analysis of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), as well as for the determination of selected metals and metalloids. The second method conducted mineralization in a HNO3 and H2O2 mixture using microwave energy to determine the content of metals and metalloids. Determination of chromium forms was made using the high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) method, while those of metals and metalloids were made using the ICP-MS technique. Additionally, in order to determine total content of chromium in toys, an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDX) was used. The results of the analyses showed that Cr(VI) was not detected in the toys. In general, the content of heavy metals and metalloids in the studied samples was below the migration limit set by the norm EN-71.

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

“…Ni only exceeded in 1 sample in the highest quantity that is Study boy (DCT08) 3000.1mg/kg however in that sample Pb and Cd were not detected although other elements Zn, Cr, Mn, and Cu were detected in lesser quantities. Series of experiments in past literature indicated low levels of contaminations also detected in toys that are (Leal, Catarino et al 2016, Sobhanardakani and Babaei 2016, Karaś and Frankowski 2018, Al Kindi and Ali 2020, Mohammed, Dial et al 2020) on the other hand in most literature levels of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn were reported in high quantities (Al-Qutob, Asafra et al 2014, Ismail, Mohamad et al 2017.…”

“…Human oral exposure to Cr(VI) has causes hepatotoxicity, which may lead to primary liver cancer and increase the likelihood of cancer patients' deterioration. Zagury 2014, Karaś andFrankowski 2018). Zinc(Zn), Nickel(Ni), Copper(Cu), and Manganese(Mn) are essential for life and are important requirements for good health, but excess and long-term exposure can be harmful and cause health di culties.…”

On the Determination of Cr(VI) in Cr(III)-Rich Particulates: From the Failure of Official Methods to the Development of an Alternative Protocol

“…Under this framework, we decided first to develop an analytical method based on liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS), to gain improved sensitivities with respect to traditional colorimetric methods [20,21,33] and to allow for the monitoring of the Cr(III)/Cr(VI) interconversion processes by speciated isotope dilution [31,34]. In parallel, it was necessary to develop a novel separation strategy, since the commonly employed Cr(III)/Cr(VI) LC separation methods cannot bear the presence of huge amounts of Cr(III) [33,35]. This developed method was subsequently used to confirm the suspected failure of the official methods in trying to yield reliable Cr(VI) concentrations in the particulate matter sampled in different leather industries.…”

Speciation of Chromium in Alkaline Soil Extracts by an Ion-Pair Reversed Phase HPLC-ICP MS Method

“…As a consequence, huge amounts of gaseous, liquid and solid waste containing chromium compounds are discharged into air, surface water, and soil, causing their contamination. Moreover, products manufactured with the use of chromium-containing pigments, may also be contaminated with this metal, e.g., textiles and toys [1,4]. Chromium present in contaminated soil can be taken up by plants and passed through the trophic chain to humans, or it can permeate into ground water.…”