Preliminary Study of Heavy Metals in Low-Cost Jewelry Items Available in Nigerian Markets

Abstract

Background Many developing countries either lack or have weakly enforced regulations on imported goods. A high percentage of low-cost jewelry items in Nigeria are imported from abroad. There is concern about the levels of heavy metals present in these products. Objectives The present study examined the levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in inexpensive jewelry purchased from retail wholesale shops in Ibadan metropolis, southwestern Nigeria. Methods One hundred (100) assorted jewelry items were digested in dilute nitric acid solution followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis. Results Out of the total number of jewelry items analyzed, 12% of them had Pb concentrations above European Union (EU) safety limits. Also, 63%, 42% and 62% of items had Cd, Cr and Ni average concentrations above their EU limits. Notably, 3%, 27% and 8% of the items had Pb, Cd and Cr concentrations over 103 times above their EU limits Overall, Cd showed the highest average level in rings (256,952 mg/kg) followed by bracelets (60,627 mg/kg) and earrings (54,388 mg/kg). All metals in solid bangles were within their EU guidelines. Conclusions Given the significant deleterious impacts of these metals on human health, low-cost jewelry poses a serious potential threat to users' health. Policies to guarantee the safety of low-cost jewelry items must be established and enforced. Competing Interests The authors declare no competing financial interests.

A Low-Cost Method Shows Potentially Toxic Element Levels in Dust Correlated with Elevated Blood Levels of These Chemicals in Children Exposed to an Informal Home-Based Production Environment

“…In a previous study, 19 ash and dust samples were collected into glass beakers from jewelry workshops in Bangladesh and high concentrations of the compounds Cd, Cr, Pb, and As were found [ 28 ]. Other studies also showed that high metal concentrations in inexpensive jewelry [ 29 , 30 ] were a health concern. High metal concentrations can also pose a health risk after the production process during use of the items by children.…”

Toxic metal analysis of external and internal compositions and lixiviation pattern of costume jewelry

“…The resulting combination of materials includes cheap metals, such as iron or nickel, and sometimes even heavy metal alloys containing cadmium and lead, superficially treated to simulate noble metals (Weidenhamer & Clement, 2007;Guney & Zagury, 2013;Guney & Zagury, 2014). In the scientific literature several works from different countries have already identified the hazardous of toxic metals exposure due to costume jewelries (Moitra, Brashier & Sahu, 2014;Murphy et al, 2016;Adie, Oyebade & Atanda, 2020). As in the ancient Trojan horse myth, the shiny surface of a ring might be just a decoy for hazardous substances ready to attack the person wearing it and the environment.…”

Interventions to reduce cadmium exposure in low- and middle-income countries during pregnancy and childhood: A systematic review

“…Still, the United Nations Environment Programme notes that “these existing efforts are likely still inadequate to eliminate or minimise cadmium exposures from anthropogenic sources globally as a whole” [ 12 ]. Weak enforcement of quality control regulations and increased demand are, for example, important contributors to cadmium exposures from jewellery and toys in LMICs [ 24 ].…”

“…Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency has been found to increase cadmium uptake in pregnant mothers in LMICs [21][22][23]. Cadmium is commonly used in cheap jewellery and toys sold in LMICs such as Nigeria [24], Cambodia [25], and China [26], either made locally or imported. A study from China reported that cadmium exposure from food contributes substantially to stroke and coronary heart disease burden [27].…”

“…Still, the United Nations Environment Programme notes that "these existing efforts are likely still inadequate to eliminate or minimise cadmium exposures from anthropogenic sources globally as a whole" [12]. Weak enforcement of quality control regulations and increased demand are, for example, important contributors to cadmium exposures from jewellery and toys in LMICs [24]. This review aims to identify and summarize the range of interventions implemented in LMICs for pregnancy, infancy, and childhood and assess their effectiveness for improving human health with the intention to inform policy development for reducing children's exposure to toxic environmental chemicals.…”