Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Human exposure to heavy metals is a big public health concern. Toxic exposures
in children are a major concern due to a variety of factors, including a faster metabolic rate and a
higher surface area to weight ratio than adults, immaturity of organ systems, and rapid growth
and development of organs and tissues including bone and brain. Since toxic metals can be
present in high concentrations in toys, they are the major sources of toxic metals exposure for the
children.
Objective: -To assess the concentration and health risks of heavy metal in children Plastic toys
accessed in Gondar city, Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: - cross-sectional study was conducted from April - July2021in Gondar city. First
survey is conducted to assess the different variety of children toys accessed in Gondar city. To
obtaina representative samples, total of 25 toys was sampled by five categories highlighted in the
ISO 8124: 2010 Safety of Toys. These are physical activity toys (N=5), intellectual (N=5),
technical (N=5), creative (N=5) and social (N=5). This cross-sectional study design includes all
toys found in Gondar town and excludes any children toys which are defected in any part are not
included and Toys which are purchased illegally in street are not included.
Result
Regarding the non-carcinogenic risk of each toxic metal, the hazard questiont of lead was
1.43/1.40, 1.60/1.40, 1.50/1.40, 1.62/1.40, and 1.50/1.40 in normal saline/HCl solutions for in
physical, creative, intellectual, technical and social toy types. In all toy types, the HQ of lead was
greater than one in both the normal saline and HCl acid solutions.
The cancer risks of the toys were determined with two methods of bioavailability: normal saline
solution for simulation of mouthing and HCl acid solution for simulation of ingestion.
The lifetime average daily dose (LADD) of Pb, Cd, Cu and Cr with mouthing and ingestion of
toys were 0.0011 & 0.00112, 0.0099 & 0.0000507, 6.00E-05 & 6.15E-06; and
0.0016&0.000324, respectively. The life time cancer risks of Pb, Cd, Cu and Cr through
mouthing as a means of exposure were 1.00E-05, 4.00E-05, 3.00E-08, and 1.00E-05,
respectively.
