Assessment of Heavy Metals in Some Soft Plastic Toys Sold in Uyo Main Market

Abstract

Polymers are materials widely used in industry and many areas of life. Polymers contain a wide   variety of additives (plasticizers, antioxidants, stabilizers, curing agents, colouring agents etc.) tofulfill their physical and chemical properties. These components are present in a wide range of     concentrations usually form trace to a few percentages level. The concentration of heavy metals     such as Pb, Cd, e t c. In plastic baby toys, for instance, is regulated in many countries due to the    toxicity of these elements. The research is conducted to determining the level of heavy metals Pb, Cd, Hg and As) in toys sold in Uyo Main Market. Toy samples randomly selected were tested for PVC before the analysis and found to be all positive. Digestion with concentrated acids (HNO? and H2O2), were carried out in triplicate using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results were presented and compared with the WHO standards of acceptable limit.