Determination of elemental toxicity migration limits, bioaccessibility and risk assessment of essential childcare products

Migration characteristics and risk assessment of chemical hazardous substances in infant teether toys

Teether is a special toy used for infants oral contact. In this paper, a residual and migration detection method was developed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for 20 screened hazardous substances in teethers. Fifteen substances were detected in 59 samples, with residual amounts and detection rates ranging from 0.01 mg⋅kg-1 to 106.15 mg⋅kg-1 and from 3.39 % to 84.7 % respectively. Then, 12 substances were detected in simulated saliva at migration levels ranging from 0.0143 mg⋅kg-1 to 20.03 mg⋅kg-1, with detection rates ranging from 1.69 % to 76.3 %. Statistically, the average migration rate of each substance ranged from 8.18 % to 53.28 % depending on the properties of the substance and the sample. The exposure risk of infants to teethers was evaluated separately for two age groups. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) values for the analytes were higher in the 3-12-month age group than in the 12-24-month age group. The HQ values of triphenylphosphine oxide, benzocaine, and N-methylformanilide were relatively high, with averages of 1.2 × 10-2, 2.5 × 10-3, and 1.6 × 10-3, respectively, and the max HI of the 12 substances was 0.04. The HI and HQ values of the analytes were all below 1, indicating that the non-carcinogenic risks of analytes in teethers are at an acceptable level.

Development of nationally representative exposure factor database for children's products in Korea

BACKGROUND

Children may be exposed to harmful chemicals from their products. Accurate exposure factors are critical for exposure assessment of children's products. Product usage pattern parameters are relatively limited compared with the chemical concentration, children's physiological and behavioral parameters.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine nationally representative Korean exposure factors for the usage patterns of children's products by sex, age, and season.

METHODS

Using proportional quota sampling, a survey of 10,000 households with children aged 0-12 years was conducted twice, once in summer and winter. The children's ages were divided into four groups: infant (0-2 years old), toddler (3-6), lower-grade elementary student (7-9), and higher-grade elementary student (10-12). Data on exposure factors such as use rate, use frequency, and use duration of 57 children's products were collected.

RESULTS

The 57 products were classified into five categories: baby products (13), toys (12), daily products (10), sporting goods (8), and stationery (14). The use rates of products in the daily products and stationery category were >90% in both seasons. Two of the 57 products showed significant sex differences in all three exposure factors (p < 0.001). Twenty-five of the 44 non-baby products showed significant age differences for all three exposure factors. Twenty-three of the 57 products varied significantly with season for all three exposure factors.

IMPACT

This study generated a nationally representative exposure factor database for the usage patterns of children's products in Korea. The exposure factors for 57 children's products were investigated through twice survey with quota sampling with each 10,000 children nationwide. Sex, age, and seasonal differences for children's products were identified. These accurate exposure factors by sex, age, and season can be used as input parameters for refined exposure assessment.

An investigation into the present levels of contamination in children's toys and jewelry in different countries: a systematic review

Contamination by heavy metals and toxic elements in children's toys and jewelry is an ongoing challenge in different countries. These contaminants can enter the children's body via oral, dermal, and respiratory routes, leading to adverse health effects. This study aimed to investigate the present levels of contamination in children's toys and jewelry in 15 countries, including UK, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, China, Kosovo, Nigeria, North American, Kazakhstan, UAE, Pakistan, Iraq, Israel, West Bank/Palestine, Czech Republic, and Turkey. In this review, the legislation and recommendation of the United States (U.S.), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), Canada, and the European Union (E.U.) on toxic elements in toys and jewelry are introduced. Plastic or metallic toys and children's jewelry still have the most severe toxic elements pollution and the existence of lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), barium (Ba), Zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), bisphenol A, phthalates, parabens, azo dyes, and flame retardants has been regarded as an ongoing challenge in these articles. Finally, this review offers benchmarking of the concentrations of toxic elements in all types of children's toys and jewelry in different nations.

Nontargeted analysis and comparison strategies for volatile and semivolatile substances in toys made of different materials

A nontargeted broad-spectrum analysis method for unknown volatile and semivolatile substances in toys was established by gas chromatography-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Based on the NIST spectrum library, unknown substances could be accurately identified by comprehensive scoring, retention index, chemical ionization, and fine comparison of ion fragments. For substances not included in the library, the molecular formulas of unknown substances were retrieved through online compound databases. Possible structural formulas were verified by high-resolution spectra and fragmentation mechanisms. Taking teether toys as an example, the substances differences of products made of different materials were compared through the digitization of chemical composition. Specifically, 59 substances were identified in 50 teether toys. The toys made of two different materials each had their own substance distribution, and the types and quantities of substances in thermoplastic polyurethanes samples were more than those in silicone samples. Substances with high risk included phenol, N-methylaniline, cyclohexanone, and 4-tert-amylphenol. This work can serve as a reference for the identification of unknown substances in toys and other products, as well as for the comparison the chemical composition of products made of different materials. Thus, this work has positive significance in promoting the quality and safety of toys and reducing chemical harm to children.

Metals as toxicants in event-based expedited production of children's jewelry

Globally, the hazardous substance in children's goods is of great concern. Toxic chemicals are potentially harmful to the health and growth of infants and children. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)-contaminated children's jewelry is widely encountered in many countries. This study aims to determine the concentration of metal toxicants (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and Fe) in event-based (Independence Day festival) children's jewelry, considering time-limited and fast production products that may compromise the quality and safety parameters during manufacturing. The determinations are for the time-constraint industrial production of children's jewelry in the context of the toxic substances in a variety of base materials used. This is the first time event-based children's jewelry has been monitored and critically assessed for metal contamination. Forty-two samples, including metallic, wooden, textile, rubber, plastic, and paint-coated plastic children's jewelry, were tested. Seventy-four percent of samples detected Pb and Cd in quantifiable amounts. Ni in 71%, Cu in 67%, Co in 43%, and Zn and Fe were detected in 100% samples with quantifiable amounts. Twenty-two ID-CJ samples exceeded the US regulatory limit for Pb and four samples for Cd. However, twenty-nine samples for Pb, eleven for Cd, five for Co, and one for Cu exceeded the EU regulatory limit. The highest concentration of Pb was found in paint-coated plastic jewelry, and the highest Cd was found in metallic jewelry. These results suggest that the potential hazards of event-based children's jewelry deserve the attention of government agencies seeking to limit children's exposure to toxic chemicals. Intergovernmental organizations and individual countries regulate chemicals in consumer products, but a coordinated international approach is lacking. Some continents and countries still lack in regulations for children's products, especially jewelry, and toys.

Toxic elements in children’s crayons and colored pencils: Bioaccessibility assessment

Crayons and colored pencils for children may contain toxic elements (TEs) exhibiting potential risk for children?s health including cognitive development, after their ingestion, through mouthing and chewing and eventually, their accumulation. The aim of this study was to determine total content of As, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Sb and estimate their bioaccessibility conducting artificial saliva extraction. Sixty samples of colored pencils and crayons from 10 manufacturers were analyzed. Microwave acid assisted digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was performed for determination of total content of TEs. Simulation of extraction by artificial saliva was applied to get more reliable data when bioavailability is concerned. The total concentrations of TEs were higher in colored pencils than in crayons and their maximum levels were: 5.78, 9.36, 9.97, 0.615, and 6.63 mg kg-1 for As, Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni, respectively. Concentration of Sb was below the detection limit for all investigated samples. This study showed that concentration of As and Pb in several samples did not comply with European Union regulative. Bioaccessibility study showed the high degree of leaching of Cr and As from pencils, but regardless of extracted portions, concentrations of selected investigated TEs were below allowed levels.

Estimating mouthing exposure to chemicals in children's products

BACKGROUND

Existing models for estimating children's exposure to chemicals through mouthing currently depends on the availability of chemical- and material-specific experimental migration rates, only covering a few dozen chemicals.

OBJECTIVE

This study objective is hence to develop a mouthing exposure model to predict migration into saliva, mouthing exposure, and related health risk from a wide range of chemical-material combinations in children's products.

METHODS

We collected experimental data on chemical migration from different products into saliva for multiple substance groups and materials, identifying chemical concentration and diffusion coefficient as main properties of influence. To predict migration rates into saliva, we adapted a previously developed migration model for chemicals in food packaging materials. We also developed a regression model based on identified chemical and material properties.

RESULTS

Our migration predictions correlate well with experimental data (R2 = 0.85) and vary widely from 8 × 10-7 to 32.7 µg/10 cm2/min, with plasticizers in PVC showing the highest values. Related mouthing exposure doses vary across chemicals and materials from a median of 0.005 to 253 µg/kgBW/d. Finally, we combined exposure estimates with toxicity information to yield hazard quotients and identify chemicals of concern for average and upper bound mouthing behavior scenarios.

SIGNIFICANCE

The proposed model can be applied for predicting migration rates for hundreds of chemical-material combinations to support high-throughput screening.

Non-targeted identification of unknown chemical hazardous substances in infant teether toys by gas chromatography-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry

Chemical hazardous substances in teethers may migrate into infant's body through oral exposure, resulting in a potential health risk. In recent years, researchers have performed a series of studies for detecting target chemicals in teethers and other toys, but the presence of unknown chemicals has not been systematically investigated yet. This paper reports the non-targeted identification of unknown chemical hazards that may have migrated from teethers to infants based on gas chromatography-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry. In view of the difficulties that may be encountered in the qualitative analysis of substances, several typical cases and the corresponding reliable solutions are given from the perspective of comprehensive score and retention index, isotope-aided qualitative analysis, chemical ionization identification formula, and fragment ion detail comparison for distinguishing isomers. Finally, 28 substances are identified in 10 teether samples. Among them, phenol, N-methylaniline, 1,6-dioxacyclododecane-7,12-dione and cyclohexanone have higher detection rates. This study not only has valuable reference for the identification of unknown substances, but also has positive guiding role in monitoring potential chemical hazards in toys and promoting the safety of products.

Determination of metals in children's plastic toys using X-ray florescence spectroscopy

Children's toys may contain substances that children can be exposed to via multiple pathways. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of metals in children's plastic toys using X-ray florescence. Fifty-six children's plastic toys were purchased from several wholesale markets, supermarkets, and retail stores in the UAE, and fifty-four out of them were labeled "Made in China." X-ray fluorescence analysis was conducted on 442 samples from 56 toys to investigate the elemental composition of the toy material. The elements detected with higher frequencies were Ti (100%), Cl (78.6%), Zn (67.9%), Si (66.1%), Iron (48.2%), and Cu (16.1%). Chromium and nickel were detected only in one toy with low concentrations, while Pb was not detected in any of the toys analyzed. In conclusion, the analyzed plastic toys contain metals and the presence of these metals in some cases may pose a health risk to children. Chlorine presence in more than three quarters of toys may indicate that the toys were made of PVC. The study revealed the presence of titanium and silicon in toys. However, more research is needed to verify their role in toys and to identify associated health risks. The study did not reveal toxic elements such as Pb, Cd, and As.

Manganese in the Diet: Bioaccessibility, Adequate Intake, and Neurotoxicological Effects

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element that participates in several biological processes. Mn serves as a cofactor for several enzymes, such as glutamine synthetase and oxidoreductases, that have an important role in the defense of the organisms against oxidative stress. The diet is the main source of Mn intake for humans, and adequate daily intake levels for this metal change with age. Moreover, in higher amounts, Mn may be toxic, mainly to the brain. Here, we provide an overview of Mn occurrence in food, addressing its bioaccessibility and discussing the dietary standard and recommended intake of Mn consumption. In addition, we review some mechanisms underlying Mn-induced neurotoxicity.

Determination of total and bioavailable As and Sb in children's paints using the MSFIA system coupled to HG-AFS

In this study, the use of hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) coupled with the multi-syringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) has been proposed in the application of the Doehlert design to optimise the determination of As and Sb in gouache and tempera children's paints. The determination of the total and bioavailable As and Sb in paint samples from various brands and colours was also investigated. The limits of quantification (LOQ) obtained for the determination of As and Sb were 14.0 and 8.6 ng g-1, respectively. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated through recovery tests (by the analyte addition method) at three levels for both elements, and by the analysis of certified reference materials of clay (CRM 052, Loamy Clay 1) and river water (SLRS-4). Twenty paint samples, manufactured in China, Italy, Spain and Brazil, were analysed. The concentrations of As varied between below LOQ (<14 ng g-1) and 136.0 ± 1.1 ng g-1 (average value of 101.0 ng g-1, n = 10), and Sb between below LOQ (<8.6 ng g-1) and 74.0 ± 5.4 ng g-1 (average value of 21.7 ng g-1, n = 17). The children's paint samples presented As and Sb concentrations that were below the maximum values established by the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO), as well as by the European legislation Directive 2009/48/EC. Based on the obtained results for the total As and Sb concentrations, eight samples were selected to evaluate the migration or bioavailability of As and Sb after solubilisation in HCl solution. The obtained results showed that for the eight analysed samples, the concentration of both elements after solubilisation in HCl solution were below the LOQ (<16.2 ng g-1 for As and <7.1 ng g-1 for Sb). These values correspond to the limits of analytical concentrations of As and Sb established by INMETRO and the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). The determined concentrations of As and Sb guarantee the safety (with regards to these elements) for children when using the analysed paint samples since they do not cause any health risk. The analytical method for the determination of the total and bioavailable As and Sb in children's paints was efficient, accurate and precise.

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

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.

Migration of Parabens, Bisphenols, Benzophenone-Type UV Filters, Triclosan, and Triclocarban from Teethers and Its Implications for Infant Exposure

Parabens (p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters), bisphenols, benzophenone-type UV filters, triclosan, and triclocarban are used in a variety of consumer products, including baby teethers. Nevertheless, the exposure of infants to these chemicals through the use of teethers is still unknown. In this study, 59 teethers, encompassing three types, namely solid plastic, gel-filled, and water-filled (most labeled "bisphenol A-free"), were collected from the U.S. market and analyzed for 26 potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from intact surfaces through migration/leaching tests performed with Milli-Q water and methanol. The total amount of the sum of six parent parabens (Σ₆ Parabens) leached from teethers ranged from 2.0 to 1990 ng, whereas that of their four transformation products (Σ₄ Parabens) ranged from 0.47 to 839 ng. The total amount of the sum of nine bisphenols (Σ₉ bisphenols) and 5 benzophenones (Σ₅ benzophenones) leached from teethers ranged from 1.93 to 213 ng and 0.59 to 297 ng, respectively. Triclosan and triclocarban were found in the extracts of teethers at approximately 10-fold less amounts than were bisphenols and benzophenones. Based on the amount leached into Milli-Q water, daily intake of these chemicals was estimated from the use of teethers by infants at 12 months of age. This is the first study to document the occurrence and migration of a wide range EDCs from intact surfaces of baby teethers.

Examination of Lead and Cadmium in Water-based Paints Marketed in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

In spite of the availability of substitutes for lead and cadmium compounds in paints, manufacturers continue to produce paints with high levels of these metals. As the population continues to grow and there is a continued shift from oil-based to water-based paints, the sales and use of these paints will increase the exposure of humans and the environment to these metals.

OBJECTIVES

We measured the levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in 174 paint samples marketed in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria. Paint samples from different manufacturers registered with and without Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) were considered.

METHODS

Samples were acid digested using a microwave digester and the levels of the elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

DISCUSSION

The levels of Cd and Pb (dry weight) in all samples ranged from 98-1999 μg/g and 170-3231 μg/g, respectively. All the samples were above the permissible limits of 90 ppm of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and 100 ppm limit of the European Union (EU) for Pb and Cd in paint.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that water-based paints marketed in Nigeria still contain substantial amounts of lead and cadmium which are detrimental to human health and the entire ecosystem. These metals are among the EU priority metals due to the increased risk of occupational exposure to humans and vulnerable groups such as children.