Concentration of lead in imported plastic toys, safety to children and associated factors in Lusaka city, Zambia
Date
2017
Authors
Sakala, Doreen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Lead poisoning has been a constant public health concern because children absorb more lead
compared to adults. The resulting health effects are irreversible and include decreased cognitive
functions development and death. Lead exposure to children is in various ways and one of the
ways is use of toys contaminated with lead. The allowable international standards for Lead in
plastic toys is 90 ppm and this study established levels ranged from 0.001 to 2,100 ppm. The
study used an analytical cross-sectional design in which 108 toys were collected from 18
randomly selected stores in Lusaka City. The toys were subjected to X-ray Fluorescence using
Nilton gun machine to determine lead concentration. Stata version 12.0 was used for statistical
analysis. Bivariate regression was used to test for association between independent and
dependent variables at P < 0.05. Toys with lead levels above the recommended international
standard of 90 ppm constituted 18.5% (20) of the total sample while 81.5% (88) toys had lead
concentration within the standard. The concentration of lead had a median of 0.001 ppm and
(IQR 0.001 – 60.5 ppm). Toys for children above the age of 2 years had higher lead levels of
105 ppm compared to those for children below 2 years with levels of 9.75 ppm. Toys in the midrange
cost category of 16 -25 ZMK had higher levels of 232.5 ppm compared to toys in the low
and high cost category of 2-15 and 36-190 ZMK. Lead levels were high in multi coloured toys
(102 ppm) compared to the mean for single colours Toys of animal shape had higher lead levels
of 105.5 ppm compared to toys in the miscellaneous and repetitive shape categories which had
90 and 0.001 ppm respectively. However, the association between these factors (colour, type,
cost, child age category of the toy) and the concentration of lead in the toys was not statistically
significant with P > 0.05. This study established that 18.5% of the toys were above the
acceptable limit of lead, with some toys having lead levels 23 times higher than the
internationally acceptable standard of 90ppm. There is therefore urgent need for regulatory
bodies (ZEMA and ZABS) to develop standards and policy on lead in toys to ensure protection
of children from lead poisoning.
Description
Keywords
Lead poisoning in childern--Toys--Zambia , Toys--Safety regulations--Zambia