International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Chromium and Cobalt levels in Commonly used Paediatric Syrups in Nigeria

    , , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NIGERIA

Res.J.chem.sci., Volume 2, Issue (4), Pages 72-75, April,18 (2012)

Abstract

Studies on the human exposure to elemental impurities like chromium and cobalt in pharmaceutical products in the African environment are scarce and limited. In this study we determined the concentrations of these elemental impurities in twenty-eight different brands of paediatric syrups, purchased randomly from patent medicine retail outlets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The aim of this study is to compare the antimony, tin and mercury levels in these paediatric syrups with the recommended limits United States Pharmacopea USP. Twenty eight different paediatric syrups were randomly sampled and purchased using the market basket protocol from pharmacy shops in Port Harcourt city, Rivers State, Nigeria in December 2010. Syrups were ashed before digestion using conc. aqua regia, HCl: HNO3 (3:1) and chromium and cobalt were analysed using Unicam Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) Model 929. The range of heavy metal content in these paediatric syrups were 0.66µg/g – 2.04µg/g and 0.62µg/g – 2.02µg/g for chromium and cobalt respectively. The mean of chromium and cobalt in these paediatric syrups were 1.571±0.069 and 1.015±0.0083 respectively. The estimation of chromium and cobalt as a result of the consumption of paediatric syrups on an average daily basis were 29.35µg/g and 29.9µg/g respectively. Chromium and cobalt content in paediatric syrups did not constitute a significant source of heavy metal exposure to the children.

References

  1. Roy J., Pharmaceutical Impurities- A Mini-Review, AAPS Pharm Sci Tech., 3(2), (2002)
  2. Oberg T. and Bergstrom J., Chromium as a potential catalyst in the thermal formation of chlorinated aromatic compounds, Organohalogen compounds 66 (2004)
  3. Mertz W., Chromium and its relation to carbohydrate metabolism, Med. Clin. North. Am., 60, 739-744 (1976)
  4. Anderson R.A., Recent advances in the clinical and biochemical effects of chromium deficiency, Prog Clin Biol Res 380, 221-234 (1993)
  5. International agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans, some metals and metallic compounds, Lyon, France: World Health Organization, IARC, (1990)
  6. Goldman L.R., Children-unique and vulnerable, Environmental risks facing children and recommendations for response Environ., Health Perspect., 103, 13-18 (1995)
  7. Orisakwe O.E., Akah P.A. and Orish C.N., Prevalence of parental administration of drugs to children before coming to the hospital, Trop. Doc., 24, 182-183 (1994)
  8. Nriagu J., Afeiche M., Linder A., Arowolo T., Ana G., Sridhar M.K.C., Obi E., Orisakwe O.E. and Adesina A., Lead poisoning associated with malaria in children of urban areas of Nigeria, Int. J. Env. Hyg., 211, 591-605 (2008)
  9. Nriagu J., Nigerian children biomonitoring project (Unpublished data)
  10. Parkhurst D.F., Arithmetic versus geometric means for environmental concentration data, Environ. Sci. Technol. 32, 92A-98A (1998)
  11. http://www.usp.org/pdf/EN/hotto pics/2009-04- 22 Metal Impurities Tox Chart.pdf (2009)
  12. Orisakwe O.E. and Nduka J.K., Lead and cadmium levels of commonly administered pediatric syrups in Nigeria, A Public health concern, Science of the Total Environment 407, 5993–5996 (2009)