Background: Non-standard creativity tools and entertainment products may contain heavy metals. Children are more sensitive than adults to this potentially toxic chemicals. This study aimed at investigating harmful elements in children’s products in Iran.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, Iranian samples (13 play dough samples, 6 finger paint, and 1 face paint sample) and 10 imported samples were investigated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package (version 19).
Results: The results of this study showed that the lead content of 2 samples of play dough (76%), 10 samples of finger paint (100%) and 3 samples of face paint (100%) was higher than the permissible limits set by the Iranian National Standards Organization. Lead and cadmium contents of 100% of the samples of play dough, along with the face and finger paints exceeded the permissible limits set by the European Union.
Conclusion: Research on prolonged exposure to harmful elements and comprehensive risk characterization for toys is recommended
