Heavy metal contents of selected commercially available oil-based house paints intended for residential use in Ethiopia

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 27; no. 14; pp. 17175 - 17183
• Main Authors: Megertu, Dula Gashe, Bayissa, Leta Danno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid digestion; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atomic absorption analysis; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Atomic beam spectroscopy; Cadmium; Chromium; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Heavy metals; Hydrogen peroxide; International regulations; Lead; Lead poisoning; Metals; Nickel; Oil; Paints; Research Article; Spectral analysis; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Weight; Zinc; Ethiopia; Consumer safety; Policy issue; National guideline; Paints; Heavy metals
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08297-z

Environmental pollution by paint-based heavy metals have been continued to be a great concern. Thus, this study was aimed at investigating the levels of selected heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Pb) in oil-based paint samples being manufactured and sold in Ethiopia. An optimized acid digestion procedure using conc. HNO 3 , conc. HClO 4 , and 30% H 2 O 2 mixture by volume ratio of 3:4:1 mL, respectively, for 2 h at 200 °C were used for paint samples digestion, and the contents of heavy metals were assayed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The 13 out of 14 (92.9%) analyzed paint samples had contained Pb > 90 mg/kg with the highest content of 51,200 mg/kg (dry weight) in the orange colored paint. Likewise, the levels of Cr, Ni, and Zn obtained were ranged from 43.75 to 50.00, 60.02 to 128.81, and 323.69 to 1102.16 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively, while Cd was not detected in all the paint samples. Generally, the mean contents of heavy metals in the investigated paint samples have followed the order: Pb > > Cr > Zn > Ni, demonstrating the occurrence of higher lead metal content. The elevated levels of heavy metals detected in the oil-based paint samples could be attributed to the continued usage of these metals in different form during paint manufacture. On the bases of the findings, a strict monitoring and evaluation of paints being produced in Ethiopia has been recommended so that the manufacturers comply with the national (policy issue) and/or international regulations on the levels of toxic metals in paints to ensure consumers safety.