Leaching of Some Essential and Non-Essential Heavy Metals from Modern Glazed Ceramic Crockeries Imported into Qatar from China, India and Spain

In this study, the leaching potential of ceramic crockeries available in Qatar market has been evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Ceramic crockeries decorated with glaze matter containing various essential (Zinc, Iron, and Barium, etc.) and non-essential heavy metals (lead and cadmium) can adulterate the foodstuff and/or can release deadly metals into the food substance. Chines, Indian, and Spanish ceramic crockeries were randomly selected from the products available in the local Qatari market and analyzed to determine the level of leachable essential and non-essential heavy metals. Leaching studies were performed according to the ASTM 738-94 standard test methods for specific metals leaching into 4% acetic acid solutions over 24 hours exposure time. ASTM 738-94 is a precise and standard method and particularly designed for the determination of some heavy metals extracted by acetic acid from the glazed ceramic surface. Results show that all the ceramic crockeries contain both leachable essential and non-essential heavy metals. However, the concentration of these heavy metals is not potentially high to cause any adverse effect on human health.