Health and Safety Concerns: Quantitative Studies of Leaching of Metals from Glazed Surfaces of Traditional Ceramic Potteries

Abstract

Traditional ceramic wares have been known as a source of heavy metals poisoning. Traditional ceramic potteries may be improperly glazed, and the glaze used to make the pottery may contain over amounts of heavy metals. These over glazed ceramic wares can release deadly metal into foodstuff and constitute health hazards. In this work, Quantitative studies were done according to ASTM C 738.81 (1982) leaching standard test methods for the determination of trace amount of selected metals from glazed surfaces of traditional ceramic potteries by 4% acetic and 2% citric acid standard solutions at different temperatures. Finally, leaching potential has been done using ICP-MS analysis. The capacity of each ceramic tableware sample ranged between 250 and 350ml. The ceramic wares selected randomly from products available in the local markets at Doha (Qatar), Cairo (Egypt) and Gharyan (Libya).