DETERMINATION OF LEAD IN PARACETAMOL ORAL LIQUID DOSAGE FORMULATIONS IN NIGERIA

DETERMINATION OF LEAD IN PARACETAMOL ORAL LIQUID DOSAGE FORMULATIONS IN NIGERIA

Igbinaduwa PO* and Aghayere GE

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

May-June 2015; Vol. 7 (issue 1): 37-44

ABSTRACT
Lead is an accumulative poison. It is more harmful to children because it can affect their developing nerves and brains even at very low blood lead concentration level. This study seeks to determine the concentration of lead in paracetamol oral liquid dosage formulation. Twenty different brands of paracetamol oral liquid dosage formulation were assayed. Qualitative analysis was carried out using standard chemical test while quantitative analysis was done using atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead was detected as lead chromate in 7 (35%) brands of paracetamol oral liquid formulations. Lead concentrations ranging from 0.006 mg/l to 0.524 mg/l were detected. Since, there is no known safe blood lead concentration level in children, reduction to exposure, is important.

KEYWORDS- Paracetamol, Lead, Spectroscopic Analysis, Safety of Pharmaceuticals, Heavy metal toxicity