Evaluation of heavy metal contents of vaginal suppositories and ophthalmic preparations

Abstract

Heavy metals may constitute health hazards even at cellular level, causing oxidative stress, where they generate free radicals that may overwhelm the body’s natural antioxidant. The study is aimed at investigating the presence of some heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe and Sb) in 10 samples each of vaginal suppositories and ophthalmic preparations obtained from registered pharmacies in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. The samples were obtained, individually opened, carefullyand 1 g of each digested using 6 ml of nitric acid (HNO₃) and 1 ml of perchloric acid (HClO₄) with further digestion using 1.0 ml, 0.1M perchloric acid immediately after heating. Thereafter, the samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that the samples contained trace amounts of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe). However, antimony was not detected in any of the samples. This study suggests that the heavy metals present in the samples were well within the WHO heavy metal contamination limit value and therefore are of good quality in respect of heavy metal-induced eye damage, eye irritation, vaginal burn sensations, and aggravation of conditions which these pharmaceutical products are meant to treat or manage.