DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS IN GELS AND TUBES OF TOOTHPASTE COMMONLY USED IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to determine the concentrations of metals in the gels and tubes of five toothpaste commonly used in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The metals analyzed were Fe, Pb, Cu. Cr. Zn, Ni and Cd. The results obtained for the gels showed that Pb and Cu concentrations for all toothpastes were within the WHO permissible limits. The following metals were above the permissible limits in the analyzed T2 gel, Fe (7.06±0.12mg/l), Ni (0.08±0.02mg/l) and Cd (0.13 ±0.1mg/l). A high concentration of Zn (3.93±0.89mg/l) and Ni (0.08±0.02mg/l) were obtained in the T1 gel and for Cr (1.89±0.50mg/l) in T1 tube respectively. The concentration of Ni in T3 gel (0.04±0.0.01mg/l), tube (0.03±0.01mg/l) and T5 gel (0.07±0.02mg/l) is also above the permissible limit. ANOVA was used to determine the relationship in means between the gels and the tubes of the various toothpaste used and it was observed that to a large extent, the concentration of metals in the gel was dependent on the concentration of the metals in the tube. The study showed that the various toothpaste were of low toxicity and poses no threat to the consumers.