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Children have higher threats due to their exposure and higher susceptibility to the environmental pollutants. The current study put an effort on detecting different heavy metals in children play products and its related effects on children's health. Heavy metals were detected in the selected samples from the local markets of city Lahore by using flame atomic absorption spectrometer (iCE 3000 series). Results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Ni and Zn) except Pb and Cd are below the EU migration limits. The concentration of Pb in all samples and the concentration of Cd in nineteen samples exceeds from the limits. Highest values of Pb and Cd detected in poster paints were (8.33 ± 1 mg/kg) and (0.94 ± 0.1 mg/kg), respectively. In crayons and playing dough highest values of Pb and Cd detected were (10.94 ± 1 mg/kg), (2.75 ± 0.1 mg/kg) and (9.313 ± 01 mg/kg), (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/kg), respectively. Obtained results are further used to calculate both the oral and dermal health risks of these playing products. The value of the total health risk assessment was less than 1 in all the selected playing products. The maximum value of the total health risk assessment is detected in crayon (3.97E-02), which can cause serious health problems. Therefore, it is needed to make laws which limit the use of heavy metals in these playing products in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study deals with the production of ergot alkaloids from Penicillium commune and Penicillium citrinum, using surface culture fermentation process. Impact of various inorganic salts was tested on the production of ergot alkaloids during the optimization studies of fermentation medium such as impact of various concentration levels of succinic acid, ammonium chloride, MgSO4, FeSO4, ZnSO4, pH and the effect of various incubation time periods was also determined on the production of ergot alkaloids from Penicillium commune and Penicillium citrinum. Highest yield of ergot alkaloids was obtained when Penicillium commune and Penicillium citrinum that were grown on optimum levels of ingredients such as 2g succinic acid, 1.5 and 2g NH4Cl, 1.5g MgSO4, 1g FeSO4, 1 and 1.5g ZnSO4 after 21 days of incubation time period using pH 5 at 25°C incubation temperature in the fermentation medium. Ergot alkaloids were determined using Spectrophotometry and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]