Abstract
Background: Cough syrup abuse is an emerging public health trend in our society that need to be tackle due to the manifestation of harmful biological effects on users. Determination of the possible embedded constituents in drugs such as heavy metals will guide stakeholders and the public for taking right measures in curtailing the trend.
Objective: This study was carried out with the purpose of assessing the levels of heavy metals in commonly used cough syrup in Sokoto, Nigeria.
Methods: A survey using atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed for the study and the descriptive statistics were done.
Results: Levels of essential heavy metals in abused cough syrup drugs show, that the manganese concentrations ranges from 0.60±0.03 to1.10± 0.40 (ppm), copper range from 0.13±0.07-0.30±0.02 (ppm), zinc ranges from 0.60±0.012 to1.16±0.12 (ppm), and iron ranges from 0.10±0.2 to3.0±0.05 (ppm). Levels of non-essential heavy metals in abused cough syrup drugs show, that the chromium levels range from 0.810± 0.014 to 3.050± 0.07 (ppm), lead levels ranges from 0.285±0.007 to 0.43±0.007 (ppm), nickel extent ranges from 0.68±0.007 to 1.19±0.41(ppm), and cadmium levels range from 0.14±0.014 to 0.71±0.007 (ppm).
Conclusion: there are significant levels of the determined heavy metals in cough syrup commonly abused in Sokoto, Nigeria; and consequently, toxicity may occur among the users. Governments need to screen heavy metals in all the drugs and put up measures that strictly allowed access to these drugs only on medical basis.
DOI
10.56808/2673-060X.5088
Recommended Citation
Umar, AI; Sarkingobir, Yusuf; Faruk, Aminu; Dikko, Malami; and Adamu, Hajara W.
(2024)
"Extent of some heavy metals in cough syrups abused in Sokoto, Nigeria,"
Chulalongkorn Medical Journal: Vol. 67:
Iss.
4, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2673-060X.5088
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/clmjournal/vol67/iss4/1