Abstract
Due to the widespread use of play dough among children and the ability to absorb heavy metals and transfer contaminants through the skin, it is essential to determine the level of chemical and microbial contamination of these products to provide a clear picture of their quality. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conduct in the Comprehensive Laboratory of Food and Drug Administration of the Health Ministry of Iran. For this purpose, 12 samples of play dough were examined. A flame atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals in different samples of play dough. Bacterial isolates were cultured rich microbial culture media and then used for bacterial phenotypic isolation and differential detection of bacteria. The results showed that in all samples arsenic was observed and its mean concentration was 0.12 ppm. Cadmium and lead were present in all samples with an average concentration of 0.06 and 0.12 ppm, respectively. According to the results, in none of the samples, the heavy metal concentrations exceeded the threshold, and all measurements were within the safe range. The results demonstrated that no microbial contamination related to E. coli, coliforms, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, molds and yeasts was observed in the dough samples. Therefore, play dough products can be used as safe children’s toys in Iran. However, due to the possibility of microbial contamination over time and repeated use, hygiene practices should be taught to children regarding the use of play toys such as frequent hand washing before and after use.