The contamination of children's products with potentially toxic elements is a critical global health concern. Due to their rapid physiological development and behavioural patterns, such as frequent mouthing of objects, children are uniquely susceptible to heavy metal exposure. This study aimed to address the lack of data on the Algerian market by assessing acid-extractable concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in toys and school supplies. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 158 samples, including 103 toy components and 55 school supply items of various origins. Metal migration was simulated using the European EN 71-3 protocol via 0.07 M HCl extraction. Analysis was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Health risk was evaluated by calculating the oral Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and the Dermal Absorbed Dose (DAD) and comparing it to the Oral and Dermal Reference Dose (RfDo and RfDd). Most samples demonstrated high regulatory compliance, with metal levels below the limit of quantification. However, significant exceptions were found in toys of Chinese origin. One 'Police Quad toy figurine' imported from China contained 381.56 mg/kg of Pb, exceeding the Algerian safety limit of 90 mg/kg, however, it remained below the RfDo and RfDd (0.0005 and 0.00025 mg/kg/day respectively), suggesting low immediate risk from dermal absorption alone. Although the Algerian market shows high overall compliance compared to global datasets, the presence of specific high-lead imported items reflects a localized paediatric risk. These findings underscore the need for more rigorous market surveillance and integrated risk assessments.
Keywords: AAS; Cadmium; Children exposure; Dermal Absorbed Dose; Heavy metals; Lead; Mercury; School supplies; Toys.
© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.