Release of heavy metals from Tunisian traditional earthenware.

Lead and other heavy metals are found to leach from the glazes of some Tunisian glazed earthenware in concentrations high enough to constitute a serious health hazard. When yellow/green and white/green colored mugs available on the Tunisian market were filled with acetic acid solutions, concentrations of up to 51 microg lead per ml of leachate were measured. The values greatly exceed the limit allowed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for a 24-h leaching test. The use of a traditional milk derivative (leben) widely consumed as a beverage in Tunisia as a leaching agent shows that amounts as high as 1407 microg of lead is ingested per mug of milk derivative consumed. The use of such utensils may constitute a serious health hazard to the Tunisian consumer. Stringent regulations and controls are therefore required to protect the consumer against lead and other heavy metals of non-occupational origin.