Leaching of lead and cadmium from glass dinnerware.

Heavy metals like lead and cadmium were found to leach out from food contact surface of opal glass dinnerware when treated with five food acids as a leaching solution. The leachates used were: acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid and ascorbic acid at three different concentrations 2%, 4%, and 8% (v/v). At room temperature, duration of leaching varied from 1h to 24h in each case. The amount of metals leached in individual acid was found to be maximum at the 4% acid concentration. Release of Pb and Cd was faster in first 2h leaching period. Maximum amount of Pb and Cd were leached in 4% acetic acid at room temperature.