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Niosomes are efficient carriers for controlled drug delivery, to entrap hydrophilic drugs in the larger interior aqueous layer, whereas, lipophilic drugs in the outer lipid bilayers. Since, the niosomes are biodegradable and non toxic and hence, a good carrier for targeting of therapeutic agents at the site of interest with reduced systemic toxicity. The film formation method was used for the preparation of the niosomes due to simplicity, reproducibility and high drug entrapment efficiency. The various ratios of Surfactant (Span 60) Cholesterol and Dicetyl phosphate (DCP) were used for the preparation of the niosomes. The molar ratio of 47.5:47.5:5 was found to be most suitable in terms of niosomal size drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. The average size of niosomes was observed as 4.5 µ m with drug entrapment efficiency of 62.4%. The in vitro drug release study was carried out using dialysis membrane in Phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH 7.4) for 24 hrs. The result showed a cumulative drug release of 98% in 8 hrs. from the free drug, against 92% drug release in 24 hrs. With optimized niosomal formulation. The optimized niosomal formulation showed a sustained action of about 16 hrs was subjected to in vivo studies (anti-inflammatory activity). This formulation was found to be more effective in reducing edema after 2 hrs as compared to the free drug. Copyright © www.iiste.org Key-word: - Niosomes, biodegradable, film formation method, drug entrapment efficiency, dialysis membrane.

Mercury levels in canned tuna fish were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry while cadmium and lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metal contents in the samples, expressed in μg g−1 wet weight, varied from 0.20 to 0.66 with an average value of 0.29 for mercury, from 0.09 to 0.32 with an average value of 0.18 for cadmium and from 0.18 to 0.40 with an average value of 0.28 for lead. The results of this study indicate that tuna fish from the Mediterranean coast of Libya have concentrations well below the permissible levels for these toxic metals. Their contribution to the body burden can therefore be considered negligible.

The use of mercury containing skin toning creams is becoming increasingly popular among darkskinned women. The prolonged use of them over the years may cause serious health effects. In the study sixty nine (69) samples of skin toning creams were analysed for total mercury by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry using an automatic mercury analyzer. The concentration of mercury in the creams ranged from below 0.001 to 0.311 μg g -1 . All the creams sampled had concentrations less than the US Food and Drug Administration's acceptable limit of 1 μg g -1 . The low concentrations of mercury detected in the cream samples analysed therefore do not pose any potential mercury related health risk to the population particularly women Keywords : mercury, skin toning cream, women, health Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 28 (1) 2008 pp. 88-96

Levels of some heavy metals in soil and vegetation along a major highway in Libya were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr and Mn in soil and vegetation all decreased with distance from the road, indicating their relation to traffic. The concentrations of the metals also decreased with depth in the soil profile indicating that the source of the metals was aerial deposition from motor vehicles. Inter-relationships between metals in the soil were highly significant (p < 0.05) suggesting a common source for these metals. Pb and Zn were found to be deposited more than the other metals. Average values for citrus limon leaves were generally 30 - 65 % of those for Olea europaea leaves. In most cases, between 20-40% of the metals was removable by simple washing with water, indicating that a significant, but not predominant fraction of the metals is in the form of easily-removed particulate matter. Discussion of the results of this study is based on statistical treatment of the data.Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 27 (2) 2007: pp. 86-97

Twelve leafy vegetables from wadi Al-shati in the Central Sahara Desert were analysed for essential and toxic elements by Flame Atomic Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy. Results indicated the following concentration ranges (in per cent on a dry matter basis), sodium 0.055–3.364, potassium 1.611–5.216, calcium 0.384–2.883 and magnesium 0.145–0.747. Copper, iron, manganese and zinc occurred in low amounts compared with the macro-elements. The levels of lead and cadmium in the samples were mostly below levels reported for vegetables from urban areas. It is concluded that the amounts of lead and cadmium in the vegetables tested are unlikely to constitute a significant health hazard to adults.