Abstract The concentrations of lead and cadmium were determined in markets of hair dyes samples in Morocco. Sixteen synthetic and natural hair dyes were selected. The metals were analyzed after mineralization with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The content was determined using differential pulse polarography and the analytical method was validated. The method was linear with a correlation coefficient value (r) that ranged from 0.992 to 0.999. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.080 and 0.43 ppm for Pb and Cd, respectively. Finally, the concentrations of the two metals in the different hair dyes samples ranged from LOD to 3617.02 ppm for Pb and from LOD to 459.57 ppm for Cd. The majority of the concentrations were above acceptable levels for cosmetics. It has been demonstrated that heavy metals induce toxicity to human body even at a low level, hence the need to strengthen the control of cosmetic products by the competent authorities in Morocco.

In the present paper, the methanol extract from the leaves of Pistacia terebinthus L. (PT) was characterized by GC/MS analysis. It was tested as a corrosion inhibitor for iron in a 3% NaCl solution, using gravimetric measurements and electrochemical methods (potentiodynamic polarizations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). Fourteen compounds were identified; the major compounds are palmitic acid (31.5%), stearic acid (25.7%) and oleic acid (11.3%). The data showed that the tested extract offers good corrosion resistance. The constituents of the PT extract affected polarization resistance (Rp) and corrosion current density (i corr), demonstrating that the proposed inhibitor hinders corrosion reactions. The results obtained at 200 ppm are very interesting, and reach maximum values of ?? 96.96%, 89% and 64.82%, respectively, which were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with energy scattering of X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).

The present study aimed at verifying the impact of a Moroccan strategy against scorpion stings and specifically at identifying the epidemiological features of patients envenomed or just stung by scorpions. It included 11,907 patients from El Kelaa des Sraghna Province, Morocco, who were evaluated over five years (2001-2005). Most stings occurred during the hot period and mainly at night. The average incidence was 3.2 per 1,000 inhabitants; patients <15 years accounted for 34%, and the envenomation rate was 12%. Average lethality rate was 0.7%. Our work evaluated the efficacy of the adopted strategy based on indicators of follow-up, morbidity and lethality due to scorpion sting and envenomation.

The present study aimed at verifying the impact of a Moroccan strategy against scorpion stings and, specifically, at identifying the epidemiological features of the patients envenomed or just stung by scorpions. The investigation included 4089 patients from a province of Morocco which were evaluated over three years (2001, 2002 and 2003). Most stings occurred during the hot period and mainly at night (between 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m.). The average incidence was 2.8‰, the average age of the patients was 26.7±18.2 years, and the envenomation rate was 6.7%. Mortality rate was 0.05‰, and average lethality rate was 0.7%. Analysis of variance showed that young age, symptoms at admission, and long time elapsed between sting and admission were correlated with poor outcome. Comparison among data of the three years revealed an increasing number of reported cases and decreasing morbidity and mortality.