Public health risks from heavy metals and metalloids present in traditional Chinese medicines.
Out of 247 traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) investigated, a proportion were contaminated with arsenic (5-15%), lead (approximately 5%), and mercury (approximately 65%). Some preparations exceeded the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for males and females for arsenic (4 and 5 products, respectively), lead (1 and 2 products), and mercury (5 and 7 products). These exceedances were as high as 2760-fold, which posed a potential danger to public health. As many users are known to self-prescribe, there is a substantial risk of poisoning from the consumption of these contaminated TCM.
Cooper
Kelli
K
National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, University of Queensland, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia.
Noller
Barry
B
Connell
Des
D
Yu
Jimmy
J
Sadler
Ross
R
Olszowy
Henry
H
Golding
Gary
G
Tinggi
Ujang
U
Moore
Michael R
MR
Myers
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008628:Mercury / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic