Public Health Risks from Heavy Metals and Metalloids Present in Traditional Chinese Medicines
- 28 August 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A
- Vol. 70 (19), 1694-1699
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15287390701434885
Abstract
Out of 247 traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) investigated, a proportion were contaminated with arsenic (5–15%), lead (∼5%), and mercury (∼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.Keywords
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