Public Health Risks from Heavy Metals and Metalloids Present in Traditional Chinese Medicines

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. Queensland Health provided funding and expertise for the project. Griffith University provided a PhD scholarship (Kelli Cooper) to make the research possible. ENTOX is a partnership between Queensland Health, University of Queensland, Griffith University, and Queensland University of Technology. Professor Paolo Ricci provided some useful comments. Notes FSANZ. 2002. Australian 20th total dietary survey. Canberra: Food Standards Australia and New Zealand. Includes WHO (1989), Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants. Thirty-third Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives; Technical Report Series No. 776, WHO, Geneva; and WHO (2000), Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants. Fifty-third report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Technical Report Series No. 896, WHO, Geneva.