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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Monitoring heavy metals, residual agricultural chemicals and sulfites in traditional herbal decoctions

Authors: In-Sil Yu, Jeong-Sook Lee, Sung-Dan Kim, Yun-Hee Kim, Hae-Won Park, Hoe-Jin Ryu, Jib-Ho Lee, Jeong-Mi Lee, Kweon Jung, Cheol Na, Jin-Yong Joung, Chang-Gue Son

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Asian traditional herbal preparations are frequently considered for the contamination with undeclared toxic or hazardous substances. The aim of this study was to determine the toxic heavy metals, pesticides and sulfur dioxide in decoctions that is a common form of final utilization in Korea.

Methods

A total of 155 decoctions composed of multi-ingredient traditional herbs were randomly sampled from Seoul in Korea between 2013 and 2014. For each decoction, the concentrations of four heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury), 33 pesticides and sulfur dioxide were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), mercury analyzer, gas chromatography/nitrogen phosphorous detector (GC/NPD), gas chromatography/micro electron capture detector (GC/μECD), and Monier-Williams method respectively.

Results

One hundred fifty-two of One hundred fifty-five decoctions (98.1%) contained one of three heavy metals (96.1% for As, 97.4% for Cd, and 90.3% for Pb, 0.0% for Hg). Their average concentrations (77.0 ± 79.7 ug/kg for As, 20.4 ± 23.7 ug/kg for Cd, and 68.8 ± 76.5 ug/kg for Pb) were approximately 20% of the maximum allowable limits of vegetable or ginseng beverage described in the Korean Food Standard Codex while their 95th percentile concentrations were below than the guideline for them. None of 33 pesticides was detected in 155 decoction samples, and only one sample showed over limit of detection for residual sulfites.

Conclusions

This study support that the contained status of toxic heavy metals, pesticides and sulfur dioxide in herbal decoctions are currently within safe level in Korea, and provide a reference data for the further studies focused on the safety herbal preparations.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Monitoring heavy metals, residual agricultural chemicals and sulfites in traditional herbal decoctions
Authors
In-Sil Yu
Jeong-Sook Lee
Sung-Dan Kim
Yun-Hee Kim
Hae-Won Park
Hoe-Jin Ryu
Jib-Ho Lee
Jeong-Mi Lee
Kweon Jung
Cheol Na
Jin-Yong Joung
Chang-Gue Son
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1646-y

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