Herbal-based slimming products which are consumed orally may be contaminated with heavy metals as well as microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the safety level of these slimming products by determining heavy metals and microbial contamination in different batch production. Six different brands of herbal-based slimming products (A, B, C, G, H and I) with three different batch productions (1, 2 and 3) were investigated (n =18). Five heavy metals Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper and Zinc were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The presence of microorganisms was determined by total aerobic count and the bacteria were identified. The samples’ moisture content was determined by calculating the percentage of water loss after drying process. All batches of samples A and B had high content of zinc, over the permissible level of 5ppm while, 6 samples contained Chromium above the permissible level (1.5 ppm). All 3 batches of sample A presented with the highest total daily intake of heavy metals. Bacteria were present in all the samples tested with the highest numbers in samples G, H and A followed by B, I and C. The highest number of fungi was found in product A while product I was free from fungal contamination. Aspergillus spp. was the predominant fungus present in the samples. There was a weak correlation between moisture content and bacteria (r = 0.087) and fungal (r = 0.253) presence in the samples. As some herbal slimming products contain heavy metals as well as microorganisms, consumers need to be more vigilant and discerning when selecting products to be consumed.
Metals, Heavy

The results of this study which had been investigated for the purpose of analyzing heavy metal concentrations in women's blood and urine, their correlation degree and significance of cadmium as indicator of accumulated heavy metals are as follows. 1) In blood, concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn are respectively 0.0110+/-0.14 ug/ml, 0.208+/-138 ug/ml, 0.899+/-0.153 ug/ml and 5.432+/-1.020 ug/ml. 2) In urine, concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn are respectively 0.003+/-0.12 ug/ml, 0.025+/-0.18 ug/ml, 0.013+/-0.12 ug/ml and 0.277+/-0.192 ug/ml. 3) Correlation coefficients between blood and urine are only significant in Zn (r=0.363, p<0.01). 4) In blood, correlation coefficients of Cd concentration and Pb, Zn are respectively 0.518 (p<0.01). 5) Correlation coefficients between Cd concentration in blood and Pb, Cu and Zn in urine are respectively r=-0.012, r=0.027, r=0.241 (p<0.05), and only Cd concentration and Zn is significant.
Cadmium ; Metals, Heavy

By atomic absorbance spectrophotometry, the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercure) in freshwater fish and shelfish in the market and in 2 lakes in Hanoi from June to December 2002 was analysed. The contents are: lead 100%, arsenic 98.5%, cadmium 92.9% and mercury 88.6%, they are in the tolerable limits according to 1998 year Vietnam MOH regulation 867/BYT. The contents of various heavy metals are not similar in diverse genera of fish and shelfish. In some genera of fish, arsenic contents are higher than average from 0..68 to 0.601 mg/kg and mercury content 0.053mg/kg. Heavy metal contents in 2 lakes of Thanh Tri district and in diverse markets in Hanoi have not significant differences
Metals, Heavy ; Mercury ; Lead

Objective: The study aimed to determine the concentration of three heavy metals namely, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) present in head, stomach and muscle parts of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticu) and Blackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) collected from different sampling sites in South Bay area of Laguna Lake and evaluate its potential health risk for adult consumers. Methods: Live samples of Nile Tilapia and Blackchin Tilapia were hand-collected from three sites of South Bay of Laguna Lake during wet season. Raw and boiled samples were prepared for analysis. Heavy metal concentrations (mg kg-1) were determined through flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The potential health risk posed by more than one metal was calculated using the Total Hazard Quotient (THQ). Results: The heavy metal detected with the highest concentration was Pb, present in Nile Tilapia. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in both fish samples were high in the head part. Boiled samples have significantly lower concentrations of heavy metal (p<0.05) compared to raw samples. THQ values for Cd in raw fish samples were higher than the recommended level of exposure (THQ < 1.0). Conclusion The study revealed that cadmium is of greater concern in terms of possible adverse health effects associated with heavy metal bioaccumulation. However, the presence of other metals may further increase the risk of non-carcinogenic adverse effects. The lower health risk is predicted for boiled fish samples.
Metals, Heavy ; Cichlids

No abstract available.
Animals ; Liver* ; Metals, Heavy* ; Rats*

This project was launched to study on the overall residual status of heavy metals of comprehensive understanding in decoction pieces of Bupleuri Radix (DPBR) from different habitats and risk assessment. In this study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the heavy metals of 30 batches of Bupleuri Radix in different producing areas. Simulated gastrointestinal fluid method was used to determine the dissolution rate of heavy metals in the simulated gastrointestinal fluid and the average daily intake Average Daily Dose (ADD) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) index were used to assess the risk of heavy metals in DPBR. The results showed that the contents of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in the 30 batches of DPBR didn't exceed the limit of Chinese Pharmacopeia, however, the chromium (Cr) in DPBR exeeded the limit set by NSF in USA and the limit for herbal ingredients in Canada. The mean bioaccessible heavy metal concentrations decreased from Cu (5.27 mg·kg⁻¹)>Cr (4.67 mg·kg⁻¹)>As (0.18 mg·kg⁻¹)>Pb (0.12 mg·kg⁻¹)>Cd (0.06 mg·kg⁻¹), and Hg was not detected in this test. In addition, cumulative non-carcinogenic health risks (HI) for adults and children were 0.799 and 0.714, respectively. Both HI values in adults and children for combined trace element and heavy metal element exposures were below the value of 1 (HI<1), indicating very low carcinogenic health risk. Heavy metals toxicity in herbal medicines and its health risk to humans would be overestimated when assessed only by the total concentrations without considering the bioaccessibility. Therefore, bioaccessibility has great significance for evaluating the human health risks induced by heavy metals.
Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; Risk Assessment

This study was carried out to assess the present level of atmospheric metals. Five metals-lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, vanadium-were checked on the industrial(Sasang) and residental area(Daeshindong) in the city of Pusan sampling period was the year of 1986, 1990, and 1994, and the sampling time was 2 days of each site. As the result of comparison with the atmospheric standard of ASHRAE(1980) the average concentrations of lead was above the standard, the average concentrations of chromium was around the standard, and the average concentrations of cadmium and vanadium was below the standard. The average concentrations of manganese was above the standard of industrial environment. And the average concentrations of five metals was higher in the industrial area than the residental area The average concentrations of lead cadmium and chromium showed the increase tendency by the year, and the average concentrations of vanadium showed no change, and the average concentrations of manganese showed the decrease tendency. As a result of correlation analysis, lead and cadmium(r=0.31), vanadium and manganese(r=0.24), vanadium and chromium(r=0.19) showed significance.
Busan* ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Manganese ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy* ; Vanadium

This study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal contents and their correlations between paddy soil and brown rice near the Kum-River area. In this study, eighty soil samples and forty brown rice samples were taken from the paddy soil. The contents of heavy metals were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were as follows: 1. The average contents of soluble heavy metals in surface soil were Cd 0.19, Cu 15.31, Zn 18.10 and Pb 9.08 ppm. The average contents of soluble heavy metals in subsurface soil were Cd 0.19, Cu 14.52, Zn 17.75 and Pb8.11 ppm. There wan no statistically significant difference between the two layers. 2. The contents of Cu, Zn and Pb of Taejeon(S6) and Cd of Sinbyung(S5) in surface soil were higher than those of other areas. The contents of Cd and Cu of Taejeon(S6) and Zn and Pb of Kumnam(S3) in brown rice were higher than those of other areas and four heavy metals in soil and brown rice of Simchon(S7) were lower than those of other areas. 3. The ratio of soluble contents(Cd : Cu : Zn : Pb) in surface soil was 1 : 79 : 93 : 47, that of soluble contents in subsurface soil was 1 : 79 : 94 : 43, and that of total contents in brown rice was 1 : 84 : 294 : 12. 4. The correlations of the content between soluble heavy metals in surface(0-15 cm depth) soil total heavy metals in brown rice was found to be order of Cd>Cu>Zn>Pb. The correlations of the content between soluble heavy metals in subsurface(20-30 cm depth) soil and total heavy metals in brown rice was found to be order of Cu>Cd>Zn>Pb.
Metals, Heavy ; Rivers* ; Soil* ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

Environmental Pollution ; prevention & control ; Metals, Heavy

This study has attempted to establish an analysis method through validation against heavy metals in the body (Pb, Cd and Hg) using ICP-MS and Gold amalgamation and find out the relevance between heavy metal and Alzheimer's disease after analyzing the distribution of heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cd and Hg) and correlations between a control group and Alzheimer's disease group. In this study, Pb and Cd levels in the blood and serum were validation using ICP-MS. For analysis of Hg levels in the blood and serum, the gold amalgamation-based 'Direct Mercury Analyzer' has been used. According to an analysis on the heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cd and Hg concentration) in the blood, Cd concentration was high in the Alzheimer's disease group. In the serum, on the contrary, Pb and Hg were high in the Alzheimer's disease group. For analysis of correlations between heavy metal levels in the blood and serum and Alzheimer's disease, t-test has been performed. Even though correlations were observed between the blood lead levels and Alzheimer's disease, they were statistically insignificant because the concentration was higher in a control group. No significance was found in Cd and Hg. In the serum, on the other hand, no statistical significance was found between the heavy metal (Pb, Cd and Hg) and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, no statistical significance was observed between heavy metal and decrease in cognitive intelligence. However, it appears that a further study needs to be performed because the results of the conventional studies were inconsistent.
Alzheimer Disease ; Hand ; Intelligence ; Metals, Heavy