ABSTRACT
Objective:
Heavy metal and harmful
element contamination are frequently reported in
Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), and roots and
rhizomes parts showed a higher content than other parts. To investigate the residue level and assess the potential
human health risk of
heavy metals and harmful
elements in roots and
rhizomes, 720 batches of the sample representing 20 species of herbs from different sources were collected.
Methods:
The content of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu in the digests was determined using ICP-MS. The chronic
hazard index estimate based on non-
cancer hazard quotient (HQ) was applied for potential
health risk assessment of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu via
consumption of CHMs.
Results:
Compared with the
Chinese limit standard (
Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2020 edition) of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu in
Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, the exceedance percentage of Pb in total samples was 14.1%, which were generally far higher than Cd, As, Hg, and Cu.
Health risk assessment results based on
hazard quotient calculating showed that total HQ of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in Pulsatillae Radix and Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma exceeded 1, with the value of 1.543 and 1.235. Besides,
Arsenic had the highest HQ value (0.957) in Pulsatillae Radix.
Conclusion:
Consuming raw materials of Pulsatillae Radix and Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma may pose a potential
risk and
Arsenic residues in Pulsatillae Radix deserved special
attention.