Keywords
Abstract
The aim of the study – determination of the heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) content by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) in dietary supplements, pharmaceutical raw and medicinal plant materials to verify their compliance with the requirements of regulatory documentation; comparative analysis of the results obtained.
The study was carried out on an Agilent 5800 ICP-OES optical emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma. Measurements of the metals content were performed by comparing the emissions of the studied solutions with the emission of standard solutions at wavelengths: As 188.980 nm, Cd 226.502 nm, Hg 184.887 nm, Pb 220.353 nm.
The content of heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) was measured in 41 samples (dietary supplements, vitamin mineral complex, pharmaceutical raw and medicinal plant materials). There were tested 18 samples for the content of As, 26 samples – Cd, 23 samples – Hg, 37 samples – Pb. Concentrations exceeding the instrument detection limits were recorded for Pb (86.5 % of the tested samples), Cd – 76.9 %, As – 72.2 %, Hg – 13.1%. Noticeable contamination of the test samples with heavy metals was observed: for Pb in 12 samples (32.4 %, of which for medicinal plant materials and dietary supplements – 9.0–44.8 % of the rationing, for pharmaceutical raw materials – 6.8–37.9 % rationing); for As in 5 samples (27.8 % tested, 9.1–47.8 % of the rationing); for Cd in 5 samples (19.2 % tested, 9.2–14.6 % of the rationing); for Hg in 3 samples (13 % tested, 42.5–62 % of rationing).
A significant content of heavy metals (Cd 84–145,5 μg/kg, Pb 884–1343 μg/kg, Hg 33,8 μg/kg) is observed in plant organs such as roots.
Exceeding the permissible concentrations of heavy metals was not found in the tested samples. This indicates the proper quality of the products.