Determination of Heavy Metals in Commonly Used Tibetan Pharmaceutical Preparations and Herbs by ICP-MS and Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

In order to explore the content of heavy metals in commonly used Tibetan medicine preparations and medicinal materials and the possible health risks caused by human ingestion, this study determined the content of heavy metals in 8 kinds of commonly used Tibetan medicine preparations and 18 kinds of medicinal materials, analyzed the excessive content of heavy metals, and evaluated their health risks to human beings. The content of eight heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cu, Hg, Co, Ni and Mn) in each sample were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Health risk assessment was performed by calculating the maximum estimated daily intake ( EDI ), target hazard quotient ( THQ ) and non-carcinogenicity assessment method hazard quotient ( HQ ). The results showed that in the comparison of the maximum limit standard of heavy metals stipulated in the ' Chinese Pharmacopoeia ' 2020 edition and the green industry standard, As in one sample of Tibetan medicine preparations exceeded the standard ; there were 2 samples with Pb exceeded the standard, 3 samples with Cd exceeded the standard, 1 sample with As exceeded the standard, and 1 sample with Cu exceeded the standard. When the THQ value and EDI were used as evaluation indexes, the heavy metals contained in the samples had no obvious health hazards to the human health; when HQ value is used as the evaluation indicator, some samples have certain effects on human health. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the safety evaluation of Tibetan medicine preparations and medicinal materials, and promote the standardization of the quality standards of Tibetan medicine.