Detection and exposure assessment of lead, total arsenic, total mercury and chromium residues in Chinese medicine health foods in Shanghai

ObjectiveTo investigate lead, total arsenic, total mercury and chromium residues levels and potential health risks of Chinese medicine health food in Shanghai.

MethodsThe exposure assessment on lead, total arsenic, total mercury and chromium residues of Chinese medicine health foods was performed by point assessment approach, analysis of monitoring program and daily recommended dosage in the label of outpackaging of health food.

ResultsIt was shown that two of 200 Chinese medicinal health food samples exceeded the standards requirement of heavy metal residues, and the qualified rate of the detected samples was 99.0%.The detection rates of lead, total arsenic and chromium in samples were all over 70%.With Shanghai residents, the mean and high end value P₉₅ of weekly expodure to heavy metal chromium through intake of Chinese medicinal health foods were 0.000 5 mg/(kg·bw) and 0.001 3 mg/(kg·bw), accounting for 7.26% and 19.59% of provisional weekly tolerable intake PTWI, 0.006 7 mg/(kg·bw), respectively.

ConclusionThe level of heavy metal residues of Chinese medicine health foods in Shanghai is overall in good condition.The safety risk of Chinese medicine health foods is low, if it is properly taken according to recommended daily dosage in the label of outpackaging.