Introduction
Medicinal plants may be easily contaminated by absorbing heavy metals from soil, water and air. Usually soil is subjected to contamination through atmospheric deposition of heavy metals from point sources including different industrial activities. The crops become contaminated and accumulate unfavorable levels of metallic elements within them. Among the heavy metals Lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic are very toxic in a small quantity also. Several cases of human disease like lung cancer, Nausea Vomiting, Diarrhea malfunction and malformation of organs due to metal toxicity have been reported. As per Regulations maximum permissible limits of Heavy metals in Herbal products are given.
ITC Labs capabilities in Heavy metals Testing
For Heavy metal testing in ITC Labs instruments available inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry ICP-MS), Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and atomic absorption spectrometery (AAS) with all attachment GTA, VGA and Flame.