Volume 73, Issue 1, October 2015, Pages 396–400
Highlights
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- We investigated concentrations of Hg in the prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and dietary supplements.
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- We conclude that the analyzed pharmaceuticals do not pose a threat to the human health.
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- We determined the highest concentration of mercury (476.1 ng g−1) in one of the tested prescription drugs.
Abstract
Determination
of mercury is important in the case of pharmaceuticals for which the
European Union regulations have not defined the maximum permissible
concentration of this metal. The aim of the study was to determine the
levels of mercury in the following groups of drugs (n = 119):
analgesics, diuretics, cardiacs, antihypertensives, anti-influenza,
antibiotics, anti-allergics, tranquilizers, antibacterials and in
dietary supplements (n = 33) available on the Polish market. Mercury was
analyzed using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry CV-AFS. Its
content in the samples varied in the range of 0.9–476.1 ng g−1. Higher mercury concentrations were reported for prescription drugs (Rx): 0.9–476.1 ng g−1 (median: 7.4 ng g−1), lower – for non-prescription medicines (OTC): 1.2–45.8 ng g−1 (median: 6.0 ng g−1). In the analyzed dietary supplements the concentrations were: 0.9–16.7 ng g−1 (median: 5.9 ng g−1).
On the basis of the information contained in the leaflet accompanying
the medicine, a daily dose of mercury taken into the body with an
analyzed medicament was estimated and the health risk posed by using
such medicines was assessed. The study indicates that it is justified to
carry out measurements of mercury in pharmaceuticals due to its high,
potentially harmful.
Keywords
- Mercury;
- Drugs;
- Dietary supplements;
- CV-AFS
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
