Journal article
Detection and risk assessments of multi-pesticides in 1771 cultivated herbal medicines by LC/MS-MS and GC/MS-MS
China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences1
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine2
Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine3
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark4
Suzuka University of Medical Science5
East China University of Science and Technology6
National Institutes for Food and Drug Control7
Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark8
Sustainability, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark9
Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Sustainability, Society and Economics, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark10
Waters Technologies Shanghai Limited11
Sichuan University12
University of Westminster13
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences14
...and 4 moreFocus on the safety of herbal medicines has mainly been directed towards the presence of intrinsic toxicity, as found in the cases of renal and hepatic dysfunction caused by aristolochic acids. However, contamination from extrinsic hazards may impart an even greater reduction in their safety and efficacy.
This study reveals that pesticides were present in the majority (88%) of a comprehensive cross-section (n = 1771) of herbal medicine samples. Alarmingly, more than half (59%) contained pesticides over the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) limit, and 43% of them contained 35 varieties of banned, extremely toxic pesticides, eight of which were detected at levels over 500 times higher than the default Maximum Residue Limit (MRL).
DDTs, carbofuran, and mevinphos were confirmed as being among the most risk-inducing pesticides by three different risk assessment methods, reported to produce carcinogenic, genotoxic, reproductive, and developmental effects, in addition to carrying nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. In light of these findings, and withstanding that extrinsic hazards can be controlled unlike intrinsic toxicity, the authors here strongly recommend the application of herbal medicine quality-control measures and solutions to safeguard against a neglected but certainly potentially serious health risk posed to the majority of the global population that consumes herbal medicines.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2021 |
Pages: | 127477 |
ISSN: | 00456535 and 18791298 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127477 |
ORCIDs: | Fantke, Peter |
Carbofuran Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, Liquid Drug Contamination Drugs, Chinese Herbal Extrinsic contamination Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Herbal medicines Humans Pesticide Pesticide Residues Pesticides Public health Risk Assessment Risk assessment Tandem Mass Spectrometry