Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회지)

The Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회)
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Determination of Heavy Metal Concentration in Herbal Medicines by GF-AAS and Automated Mercury Analyzer

  • Kim, Sang-A (Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Kim, Young-Jun (Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology)
  • Received : 2021.08.05
  • Accepted : 2021.08.22
  • Published : 2021.08.30
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Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze and compare the concentrations of heavy metals in 430 different products of 20 types of herbal medicines available in the domestic market in Korea by Graphite Furnace-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) and automated mercury analyzer. The accuracy for lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) was in the range 92.67-102.56%, and the precision was 0.21-6.00 relative standard deviation (RSD%), which was in compliance with the Codex acceptable range. Furthermore, the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) quality control (QC) material showed a recovery range of 96.7-102.0% and 0.33-4.93 RSD%. The average contents (㎍/kg) of Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in herbal medicines were 254.9 (not detected (N.D.)-2,515.2), 171.0 (N.D.-2,465.2), 99.2 (N.D.-797.1), and 6.0 (N.D.-83.6), respectively. Based on the quantitative analysis results, the heavy metal contents of 20 types of herbal medicines distributed in Korea are within the acceptable range according to the standards issued by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). By using the manufacturer of herbal products as the standard for QC, the Pb, As, Cd, and Hg contents were investigated in the packaging process just before distribution to determine the actual conditions of residual heavy metals in herbal medicines. Thus, these result may contribute to monitoring the QC of herbal medicines distributed in Korea and could provide basic data for supplying safe herbal medicines to the public.

GF-AAS와 수은분석기를 이용하여 납, 비소, 카드뮴 및 수은의 회수율로 정확도를 측정한 결과 92.67-102.56% 범위에서 측정되었고, 정밀도를 측정한 결과 0.21-6.00 RSD%의 재현성을 보였으며, CODEX guideline에서 규정하는 범위에 적합하였다. 또한, FAPAS QC material을 검증결과, 회수율은 96.7-102.0%, 재현성은 0.33-4.93 RSD%로 우수한 결과를 나타냈다. 한약재 430건의 평균 Pb 함량은 254.9 ㎍/kg(N.D.-2,515.2)이었고, 평균 As 함량은 171.0 ㎍/kg (N.D.-2,465.2)이었으며, 평균 Cd 함량은 99.2 ㎍/kg (N.D.-797.1), 평균 Hg 함량은 6.0 ㎍/kg (N.D.-83.6)이었다. 분석 결과 우리나라에 유통되는 한약재 20종은 식품의약품안전처에서 규정하는 한약재의 중금속 함량에 대한 허용기준 이내의 결과로 모두 안전한 수준의 한약재로 나타났다. 이를 토대로 한약 규격품 제조업소를 품질관리의 기준으로 하여 유통되기 직전의 가공 포장 과정에서의 한약재 중 납, 비소, 카드뮴 및 수은의 함량을 조사하여 한약재 내 중금속 함량 실태를 파악하고, 국민에게 안전하고 우수한 한약재를 공급하기 위한 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Keywords

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