Levels and potential health risks of mercury in prescription, non-prescription medicines and dietary supplements in Poland
Authors:
- Artur Maciej Kowalski,
- Marcin Frankowski
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.
- Record ID
- UAMc63f5afba2a24a30ae1998e1d17a590f
- Author
- Journal series
- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, ISSN 0273-2300
- Issue year
- 2015
- Vol
- 73
- Pages
- 396-400
- ASJC Classification
- ;
- DOI
- DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.08.001 Opening in a new tab
- Language
- (en) English
- Score (nominal)
- 30
- Score source
- journalList
- Score
- Publication indicators
- = 10; = 11; : 2015 = 1.010; : 2015 (2 years) = 2.227 - 2015 (5 years) =2.243
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://researchportal.amu.edu.pl/info/article/UAMc63f5afba2a24a30ae1998e1d17a590f/
- URN
urn:amu-prod:UAMc63f5afba2a24a30ae1998e1d17a590f
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.