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Transfer rates of toxic metals during decoction preparation from hebal medicines and safety evaluation of the final decoction products

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Abstract

Transfer rates of toxic metals during herbal decoction preparation were investigated using risk assessment tools. Decoction samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and a mercury analyzer after microwave digestion. The average decoction transfer rate (%) for each toxic metal after boiling was 10.5 for As, 4.3 for Pb, 4.1 for Cd, and 2.7 for Hg. A risk assessment of toxic metals in decoctions was performed based on the percentage provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values for a mean value scenario and a 95th percentile value scenario. Samples were collected of 68 decoctions representing 8 types frequently prescribed by oriental medicine clinics in Seoul, Korea. Both scenarios demonstrated low PTWI values. All decoction samples were safe according to risk assessment results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, 427070, Korea

    Dong-Gyu Kim, Sung-Deuk Lee, In-Sil Yu & Kweon Jung

  2. Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Life Science and Resources, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, 446-701, Korea

    Dong-Gyu Kim & Seung-Kook Park

Authors
  1. Dong-Gyu Kim
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  2. Sung-Deuk Lee
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  3. In-Sil Yu
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  4. Kweon Jung
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  5. Seung-Kook Park
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Correspondence to Seung-Kook Park.

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Kim, DG., Lee, SD., Yu, IS. et al. Transfer rates of toxic metals during decoction preparation from hebal medicines and safety evaluation of the final decoction products. Food Sci Biotechnol 24, 757–763 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-015-0098-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-015-0098-8

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