ICP-MS assessment of elemental impurities and metallic contaminants in activated charcoal products

Abstract

Activated charcoal is an adsorbent material which is consumed as a dietary supplement (100 mg) and as non-specific antidote treatment in acute poisoning at 0.5–1 g kg⁻¹ body weight in infants and 50 g in adults. The ingestion of large quantities of it has aroused our interest in the presence of metals impurities. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess trace elements in activated charcoal products. Multielement analysis were performed using Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometry after digestion. Estimated daily Intake was calculated and compared to references doses for each element. Varying trace elements have been found: chromium (0.3383 ± 0.089 µg g⁻¹), cadmium (0.5991 ± 0.2967 µg g⁻¹), aluminum (0.7033 ± 0.1215 µg g⁻¹), nickel (0.0111 ± 0.003 µg g⁻¹), lead (0.0052 ± 0.0021 µg g⁻¹), zinc (0.0414 ± 0.0076 µg g⁻¹), and manganese (0.0036 ± 0.0006 µg g⁻¹). when 50 g of activated charcoal is consumed by a 70 kg adult, aluminum estimated daily intake is 0.0005 mg/kg bw/day which exceeds the reference dose (0.0004 mg/kg bw/day). In the infants, consumption of 15 g of contaminated activated charcoal exposes to chromium, cadmium and aluminum as their estimated daily intake (0.00034; 0.0006; 0.0007 mg/kg bw/day respectively) exceed their reference doses (0.0003; 0.0005; 0.0004 mg/kg bw/day respectively). These trace elements are not without risk to consumers health. Activated charcoal products could be contaminated with elemental impurities. Pharmaceutical industries should be vigilant to raw materials (plants and wood) used in the preparation, these materials should come from unpolluted areas to avoid contaminations.

Graphical abstract