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Abstract
Oriental medical herbs are mainly natural products that are generated by simple processes, and therefore there is the possibility of contamination with various pollutants, including heavy metals. Heavy metals produce adverse effects in humans, and the toxicities of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are well established. This study evaluated the effects of exposure to Pb and Cd via the intake of the frequent prescriptions of oriental medicines, and assessed the risk to the Korean population based on domestic data. The average daily exposures to Pb and Cd were estimated. This is the first study to evaluate exposure and risk of heavy metal intoxication through intake of oriental medicines in Korea. Despite the uncertainties and limits of the data, these results simulate realistic exposure levels.
Hyun-Kyung Kim and Eun Kyung Yoon made equal contributions to this work.
This study was supported by the 2006 Endocrine Disruptors Research funds (07161KFDA653 and 08181KFDA484) of the National Institute of Toxicological Research/Korea Food and Drug Administration. The authors thank the Herbal Medicine Evaluation Department in KFDA for providing the domestic data used in this study.