Determination of heavy metals and pesticides in ginseng products

Medicinal plants may carry residuals of environmentally persistent pesticid es or assimilate heavy metals in varying degrees. Several factors may influ ence contaminant accumulation, including species, level and duration of con taminant exposure, and topography, As part of a program for assessment of t he quality of herbal medicines, we have analyzed 21 over-the-counter ginsen g (Panax ginseng) products in various dosage forms, Chromium, mercury, and arsenic were undetectable above their limits of detection in both liquid an d solid samples; while cadmium, lead, and nickel were present in the majori ty of samples, The chlorinated pesticide levels varied widely. In most samp les, the total concentration of pesticides was below 100 ppb; while in 5 sa mples the total concentration exceeded 100 ppb.