MINERALS & METALS

Minerals & Metals Testing By Icp-Ms

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements with high atomic weights and densities at least 5 times greater than water. As a result of their multiple applications (industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical and technological) they have been widely distributed into the environment. This allows them to become incorporated into plant tissues which are then used as raw materials in foods and other products.

Because of their high degree of toxicity, Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg), are four metals that are of great public health significance and are routinely determined in raw ingredients and finished food products as they can greatly affect human and animal health. These elements are considered systemic toxicants that are known to induce multiple organ damage and birth defects even at low levels of exposure. The acceptable limits of concentration and/or daily ingestion of these metals vary from product to product and by region (country, state, etc.) and are not always clearly defined.

Nutritional Minerals

As one of the groups of essential micronutrients, minerals play an important role in human and animal health. From maintaining bone density to aiding in the transport of oxygen throughout the body to regulating nerve function, a mineral-rich diet can greatly improve well being. Unfortunately, many people do not get enough of certain minerals (most commonly calcium, iron, and potassium) and get too much of others (sodium). For this reason, many food producers will fortify their products directly with mineral salts. However, some of the essential trace elements (notably chromium, molybdenum, and selenium) can be harmful if consumed in too great of concentrations. For these reasons, as well to satisfy the NLEA labeling requirements, routine mineral testing can be used to back up health claims as well as ensure accurate fortification in product formulations.

How much sample do you need?

A minimum of 0.5 grams of solid or non-aqueous samples is required for digestion/analysis.

10 ml is the minimum required for an aqueous sample.

What are the limits for heavy metals?

Element	Abbreviation	Drinking Water mg/L (PPM)	Spices	USP 232/233	Food (USA)	Tea	Cannabis mg/Kg (PPM)	CA Prop 65	Codex
Lead	Pb	0.015					1.0		0.1-1.5 mg/kg, 0.010 mg/L
Cadmium	Cd	0.005					0.4		0.05- 2.0 mg/kg, 0.003 mg/L
Mercury	Hg	0.002					0.2		0.1-1.0mg/kg, 0.001 mg/L
Arsenic	As	0.010					0.4		0.1 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/L
Thallium	Tl	0.002					NA
Selenium	Se	0.05					NA
Beryllium	Be	0.004					NA
Chromium	Cr	0.1					NA
Copper	Cu	1.3					NA

What Metals do you test for and what are the limits?

Analyte	Abbreviation	LOQ (PPB)	Range (ppm)
Arsenic	As	20	0.020 – 50,000
Barium	Ba	20	0.020 – 50,000
Cadmium	Cd	10	0.010 – 50,000
Chromium	Cr	20	0.020 – 50,000
Cobalt	Co	20	0.020 – 50,000
Copper	Cu	20	0.020 – 50,000
Gallium	Ga	20	0.020 – 50,000
Iron	Fe	250	0.25 – 500,000
Lead	Pb	5	0.005 – 50,000
Manganese	Mn	20	0.020 – 50,000
Mercury	Hg	5	0.005 – 50,000
Molybdenum	Mo	20	0.020 – 50,000
Nickle	Ni	20	0.020 – 50,000
Selenium	Se	100	0.10 – 50,000
Strontium	Sr	20	0.020 – 50,000
Thallium	Tl	20	0.020 – 50,000
Tin	Sn	10	0.010 – 50,000
Tungsten	W	5	0.005 – 50,000
Vanadium	V	20	0.020 – 50,000
Zinc	Zn	250	0.25 – 500,000

What Minerals do you test for and what are the limits?

Analyte	Abbreviation	LOQ (PPM)	Range (PPM)
Calcium	Ca	80.00	80 – 500,000
Chromium	Cr	0.03	0.03 – 50,000
Copper	Cu	0.03	0.03 – 50,000
Iron	Fe	0.80	0.08 – 50,000
Magnesium	Mg	2.00	2.0 – 50,000
Manganese	Mn	0.03	0.03 – 50,000
Molybdenum	Mo	0.03	0.03 – 50,000
Phosphorous	P	80.00	80 – 500,000
Potassium	K	80.00	80 – 50,000
Selenium	Se	0.10	0.10 – 50,000
Sodium	Na	4.00	4.0 – 50,000
Zinc	Zn	0.80	0.080 – 50,000