Brodziak-Dopierała et al. 2024 — Mercury in medicines and dietary supplements in Poland
This study reports total mercury concentrations in 139 preparations — 75 drugs (prescription and OTC) and 64 dietary supplements — purchased in Poland between 2022 and 2023. Mercury was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS, AMA254 analyser) with a LOD of 0.11 µg/kg. All samples fell below applicable acceptable standards. The authors find that herbal dietary supplements carry the highest median mercury load among all tested product groups, and note cumulative exposure risk when multiple preparations are taken simultaneously alongside environmental dietary mercury.
Key numbers
All concentrations in µg/kg (wet weight), measured by AAS.
Overall (n=139):
- Range: 0.1–57.4 µg/kg
- Median: 1.2 µg/kg
Medicines (n=75):
- Range: 0.12–57.4 µg/kg
- Median: 0.8 µg/kg
- Prescription medicines median: 0.9 µg/kg
- OTC medicines median: 0.5 µg/kg
- Highest drug group: “other” (decongestants, antacids, muscle relaxants) median 4.4 µg/kg
Dietary supplements (n=64):
- Range: 0.07–18.4 µg/kg
- Mean: 2.7 µg/kg; Median: 2.0 µg/kg
- Herbal supplements: median 3.4 µg/kg (highest DS sub-group)
- Slimming preparations median: 3.9 µg/kg
- Skin/hair/nail preparations median: 3.9 µg/kg
- Probiotics and minerals: lowest at 0.8–0.9 µg/kg
No samples exceeded acceptable standards. EU law classifies dietary supplements as food subject to food safety regulations (Directive 2002/46/EC).
LOD: 0.11 µg/kg (AMA254 analyser, wavelength 253.65 nm).
Methods (brief)
Analytical method: atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using AMA254 direct mercury analyser. Measurement of total mercury (tHg) — no speciation (methylmercury fraction not reported). Sample preparation: solid samples digested; AAS direct analysis. LOD: 0.11 µg/kg. Quality control: certified reference materials used. Statistical analysis: non-parametric tests applied given non-normal distribution.
Implications
Certification: provides tHg occurrence data for dietary supplements as a consumer-product matrix. The values are low (below regulatory limits) but the range extends to 57.4 µg/kg in medicines and 18.4 µg/kg in DS; herbal DS are the highest-concentration sub-group. Relevant for HMT&C programs covering supplement matrices.
Courses: illustrates that regulated food-adjacent products (DS under EU food law) carry measurable mercury, with herbal botanical ingredients driving the highest concentrations; useful for supply-chain and ingredient-risk modules.
App: dietary-supplement matrix tHg data; herbal botanical component identified as a driver. No ingredient-level breakdown available; applicable at matrix level only.
Microbiome: not applicable.