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 (100mg) and as non-specific antidote treatment in acute poisoning at 0.5-1gkg-1 body weight in infants and 50g 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 ± 0.089µgg-1), cadmium (0.5991 ± 0.2967µgg-1), aluminum (0.7033 ± 0.1215µgg-1), nickel (0.0111 ± 0.003µgg-1), lead (0.0052 ± 0.0021µgg-1), zinc (0.0414 ± 0.0076µgg-1), and manganese (0.0036 ± 0.0006µgg-1). when 50g of activated charcoal is consumed by a 70kg adult, aluminum estimated daily intake is 0.0005mg/kg bw/day which exceeds the reference dose (0.0004mg/kg bw/day). In the infants, consumption of 15g of contaminated activated charcoal exposes to chromium, cadmium and aluminum as their estimated daily intake (0.00034; 0.0006; 0.0007mg/kg bw/day respectively) exceed their reference doses (0.0003; 0.0005; 0.0004mg/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.