Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was studied
This original research article investigated the bioaccessibility and health risk of heavy metals, with a detailed analysis of arsenic speciation, in Cordyceps sinensis, a highly valued traditional Chinese medicine. The study focused on quantifying the levels of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in different parts of wild C. sinensis (whole, stroma, and caterpillar body) collected from Qinghai Province, China. Using in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, the authors assessed how much of each heavy metal could be potentially absorbed by the human body, which is essential for accurate risk assessment. Advanced analytical methods, specifically HPLC–ICP-MS, were employed to determine the chemical forms of arsenic, distinguishing between the more toxic inorganic species and the less harmful organic forms. The study also calculated dietary exposures and bioaccessibility-corrected target hazard quotients (BTHQ) to estimate the health risks associated with consumption, considering realistic human intake scenarios relevant to both research and regulatory contexts in heavy metal certification programs.
Who was studied
The subjects of this study were three 30 g batches of wild-grown Cordyceps sinensis sourced from Qinghai Province, China. Each batch was further divided into the whole organism, the stroma (fungal part), and the caterpillar body (host larva). No human participants or animal models were involved; instead, the focus was on the chemical and toxicological analysis of these natural product samples. The findings are thus directly applicable to industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and certification bodies concerned with the safety and compliance of C. sinensis in the marketplace, particularly regarding heavy metal contamination.
Most important findings
| Critical Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Heavy Metal Distribution | Cu, Pb, Cd, and Hg were higher in the stroma, whereas As was predominantly in the caterpillar body. Average As content was notably high in C. sinensis, ranging from 9 to 14 mg/kg. |
| Bioaccessibility | None of the five heavy metals could be fully absorbed by human digestion; mean bioaccessibility ranged from 7.46% for Hg to 87.07% for Cd, with As at around 64.46%. This indicates that total content overestimates actual exposure risk. |
| Arsenic Speciation | Strongly toxic inorganic arsenic (As(III) and As(V)) accounted for only 8.69% of total As in nitric acid extracts and 2.33% in simulated gastrointestinal extracts. The majority of arsenic remained as unidentified, likely less toxic, species. |
| Health Risk Assessment | Dietary exposures for all metals were far below international safety limits. The BTHQ for arsenic was 0.5334, the highest among all elements, but still under the threshold of 1.0, indicating no significant health risk under recommended usage. |
| Regulatory Implications | Findings suggest that current heavy metal standards, especially for arsenic in C. sinensis, may be excessively strict, as actual bioaccessible and toxic fractions are much lower than total content would suggest. |
Key implications
For heavy metal certification programs HMTC, this study demonstrates the necessity of using bioaccessibility and speciation, not total content, for risk assessment. The results indicate C. sinensis poses minimal health risks when consumed as recommended, supporting a potential re-evaluation and relaxation of heavy metal limits, especially for arsenic.
Citation
Zhou L, Wang S, Hao Q, Kang L, Kang C, Yang J, Yang W, Jiang J, Huang LQ, Guo L. Bioaccessibility and risk assessment of heavy metals, and analysis of arsenic speciation in Cordyceps sinensis. Chin Med. 2018;13:40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-018-0196-7
Heavy metals are high-density elements that accumulate in the body and environment, disrupting biological processes. Lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, tin, aluminum, and chromium are of greatest concern due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and health risks, making them central to the HMTC program’s safety standards.
Lead is a neurotoxic heavy metal with no safe exposure level. It contaminates food, consumer goods and drinking water, causing cognitive deficits, birth defects and cardiovascular disease. HMTC’s rigorous lead testing applies ALARA principles to protect infants and consumers and to prepare brands for tightening regulations.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid that ranks first on the ATSDR toxic substances list. Inorganic arsenic contaminates water, rice and consumer products, and exposure is linked to cardiovascular disease, cognitive deficits, low birth weight and cancer. HMTC’s stringent certification applies ALARA principles to protect vulnerable populations.
Cadmium is a persistent heavy metal that accumulates in kidneys and bones. Dietary sources include cereals, cocoa, shellfish and vegetables, while smokers and industrial workers receive higher exposures. Studies link cadmium to kidney dysfunction, bone fractures and cancer.
Mercury (Hg) is a neurotoxic heavy metal found in various consumer products and environmental sources, making it a major public health concern. Its regulation is critical to protect vulnerable populations from long-term health effects, such as neurological impairment and cardiovascular disease. The HMTC program ensures that products meet the highest standards for mercury safety.
