Chromium (Cr) is a widely used metal with significant public health implications, especially in its toxic hexavalent form. The HMTC program’s stricter regulations ensure that chromium exposure is minimized, safeguarding consumer health, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Heavy metal pollution accelerates antibiotic resistance by promoting co-selection mechanisms in bacteria. Environmental, agricultural, and clinical studies reveal that metals like nickel, zinc, and copper intensify multidrug resistance through efflux pumps, gene transfer, and stress adaptation—posing a major One Health challenge to global antimicrobial stewardship.

Aluminum is a pervasive metal found in a wide range of consumer products, from food packaging and cookware to medications and personal care items. Although often overlooked, aluminum exposure can accumulate over time, posing long-term health risks, especially to vulnerable populations like infants, children, and individuals with kidney conditions.

Tin and its compounds, especially organotins, pose significant health risks ranging from neurological effects to reproductive toxicity. The HMTC program’s stringent certification standards aim to minimize these risks and protect consumer health.

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.

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.