Heavy Metals Testing in Botanical Extracts: ICP-MS Limits and Compliance
Comprehensive technical breakdown of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) heavy metal screening for elemental impurities (Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury) per USP <232>/<233> and European Pharmacopoeia limits.
Author: Botanix Natural Quality EngineeringLast Verified: 2026-08-14
The Big Four Elemental Impurities in Plant Ingredients
Botanical crops naturally bioaccumulate heavy metals from soil and irrigation water. Industrial qualification requires multi-element screening via high-sensitivity ICP-MS.
- Arsenic (As): Target limit ≤ 1.0 ppm (parts per million)
- Cadmium (Cd): Target limit ≤ 0.3 ppm
- Lead (Pb): Target limit ≤ 0.5 ppm
- Mercury (Hg): Target limit ≤ 0.1 ppm
Referenced Botanix Standardized Ingredients
Technical Frequently Asked Questions
Why is ICP-MS preferred over Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS)?
ICP-MS provides parts-per-billion (ppb) detection limits, multi-element simultaneous analysis, and superior linear dynamic range compared to flame or graphite furnace AAS.