A Pilot Survey of the Presence of Undeclared Drugs and Health Risk Associated with Metal Contamination of Complementary Medications Offered for Sale in Queensland

Reports in the literature indicate that elevated levels of metals in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) have been associated with poisoning of children and adults. Some TCM products available for sale in retail outlets in Queensland are not registered or listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) as required under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cmwlth). These products make therapeutic claims and, consequently, there is concern regarding their quality and safety. Queensland Health conducted a pilot study which investigated labelling, metal content and presence of scheduled substances in a sample of 40 complementary medicine products obtained from retail outlets in south east Queensland. In the absence of Australian guideline levels for metals in this type of product, results from this survey were compared to maximum levels for metals established by the health authority in Singapore. In addition, the risk to health that oral preparations of these products present was assessed. Non-compliance with Queensland legislation for labelling issues and therapeutic claims was found for a large number of the products of Asian origin. Nineteen of the 28 samples of Asian origin and six of the 12 samples of non-Asian origin contained detectable levels of at least one metal. Two of the products of Asian origin contained quantities of arsenic, antimony or lead, which exceeded Singapore guideline levels. Five of the Asian products contained undeclared scheduled substances. Further research is being undertaken better to characterise the risk that these products present to human health.