Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38935258›Full record

ArticleBiological trace element research2025

Mercury Levels in Selected Medicines and Dietary Supplements in Poland.

Barbara Brodziak-Dopierała, Agnieszka Fischer, Bożena Ahnert

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biological trace element research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Barbara Brodziak-DopierałaDepartment of Toxicology, Toxicological Analysis and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical University of Silesia, Ostrogórska 30 Str. 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland. bbrodziak@sum.edu.pl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3662-227X
Agnieszka FischerDepartment of Toxicology, Toxicological Analysis and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical University of Silesia, Ostrogórska 30 Str. 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3180-4741
Bożena AhnertDepartment of Toxicology, Toxicological Analysis and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical University of Silesia, Ostrogórska 30 Str. 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8337-0204

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Current trends are promoting youth, beauty, health, and fitness. Individuals often seek out remedies, such as medicines or dietary supplements (DS), to achieve these goals. However, highly processed foods, chronic stress, and environmental pollution contribute to the development of civilization diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mercury (Hg) content in medicines and DS that are available in Poland. A total of 139 preparations were tested (75 drugs, 64 DS). The medicines contained preparations belonging to antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal; analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory; heart and blood vessel disease preventatives; respiratory tract infections treatment; diuretics; aiding digestion; supplements; antidiarrhoeals; anti-allergics; anti-rheumatics; antibiotics; and others. The tested dietary supplements had an effect on the following: improve the condition of skin, hair, and nails; vitamins; minerals; probiotics; weight loss; special for women; and others. The Hg content of the samples was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The Hg content of all the preparations varied widely (0.1-57.4 µg/kg), with a median Hg concentration of 1.2 µg/kg. The median Hg concentration for medicines was 0.8 µg/kg, prescription medicines having higher Hg concentrations (0.9 µg/kg) than over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (0.5 µg/kg). For DS, the Hg content was found to be higher than for drugs, at 2.0 µg/kg. The herbal preparations showed the highest Hg content among the individual DS groups (3.4 µg/kg). The Hg concentrations in the tested drug and DS samples did not exceed acceptable standards. However, if multiple pharmaceutical preparations are taken simultaneously over a long period of time, and there is existing environmental exposure, there is a possibility of Hg concentration accumulation and adverse health effects.

Indexed as

MercuryPharmaceutical PreparationsPolandSpectrophotometry, AtomicMercuryPharmaceutical PreparationsAASDietary supplements (DS)MedicinesMercury (Hg)

Identifiers

PMID38935258
PMCPMC11872768

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.