Niveles de plomo y mercurio en personas que ingieren productos naturales como tratamiento médico en la ciudad de Mérida, Venezuela.
nº36 [Agosto 11 - Noviembre 11] Retel18/09/2011
José Rafael Luna1, Kriscia Marquez2, Parada Vanessa, María Luisa Di Bernardo3
1 Dr. en Bioanálisis. Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Analítica y Estudios Farmacológicos (GITAEF). Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis. Urbanización Campo de Oro, Calle Principal, Edificio Carlos Edmundo Sala. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida-Venezuela. Apartado postal 5101. mail: lunajr@ula.ve.
2. Licenciada en Bioanálisis de la Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida-Venezuela.
3. Dr. en Química Analítica de la Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida-Venezuela.
2. Licenciada en Bioanálisis de la Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida-Venezuela.
3. Dr. en Química Analítica de la Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida-Venezuela.
Resumen
Las fuentes usuales de metales pesados tóxicos como el plomo (Pb) y el mercurio (Hg) en la población en general provienen del agua, los alimentos del mar y el medio ambiente. Sin embargo, hoy en día el uso de productos naturales con fines terapéuticos ha originado otra fuente de exposición a estos metales, principalmente debido al incremento en el mercado de medicamentos como terapia alternativa para diferentes enfermedades. Ciertamente, en el Reino Unido, Estados Unidos, Malasia y Pakistán los medicamentos a base de hierbas se han considerado como la principal causa de intoxicación con metales pesados, después de la exposición ocupacional. Por esa razón, en este trabajo se presenta un estudio piloto para establecer la asociación entre la ingestión de productos naturales como tratamiento médico y los niveles de metales pesados en orina, en particular Pb y Hg. El análisis de las muestras de la población en estudio mostró niveles de Pb y Hg dentro de los permisibles en humanos. Aunque los resultados no avalaron la hipótesis propuesta se concluyó que es pertinente realizar un estudio más amplio sobre el tema con la finalidad de obtener información de una variedad más amplia de productos naturales y en una población más diversa.
Palabras clave: hierbas medicinales, plantas medicinales, plomo, mercurio, orina.
Descargar Archivo PDF (182 KB)
Palabras clave: hierbas medicinales, plantas medicinales, plomo, mercurio, orina.
Descargar Archivo PDF (182 KB)
Summary
Lead and mercury levels in people treated with natural products as medical treatment in the city of Merida, Venezuela.
The usual sources of heavy metals such as Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in the general population derive from water, seafood and environmental. However, nowadays the use of natural products for therapeutic purposes have resulted in other source of exposure to these metals, mainly because these products have had a steady increase in the market of drugs, as an alternative therapy for various diseases. In fact, in United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia and Pakistan, herbal medicines have been regarded as the leading cause of heavy metal poisoning, behind that occurring due to occupational exposure. For that reason, in this work, a pilot study was carried out to establish the association between intake of natural products as medical treatment and the levels of heavy metals in urine, in particular lead and mercury. The analysis of samples coming from the studied people showed levels of Pb and Hg within those permissible in humans. Although the results did not support the proposed hypothesis, it was concluded that is pertinent to perform a larger study on the topic with the purpose of obtaining information from a wider variety of natural products and in a more diverse population.
Key words: herbal medicines, medicinal plants, lead, mercury, urine.
Download PDF (182 KB)
The usual sources of heavy metals such as Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in the general population derive from water, seafood and environmental. However, nowadays the use of natural products for therapeutic purposes have resulted in other source of exposure to these metals, mainly because these products have had a steady increase in the market of drugs, as an alternative therapy for various diseases. In fact, in United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia and Pakistan, herbal medicines have been regarded as the leading cause of heavy metal poisoning, behind that occurring due to occupational exposure. For that reason, in this work, a pilot study was carried out to establish the association between intake of natural products as medical treatment and the levels of heavy metals in urine, in particular lead and mercury. The analysis of samples coming from the studied people showed levels of Pb and Hg within those permissible in humans. Although the results did not support the proposed hypothesis, it was concluded that is pertinent to perform a larger study on the topic with the purpose of obtaining information from a wider variety of natural products and in a more diverse population.
Key words: herbal medicines, medicinal plants, lead, mercury, urine.
Download PDF (182 KB)