• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to compare the contents of heavy metals of boiled ssangwhatang with those of herbal ingredients which are composed of ssangwhatang. Ssangwhatang is used for antifatigue, tonic and so on. With industrial development, our environment has been very polluted. Herbal medicines also are seriously contaminated by heavy metals and pesticides. The herbal medicines of ssangwhatang were bought at 10 defferent markets. The contents of 14 heavy metals(Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn) were analysed using ICP. It was found out that 7 heavy metals(Pb, As, Ba, Cd, Hg, Sb, Sn) were not detected at all in boiled ssangwhatangs. But they were detectable in all ssangwhatangingredients before boiling. For example, the content of Pb in one pack of ssangwhatang before boiling was $0.039^{\circ}{\pm}0.005mg$ and Pb in boiled one was not detected. Herbal medicine itself is seriously contaminated by heavy metals. These results suggest that boiled ssangwhatang which we take is safe from the contamination of heavy metals.