Heavy Metals
What is a heavy metal?
Heavy metals are a naturally occurring element within the earths crust. They can be defined as having a high density or an atomic weight higher than 40.04. Approximately 30 metals and metalloids are potentially toxic to humans with arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury posing the greatest threat to human health through food consumption.
What is the effect on supplements?
Heavy metals can occur in supplements due to the fact that plants can absorb them from the soil or they could be found from contaminated fillers and binders. This may result in a cumulative effect of ingesting heavy metals that can be tricky to then flush out of your system.
What do we do to protect against this?
We use the highest quality ingredients wherever possible. Made in the UK, in a GMP certified facility.
Each raw ingredient has been tested and supplied with a certificate of analysis which confirms its safety and conformity to safe human consumption.
To provide extra safety and transparency in this process we then third party test each batch to ensure the safety of our product.
Arsenic
It naturally occurs in the environment and is quite commonly distributed in natural waters and various geological sources. Certain fertilisers and pesticides can also release high amounts of arsenic along with combustion of fossil fuels. arsenic is odourless and tasteless. Inorganic arsenic is classed as carcinogenic and can cause cancer of the skin, lungs, liver and bladder.
Low levels exposure can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels and a sensation of “pins and needles” in hands and feet. Long term low level exposure can cause the skin to darken or the growth of ‘warts’ on the palms, soles or torso. At high levels of ingestion it can possibly result in death [1].
Chronic arsenic consumption had been seen through drinking tap water but with awareness increasing it led to a review in which the environmental protection agency (EPA) has placed a regulatory limit of 0.01 parts per million in drinking water [2].
Lead
It is an element that has been brought into the environment by mankind as a result of fossil fuel burning, mining and manufacturing. It can be found in all parts of our environment such as air, soil and water. It is a highly toxic metal and food is one of the main sources of lead exposure. Plants may become contaminated with lead through its uptake from air and soil, this may then be ingested by animals which then can lead to consumption by humans [2].
EPA has classified lead as a probable human carcinogen and once in the bloodstream lead can affect every organ and system in the body - specifically severe damage to the brain and kidneys. Long term exposure can cause decreases in performance of certain nervous system tests such as weakness in fingers, wrists or ankles [1].
The EPA has determined a regulatory limit of 15 parts per billion in drinking water [1]. With the World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Food Additives (WHO) establishing a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for lead as 0.025mg/kg body weight (bw) [2].
Cadmium
It is naturally present in the environment within soils and rocks, such as coal and mineral fertilisers . It is used in the creation of batteries, plastics and metal coatings. It is carcinogenic and if inhaled in large quantities can cause damage to the lungs.
High levels of ingestion can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Cadmium accumulates in the human body and over time can negatively affect the liver, kidney, lungs, bones and brain [2].
The EPA has placed regulatory limits fo 0.005 parts per million of cadmium in drinking water [1]. The WHO has recommended the PTWI as being 0.007 mg/bw
Mercury
It is one of the most toxic heavy metals in the environment and it has been created into our environment from agriculture manufacturing, creation of chlorine gas and caustic soda, pulp and paper preservatives and thermometers to name a few. Mercury in soil and water is converted by microorganisms to methyl-mercury, bioaccumulating toxin.
It has been classed by the EPA as a possible human carcinogen. The nervous system is very sensitive to mercury and exposure to high levels can lead to permanent damage to the brain such as tremors, changes in hearing or vision and memory problems. Other effects from short term exposure may include lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes [1].
The EPA and WHO have set current standards for drinking water at 0.002mg/L and 0.001mg/l respectively [2].
What are our third party test results?
For our Athletic Energy Stack our latest results are:
References
[1] https://engg.k-state.edu/CHSR/outreach/resources/docs/15_HumanHealthEffectsofHeavyMetals2013.pdf
[2] https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=vDqZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA227&dq=heavy+metals&ots=7326AdhEvE&sig=-ynxWrIAczjYaGN5A4b5TY-tWMI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=heavy%20metals&f=false