Study shows arsenic contamination in kelp supplements

A study done at University of California at Davis found that eight of nine brands of herbal kelp supplements, that one can find at a health food store, showed detectable levels of arsenic higher than the Food and Drug Administration tolerance level.

The study was enacted based upon the symptoms of a woman who came into the UC-Davis clinic exhibiting alopecia (hair loss) and memory loss. She was taking daily kelp supplements and after testing for heavy metals, found extrordinarily high blood arsenic level.

The study was published in the April 4th Environmental Health Persepctives.

Steve - unfortunately, they do not mention the brands in the study. I have a feeling they will release the brands names at some point.

We have always been wary of recommending herbs because plants (by land or sea) absorb high levels of heavy metals and contaminants. Because herbs are most therapeutically effective intact, they are often not processed for chelating heavy metals and contaminants.

The large percentage of herbs come from China, where ground pollution is extremely high and herbal testing standards are non-existsent. This is why one must be diligent in screening any dietary herbal supplement. While we recommend few products that contain herbs, we always look at lab assays to make sure they meet legal toxicity standards and label claim.

Most reputable manufacturers have strict policies in place to screen for heavy metals before the product is even formulated. For instance, Metagenics screens every batch of raw material they receive and often refuses product because of impurities. This process costs money and unfortunately, not all manufacturers abide by this doctrine.