Consumption of Raw Herbal Medicines Is Associated with Major Public Health Risks amongst Ugandans
Table 1
Description of heavy metal concentrations in Vernonia amygdalina and comparisons with WHO reference values on herbal plants for human consumption.
Variables (ppm)
Pb
Cr
Cu
Zn
Cd
Co
Fe
Ni
Number of values detected
20
20
20
20
6
20
20
20
Minimum
18.42
72.91
13.58
38.47
0.0960
2.970
7.750
53.26
Maximum
71.79
147.1
58.85
71.20
0.1320
14.47
19.39
101.7
Mean
40.61
121.8
28.75
53.87
0.1163
7.923
14.15
84.09
SEM
3.891
4.291
2.202
2.277
0.005714
0.7674
0.7271
2.725
Lower 95% CI of mean
32.46
112.8
24.14
49.10
0.1016
6.316
12.63
78.39
Upper 95% CI of mean
48.75
130.7
33.36
58.64
0.1310
9.529
15.67
89.79
WHO limits
10
2.0
150
27.4
0.3
0.48
20
10
values
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
Summary
High
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
SEM = standard error mean; CI = confidence interval; ppm = parts per million; Pb = lead; Cr = chromium; Cu = copper; Zn = zinc; Cd = cadmium; Co = cobalt; Fe = iron; Ni = nickel.
