Table 3. Toxic heavy metals detected in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) samples tested in this study.

AUST L TCMs	Heavy Metal Detected
	Arsenic	Lead	Cadmium
2	++	++	++
3	+		++
6	+		+
7	++	++	++
8		+	++
9	+		+
11	++	++	++
12	++	++	++
15	+++		+
22	+
23	+	+	++
Non Listed TCMs
1	+	++	++
4	+++	+++	++
5		++	++
13	++	+++	+++
16	++		+
19	++++	++	+
24		++	++
25	++	++	+++
26	++	++	+++

Of the 25 TCMs screened using SF-ICP-MS, those appearing in the table below were found to contain the toxic metals arsenic, lead or cadmium in varying quantities.

+ At or less than two times the TGA limit for medicines (based on 60 kg person; 1.2 μg/daily dose arsenic, 2.2 μg/daily dose lead, 0.22 μg/daily dose cadmium). ++ Greater than two times the TGA limit for medicines. +++ Greater than 10 times the TGA limit for medicines. ++++ Much greater than 10 times the TGA limit for medicines.