Heavy metals are one of the contaminants which are highly toxic or damaging to the environment, while certain others are toxic only if taken in excess or encountered in certain forms. Heavy metals in food or feed may have originated from environmental contamination, contact with metal equipment, or impurities from the raw materials used.

Heavy metals can bind with vital cellular components, such as structural protein, enzyme, and nucleic acid, which can affect the function of the cellular components either positively or negatively depending on the levels. Heavy metals can accumulate in organisms, plants, and animals (including humans), through inhalation, diets, and direct contact.

How SIG can help

SIG laboratory performs heavy metals and metalloids analyses on a wide variety of matrices.

The types of heavy metals that can be tested in the SIG laboratory are:

Heavy Metals

Speciation of Arsen

Methods of Analysis

ICP-OES and ICP-MS techniques are the most frequently in use, along with classical atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with Hydride Vapor Generator (HVG). Furthermore, we also used LC-ICP-MS for metal speciation analysis.