Ensure Patients Are Not Exposed to Unsafe Levels of Heavy Metals
Land and water pollution by heavy metals is a worldwide issue. All countries are affected. In the United States alone, heavy metal contamination has created 600,000 “brown fields.”
Cannabis readily absorbs and stores hazardous substances like heavy metals and radioactive materials. This makes it ideal for remediation of toxic lands, but creates toxicity in the plant. These toxins can be passed on to humans in cannabis products and cause acute and chronic diseases.
Heavy metal ingestion has been linked to damage to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, lungs, kidneys, livers, endocrine glands, and bones. Chronic heavy metal exposure also increases the risk of degenerative diseases, including cancer.
At DigiPath Labs, we use inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to test for heavy metal contamination at concentrations as low as one part per trillion. In addition to its ultra-sensitivity, our ICP-MS equipment enables us to process samples and report results quickly.
In addition to testing soil for heavy metals before planting, avoid using chemicals intended only for lawns or other non-food plant life.