Measuring Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cannabis and Hemp

The demand for cannabis-based medicinal products has increased, putting a strain on testing capabilities for contaminants like heavy metals. This book provides a comprehensive guide to measuring heavy metals in cannabis and hemp, covering fundamental principles, practical capabilities, and safety issues for testing labs, state regulators, cultivators, processors, and consumers. It also discusses other analytical techniques, optimization procedures, and the use of certified reference materials.

Format: Hardback
Length: 492 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The demand for cannabis-based medicinal products has surged, leading to a significant strain on testing capabilities, particularly for contaminants like heavy metals. These metals are naturally absorbed by the plant's roots from the soil, growing medium, and fertilizers, but can also be negatively affected by grinding equipment and extraction/distillation processes. Unfortunately, many state regulators lack the necessary expertise and background to fully comprehend the safety and toxicological implications of cultivating and producing cannabis and hemp products on the market.

Measuring Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cannabis and Hemp provides a comprehensive guide to the entire cannabis industry, covering the measurement of elemental contaminants in cannabis and hemp. For testing labs, it offers an in-depth explanation of fundamental principles and practical applications of ICP-MS and other analytical techniques for detecting heavy metals in cannabis. It also compares the maximum contaminant limits of heavy metals with those set by federal regulations for pharmaceutical materials.

For cultivators and processors, the book helps them understand the various sources of heavy metals in cannabis and provides valuable insights into mitigating these risks. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of choosing cannabis products that are safe for consumption, particularly for medical patients.

Other key topics covered in the book include the role of other analytical techniques in comprehensive testing of cannabis products, tips to optimize analytical procedures for high-quality data, guidance on characterizing elemental contaminants in vaping liquids and aerosols, and suggestions on reducing errors using plasma spectrochemistry. The book also discusses the significance of certified reference materials in validating standard methods and offers an easy-to-read section for practitioners.

In conclusion, Measuring Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cannabis and Hemp is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the cannabis industry, including testing labs, state regulators, cultivators, processors, and consumers. It provides comprehensive coverage of heavy metal testing, analytical techniques, and best practices, helping to ensure the safety and quality of cannabis and hemp products.

Weight: 1150g
Dimension: 184 x 260 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367417376