On May 21,
1998, PharmaPrint, Inc. reported traces of the fungicide quintozene (pentachloronitrobenzene,
PCNB ) in raw ginseng root to the FDA. PharmaPrint
is developing herbal products.
Supplement makers using herbal products are advised to monitor for PCNB and
the related pesticide hexachlorobenzene (HCB).
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pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB)
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hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
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Analysis of PCNB and HCB
We offer PCNB and HCB analysis along with other pesticides. The
analysis is conducted using dual capillary column gas chromatography with
electron capture detection (GC ECD). The presence of a pesticide is
automatically confirmed by retention times on two separate, dissimilar GC
columns. Detection limits in herbal products is usually 1-10 ug/kg.
For a quotation ...
The levels of PCNB and HCB have been found to be as high as 1-20 mg/kg in
some herbs. For information on the health risks of PCNB, contact FDA
or Robert McCaleb of the Herb Research Foundation at
303-449-2265.
We also offer pesticide analysis by GCMS to either confirm the GC analysis
or to separately quantitate the pesticide using selected ion monitoring (SIM).
