Measuring Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cannabis and Hemp

There is no question that the surge of interest in cannabis-based products has put an extremely high demand on testing capabilities, particularly for contaminants such as heavy metals, which are naturally taken up through the roots of the plants from the soil, growing medium and fertilizers, but can also be contaminated by the metallic grinding and processing equipment. Unfortunately, many state regulators do not have the necessary experience and background to fully-understand all the safety, quality and toxicological issues regarding the cultivation and production of cannabis and hemp products on the market today. Measuring Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cannabis and Hemp offers a comprehensive guide to measuring elemental contaminants in cannabis and hemp for growers, cultivators, processors, testing labs and regulators. For state regulators, it compares maximum contaminant limits of heavy metals with those for federally-regulated pharmaceutical materials. For testing labs, it describes fundamental principles and practical capabilities of ICP-MS, ICP-OES, AA and AF for measuring heavy metals in cannabis. It also provides direction to cultivators and processors to better understand the sources of heavy metals in cannabis. Other features include: Provides tips to optimize the analytical procedure to ensure the highest quality data. Suggests strategies to characterize heavy metals in vaping liquids and aerosols. Contains easy-to-read sections on hardware components, calibration and measurement protocols, typical¿interferences, routine maintenance and trouble-shooting procedures. Written with the cannabis testing community in mind, this book is also an invaluable reference for growers, cultivators, processors, testers, regulators, and even consumers who are interested in learning more about the potential dangers of heavy metal contaminants in cannabis and hemp.