HIGH MERCURY LEVEL IN CHINESE MEDICINE BRANDS
Excessive levels of mercury have been found in two brands of Chinese medicine.
Twelve samples of water melon frost - widely used to treat inflammation of mouth cavities, sore throats and gums - were tested by the Consumer Council for their heavy metal content.
Assuming maximum recommended dosages of up to eight treatments a day, the council found drugs produced by Golden Bee and Koo Lau exceeded safety limits.
Those taking the powder made by Golden Bee could ingest as much as 490 to 528 micrograms of mercury, more than 13 times the recommended daily limit.
A daily dose of the Koo Lau product contained between 42.7 and 62.6 micrograms, the council found.
But the chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Herbalists Association, Ho Ka-cheong, said water melon frost had medical value.
