Shilajit and heavy metals in 2025, how to read a COA and buy safely
Summary Shilajit is a natural substance that can pick up metals from the environment. Quality varies a lot between products. Some items are well purified and tested. Others are not. This guide shows you the lab tests that matter, the limits that regulators and standards bodies use, and a simple way to read a certificate of analysis so that you can tell a safe product from a risky one.
What shilajit is, and why safety questions keep coming up
Shilajit is a tar like material that forms in mountain regions. It contains humic substances, fulvic acids, minerals, and small organic molecules. Interest has grown on social media. At the same time, governments and researchers keep flagging safety problems with certain items in the market. Natural origin does not guarantee safety. Purification and testing are what make a safe product.
The metals that matter most
Four metals dominate safety discussions in food and dietary supplements. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration tracks these metals across the food supply and uses that data to inform guidance for industry and advice for consumers. Independent standards also give clear limits that manufacturers can use when they release a product to the market.
Where the limits come from
Manufacturers often reference limits from the United States Pharmacopeia. The general chapter that covers elemental contaminants in dietary supplements focuses on arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. It outlines a risk based approach for testing ingredients and finished products. This chapter is widely recognized across the industry. It gives practical targets that a brand can meet and document. You may also see products tested to the NSF American National Standard for dietary supplements. That program confirms label claims, screens for unsafe levels of contaminants, and audits facilities on a regular schedule.
How labs measure metals in a sample
Modern labs use sensitive methods to measure trace elements in powders and liquids. The most common approach for supplements is inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Many labs write this as ICP MS. The instrument turns the sample into a plasma and separates ions by mass so that the analyst can quantify each element. This method can reach very low detection limits and can screen a wide panel in a single run. It is the same class of method used by standards groups when they validate procedures for supplement testing.
How to read a certificate of analysis
A certificate of analysis is the document that shows what was tested, how it was tested, and what the results were. Brands sometimes publish it on a product page. If not, you can ask the brand to share a current report for the lot you plan to buy. When you open the file, look for these items first.
- Identity of the sample You want a product name, a lot number, and a date. A report without those items has little value.
- Method and lab Look for a method name and a lab name. For metals, ICP MS is common. The lab should be an independent facility. Many labs carry ISO accreditation for testing. The report should say who performed the work.
- Results with units For metals, results are usually shown in micrograms per gram, milligrams per kilogram, or micrograms per serving. The units must be clear. If the report lists only words like pass or fail, ask for the actual numbers.
- Limits and reference The report should state the limit used for each element and the reference for that limit. USP chapter citations are common. NSF program criteria are also used. The point is to see numbers and the source of the numbers.
- Signatures and dates A valid report includes a date of analysis and the name of the analyst or the reviewer. This proves that a real lab touched a real sample.
What numbers should you expect to see
Exact limits depend on the standard used and on the serving size of the product. USP guidance focuses on arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The accepted limits are written so that a typical adult would not exceed safe daily exposure when using the product as directed. You do not need to memorize tables to shop wisely. You only need to confirm that the report shows numbers for these four elements, that the numbers sit under a named limit, and that the lab and method are listed.
| What to find on the COA | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury with numeric results and units | These are the four priority metals for food and supplements. A pass without numbers is not enough. |
| Method such as ICP MS with a brief description | Confirms that a modern method with low detection limits was used. |
| Named limits with a reference for each metal | Makes the report comparable across brands. USP and NSF are common references. |
| Sample identity, lot number, and date | Shows that the test matches the item in your cart. |
| Lab name and signature | Creates accountability. Gives you someone to call if numbers do not make sense. |
Why shilajit needs careful sourcing
Shilajit forms in rock and soil. That setting can expose the raw material to elements that are present in the local environment. If a producer does not purify and test each batch, unwanted metals can remain. Researchers continue to publish new data on the element profile of shilajit. Recent work has even looked at less common elements like thallium. Governments have also issued public warnings when shops sell products with unsafe levels of metals or when prescription drugs are found in traditional remedies. None of this means that every shilajit product is unsafe. It means you should ask for a recent report and read it closely.
How to judge a brand before you buy
- Transparency Does the brand post recent certificates for every lot. Can you read them without entering an email address. If not, will they send a report when asked.
- Standards Does the report name USP limits or an NSF program. Are the limits shown next to the results. Are serving sizes clear.
- Testing scope Metals are the start. A strong report also covers microbial quality and residual solvents when relevant.
- Facility controls Many reputable brands highlight third party certification or regular audits. That does not replace testing. It does show that a system exists.
- Claims discipline Avoid pages that promise the world. A sober product page is a green flag. It shows that the team understands rules and cares about accuracy.
Worked example, reading a metals section
Imagine a report for a jar of purified shilajit resin. The table lists arsenic at 0.05 micrograms per gram, cadmium at 0.02 micrograms per gram, lead at 0.08 micrograms per gram, and mercury below the detection limit. The method is ICP MS. The lab is named. The limit column references a USP chapter for dietary supplements. The product serving is 300 milligrams of resin once per day. You can now do a quick check in your head. Convert micrograms per gram to micrograms per serving by multiplying by 0.3. The numbers come out small. They sit well under the limits used by the lab. That is a report you can trust.
Red flags
- Report shows only pass or fail, no numbers, no units
- No lot number and no date of analysis
- No lab name and no method
- Claims of purity without a report to back it up
- Very low price compared with market averages for purified resin
Green flags
- Recent reports for every lot, all posted on the product page
- Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury listed with numbers and units
- ICP MS or an equivalent method listed with a short note on the procedure
- Named limits with a citation to USP guidance or an NSF program
- Clear contact details for the lab and for the brand
Frequently asked questions
Do all shilajit products contain heavy metals
No. The presence of metals depends on the source, the purification steps, and the quality of testing. A well made product will meet strict limits and will publish the numbers to prove it.
What about other elements like nickel or thallium
Labs can measure a long list of elements. Reports usually focus on the four priority metals for food and supplements. Some researchers and brands also watch nickel and other elements. Recent work has drawn attention to thallium. If you want extra assurance, ask the brand if they screen a wider panel and at what limits. You can also request a method sheet from the lab.
Is a third party seal required
It is not required by law. It is useful. Programs like NSF confirm that products meet a published standard, that testing is real, and that audits occur. A seal does not replace a report with numbers. Both together give the best view of quality.
Can a brand hide a bad result by changing serving size
Serving size affects how a limit is applied. A label with a tiny serving can make a number look small. Good reports always show results in units that do not depend on serving size. For example micrograms per gram. Look for numbers in those units first. Then check that the serving size matches the product page.
What should I do if a report looks wrong
Ask the brand to explain the numbers in writing. If they cannot do that, choose a different product. You are not the test lab. You are the customer. You have every right to ask for clear reports.
How this connects to your wider supplement routine
Many people like the idea of natural products that fit into a daily routine. Safety checks make that plan real. A strong routine starts with reliable items. When you get used to reading certificates, you can apply the same skills to herbs, minerals, and other extracts. The goal is simple. Buy products that publish numbers and defend those numbers with clear methods.
What to ask a seller before you buy
- Please send the metals section of the current certificate for this lot. Include numbers, units, method, and limits.
- Which independent lab performed the work. Is the lab accredited.
- Do you test every lot. How often are lots rejected or reworked.
- Do you follow USP guidance for supplements. Do you participate in an NSF program.
- Can you confirm that the report matches the jar I will receive by lot number.
References and further reading
- FDA overview of environmental contaminants in food and dietary supplements
- USP general chapter on elemental contaminants in dietary supplements
- Overview of ICP MS methods used to quantify metals in supplements
- Recent analysis of thallium in shilajit and supplements
- Health Canada advisory on certain traditional products with metals
- NSF page that explains the dietary supplements standard and what it covers
- FDA testing results resource for arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury
General information only. This article does not provide medical advice. Speak with a qualified clinician about personal nutrition and health questions.