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A two-day international workshop on scientific issues related to the US Pharmacopeia’s heavy metals testing methodologies (USP<231>). USP—a public standards-setting authority for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and related products—asked the IOM to convene the workshop in order to foster a discussion of the state of scientific knowledge on the toxicity of heavy metals, the appropriate limits for heavy metals impurities in pharmaceutical and other health care products, and issues regarding any revisions to the USP testing methodologies.

The workshop is organized into four primary sessions addressing

• which metals are found in various health care products and the heavy metals that engender the greatest toxicological concerns;
• risk assessment, the establishment of tolerable intakes, and specification limits;
• species considerations, bioavailability and other modifying factors in risk assessment, and
• measurement issues including sample preparation, reference materials, and performing reliable measurements.

Seating is limited and advance registration is highly recommended. There is no charge for attending the workshop.

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