New Delhi (Mizzima) – A study conducted in the United States has discovered dangerously high levels of lead and arsenic in two Burmese manufactured traditional medicines.
An alert issued by the Indiana State Department of Health is urging people not to use two Burmese digestive aids – known as ‘Daw Tway’ and ‘Daw Kyin’ – after finding high levels of lead and arsenic in the children of Burmese refugees residing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who had consumed the powders.
“Two digestive aids commonly used by children of Burmese refugees in Fort Wayne have tested high for lead and arsenic,” said the Department of Health in a statement released last week.
According to the Indiana Department of Health, Daw Tway contained lead levels as high as 970 parts per million (ppm), 200 times above the acceptable rate, while arsenic levels were measured at 7,100 ppm. A 'safe' level of arsenic in food is commonly given as 1 ppm. Meanwhile, Daw Kyin contained arsenic levels approaching 23,000 ppm.
Lead poisoning is a disease which can permanently damage the developing brains and other organs of young children. On the other hand, ingesting an abnormal amount of arsenic can lead to vomiting and diarrhea as well as kidney, lung and liver disorders.
Local authorities in Indiana have asked several Asian markets in Fort Wayne selling the two brown, digestive powders to cease retail of the contaminated products.
Meanwhile, an official from Burma’s Department of Traditional Medicine in Naypyidaw said the Burmese government is undertaking all necessary steps to ensure traditional medicine practitioners are in compliance with government approved health standards.
“The government is always taking the necessary measures regarding the standard of products,” an official told Mizzima on Wednesday.
However, she declined to further comment on the two medicines which have drawn the concern of U.S. health officials.
In 1996, Burma's military regime adopted the Traditional Medicine Drug Law to nominally monitor the production and sale of traditional drugs.
Testing on the children of Burmese refugees in Indiana was jointly conducted by the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health, Indiana State Department of Health and Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
