Shilajit Contamination and Heavy Metals
Does shilajit contain heavy metals? What laboratory studies measured in raw samples and supplements, why results disagree, and what a reader can safely do.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read natural ingredient safety before you use anything on this page.
Short answer: yes, toxic metals have been measured in shilajit, but results range from below safety limits to above them, depending on the sample, origin and study. No study we read can tell you what is in the jar you hold. If you think someone has swallowed something poisonous, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or 911 for collapse, seizure or trouble breathing. See poison help by country and poisoning: what to do first.
The terms
A "heavy metal" here means metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and thallium that can be harmful. A "permissible limit" is a maximum level set by a body for herbal products. Shilajit is a natural material of uncertain makeup and origin, so its metal content is part of that uncertainty. [1] For background, see shilajit: evidence, contamination and safety.What studies found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| What do reviews say? | A 2024 review reports around 65 metals in shilajit, including copper, aluminium, lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. Reported levels were mostly lower than the WHO and FDA limits it quotes for herbal drugs, except in a few studies where limits were exceeded. It says consuming shilajit without knowing permissible metal levels is not safe. [2] | Laboratory data; review of studies | Many published analyses |
| Were toxic metals under thresholds? | In 12 samples from different origins, toxic metals were below established toxicity thresholds, with large differences between samples. The authors said bioavailability (how much the body absorbs) remains poorly understood. [3] | Laboratory data | 12 samples |
| Were they over limits? | In two kinds of shilajit sold worldwide, from India and Pakistan, lead, arsenic, mercury and others exceeded the permissible limit the authors used. [4] | Laboratory data | India and Pakistan samples |
| Thallium | Up to 0.226 µg/g in natural shilajit and up to 0.5 µg/g in supplements; some supplements were higher than crude shilajit. The authors calculated up to 0.095 µg per pill and raised concern about long-term use. [5] The abstract reports measurements, not harm to anyone. | Laboratory data | Raw shilajit and commercial supplements |
| Does origin matter? | Anion content (chloride, sulfate, nitrate) depended significantly on geographical origin. [6] Phenolic acids also varied strongly across eleven samples from five regions. [7][8] | Laboratory data | 14 raw samples and 6 supplements; 11 and 3 samples |
| Do humic substances "neutralize" the metals? | A review says humic substances in shilajit bind some metals, but the evidence on metal detoxification still needs to be clarified. [2] | Marketing claim; insufficient evidence | Review of mainly laboratory work |
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for a person harmed by metals from shilajit, or for how much metal from shilajit reaches the body. We searched PubMed for shilajit with poisoning, toxicity, adverse event, case report, adulteration and quality terms. A quality-control study notes that shilajit quality has low uniformity because of its geographical environment. [9]
Why results disagree
- Different samples. Raw resin from different mountains, processed extracts and capsules are different materials. [6]
- Different limits. Each paper compared its results with its own reference limits, so "high" in one paper is not directly comparable with "low" in another.
- Total versus absorbed. Most measurements report total metal in the product. The 12-sample study noted that most metals were attached to low-molecular-weight complexes and that bioavailability is poorly understood. [3]
What a reader can safely do
- Do not rely on words like "pure" or "Himalayan" for safety. See quality testing and certifications and product quality and contamination.
- Ask a pharmacist or clinician before using shilajit, especially in pregnancy, breastfeeding, for children, or with kidney disease or other long-term conditions. Sources we read did not study these groups. See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- For the wider discussion of metals in Ayurvedic products, see Ayurvedic products: heavy metals and product quality. It is not specific to shilajit.
- Report side effects as described in side effects and reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Does shilajit contain heavy metals?
Studies have measured lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and thallium in shilajit, in amounts that vary widely. [2][5]
Is shilajit within safe limits?
It depends on the sample. One analysis of 12 samples found toxic metals below thresholds, while another found several above its limit. [3][4]
Are shilajit supplements cleaner than raw shilajit?
Not necessarily. In a thallium study, some supplements had more thallium than crude shilajit. [5]
Does fulvic acid in shilajit remove heavy metals from the body?
That is a marketing claim. A review said the evidence on metal detoxification still needs to be clarified. [2]
Who should be most careful?
Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or has a long-term condition, and children, should ask a clinician first because the studies we read did not test these groups.
References
- A comprehensive review on shilajit: what we know about its chemical composition. Crit Rev Anal Chem. 2025. PubMed 38133965. Narrative review. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hazardous or advantageous: uncovering the roles of heavy metals and humic substances in shilajit (phyto-mineral). Biol Trace Elem Res. 2024. PubMed 38393486. Literature review. Read 2026-10-23.
- Characterization of metal composition and molecular weight distribution in shilajit. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2026. PubMed 42364294. Laboratory analysis of 12 samples. Read 2026-10-23.
- Rapid determination and quantification of nutritional and poisonous metals in vastly consumed Ayurvedic herbal medicine (shilajit) using three advanced analytical techniques. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2022. PubMed 34800280. Laboratory analysis. Read 2026-10-23.
- Quantifying of thallium in shilajit and its supplements to unveil the potential risk of consumption of this popular traditional medicine. BMC Chem. 2025. PubMed 39827344. Laboratory analysis. Read 2026-10-23.
- Screening and quantification of inorganic anions in shilajit and its supplements. BMC Chem. 2025. PubMed 40223103. Laboratory analysis. Read 2026-10-23.
- Plant-derived phenolic acids in shilajit: a comparative HPLC-MS/MS analysis across five regions. Sci Rep. 2026. PubMed 41699045. Laboratory analysis. Read 2026-10-23.
- From phenolic profile to gut function: comparative effects of region-specific shilajit on selected culturable intestinal microbial groups and beta-glucuronidase activity, a preliminary study. Molecules. 2026. PubMed 42357568. Laboratory study. Read 2026-10-23.
- Efficient generation of HPLC and FTIR data for quality assessment using time series generation model: a case study on Tibetan medicine shilajit. Front Pharmacol. 2024. PubMed 39624838. Laboratory analysis. Read 2026-10-23.