Heavy Metals in Shilajit — What to Test For and Why
Shilajit is a geological substance. Mountain rocks carry the trace elements of everything dissolved in rainwater over millennia — including lead.
Arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and thallium. This page explains which metals matter, how Eurofins tests them.
Why your batch COA is the only proof that matters.
By the Yeti Life Research Team·Evidence-tiered·Last reviewed April 24, 2026
If you've ever heard "shilajit has lead in it" or "it's all contaminated" — the truth is more nuanced. Raw shilajit from high-altitude rock can have geological contaminants, which is exactly why shodhana (classical Ayurvedic purification) exists.
The right question isn't "does it have metals" but "how is it tested and what are the limits."
The Five Metals That Actually Matter
And what the AYUSH + IS 15481 pharmacopoeial limits are- Lead (Pb)Most common geological contaminant in Himalayan rock. AYUSH limit: ≤ 10 ppm. Yeti Life tests every batch; latest (B023724DC25): below detectable limit.
- Arsenic (As)Accumulates in groundwater + rock. AYUSH limit: ≤ 3 ppm. Yeti Life latest: below detectable limit.
- Mercury (Hg)Less common in shilajit but non-negotiable to test. AYUSH limit: ≤ 1 ppm. Yeti Life latest: below detectable limit.
- Cadmium (Cd)Industrial pollution marker. AYUSH limit: ≤ 0.3 ppm. Yeti Life latest: below detectable limit.
- Thallium (Tl)The uncommon-but-critical one. Found in specific Himalayan rock formations and NOT in most brands' test panels. The 2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology study on shilajit flagged thallium as a risk. Yeti Life is the only Indian D2C shilajit publishing thallium results per batch.
Why Shodhana Purification Matters
The traditional method that removes what rock carriesClassical Ayurveda already knew raw shilajit could not be consumed directly. The Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita prescribe shodhana — multi-stage decoction, filtration, and sun-drying — especially to remove geological impurities before the resin is used medicinally.
Yeti Life's supplier follows the classical protocol: the raw material passes through many hot-water decoctions (breaking heavy-metal complexes out of the organic matter). Fine-cloth filtration, and controlled sun-drying at altitude.
The finished resin is then Eurofins-tested before release. See the full supply chain on /pages/our-sourcing.
How to Verify Any Shilajit Brand (5 Tests Anyone Can Run)
Don't trust the label · trust the lab report- Does the COA name the lab? "Third-party tested" without a named accredited lab (Eurofins, SGS, Intertek, TÜV) is marketing. Ask for the lab + accreditation number.
- Does the COA name the method? For heavy metals, the gold standard is ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). If the method is unstated or says "in-house," walk away.
- Does the COA reference a pharmacopoeial limit? AYUSH, IS 15481, USP — the limits are public. If the brand reports raw numbers without a limit for comparison, the numbers are meaningless.
- Does the batch number on the COA match the batch on the jar? Brands that publish ONE COA and claim it applies to all future batches are selling you a 2022 test for a 2026 product.
- Is thallium tested? This is the new bar after the 2025 toxicology literature. Most brands still don't test for it.
How Yeti Life Publishes Lab Results
Every batch · every metal · public archiveWe publish the complete Eurofins Certificate of Analysis for every production batch at /pages/lab-results. Each jar ships with the batch number printed on the side — you can cross-reference it against the public archive before opening.
Analytical Report (A.R.) numbers are on each COA so you can verify directly with Eurofins.
If the batch number on your jar doesn't match anything in our archive, do not consume it — contact us at care@theyetilife.com and we will refund or replace within 48 hours.
FAQs
Common heavy-metal questions"Below detectable limit" — what does that actually mean?
ICP-MS has a specific limit of quantification (LOQ) per metal, typically 0.01–0.1 ppm. "Below detectable" means the concentration is below the instrument's lowest measurable level — which is far below the AYUSH pharmacopoeial safety threshold. On our COAs, the exact LOQ per metal is printed on the report.
Shouldn't shilajit have ZERO heavy metals?
No — because shilajit originates from rock, trace-level geological elements are expected in the raw material. Shodhana purification removes bulk contaminants; Eurofins testing verifies the finished product is below pharmacopoeial safety thresholds.
Zero is neither achievable nor needed — safely-below-limit is the real standard.
Is the 2025 toxicology paper reason to avoid shilajit?
No — it's a reason to verify lab results before buying. The paper flagged thallium in some market samples.
Yeti Life responded by adding thallium to every batch panel (most brands have not).
Read our detailed breakdown at /blogs/journal/thallium-in-shilajit.
What about mercury from fish-eating practices or folk purification?
Not applicable to shilajit. Shilajit is mineral-rock-origin, not animal-origin.
Mercury in shilajit would come from geological contamination, not dietary.
Classical shodhana decoction removes mercury complexes especially.
What if I have an existing heavy-metal concern (pregnancy, children, kidney disease)?
Consult a doctor before using ANY mineral supplement. Shilajit is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or for children.
Adults with kidney/liver conditions should review the batch COA with their physician.
Evidence-First Shilajit. Verified by Eurofins.
Five metals screened per batch · including thallium · every certificate published publicly.
Shop Shilajit ResinRelated Reading
If this page was useful- Lab results archive — every batch COA, public
- Sourcing transparency — altitude, region, shodhana method
- Complete shilajit guide — pillar article
- Thallium in shilajit — 2025 study explained
- How to identify fake shilajit — 5 authentication tests
- Shilajit side effects & contraindications