Shilajit and heavy metals: what the research and lab reports show

Heavy metals are the most important safety question about shilajit, and the one most brands avoid. This guide explains why they occur, what testing shows and how to protect yourself.

Why shilajit can contain heavy metals

Shilajit forms over long periods from decomposed plant material squeezed through mineral-rich rock. That geology means it can pick up metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. Unprocessed or poorly purified resin carries more risk than purified resin, because purification steps such as soaking and filtering are designed to remove grit and sediment. A 2024 review cited in the research literature (Hussain and Saeed, in Biological Trace Element Research) discusses heavy metal content in shilajit more generally.

The thallium finding

A 2025 study by Kamgar and colleagues in BMC Chemistry used voltammetry to measure thallium in natural shilajit and in shilajit-based commercial supplements from several regions. It reported that thallium concentrations in some supplements were higher than in crude shilajit, with a reported maximum in raw shilajit of about 0.226 µg/g. Summaries note that there is no established consumer safety limit for thallium in dietary supplements, and that thallium sits outside the standard four-metal panel, so a product can pass a conventional heavy metals test without being checked for it.

The sample sizes were small and secondary summaries add interpretation, so treat it as a reason to ask questions rather than a verdict on every product. If thallium matters to you, ask a brand whether it has been tested for it. We have not found any Australian brand that publishes thallium results.

Which limits apply in Australia

Australia's Food Standards Code sets no specific maximum levels for shilajit. Brands that publish results generally compare them with the closest published benchmark, the national standard for oral tablets, capsules and pills:

Daily exposure limits from the ICH Q3D guideline also apply. For example, a daily limit of 5 µg applies to lead in oral products. A very small serve, such as a 0.3 g pea-sized portion, delivers far less than a gram-based concentration suggests.

Example: what a good report looks like

ShilNepal's Batch #1093 report from Eurofins Food Australia measured arsenic at 0.14 mg/kg, cadmium at 0.008 mg/kg, lead at 0.89 mg/kg and mercury as not detected, all below those benchmarks. The brand also calculates that one 0.3 g serve provides about 0.27 µg of lead. It says plainly that the report covers heavy metals only. See our review and the guide to reading a lab report.

How to reduce your risk

1. Buy purified resin, not raw shilajit.
2. Demand a batch lab report from a named independent lab.
3. Check the panel: at minimum arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury; ideally microbial counts and thallium.
4. Match the batch number on the product to the report.
5. Avoid unusually cheap or anonymous products.
6. Speak to a doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medicines. See our safety guide.