Date of Submission

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Forensic Science

Department

Forensic Science

Advisor

Marisia A. Fikiet, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Alyssa L.M. Marsico, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Amanda S. Harper-Leatherman, Ph.D.

Keywords

Cannabidiol (CBD), Topical CBD Products, Heavy Metal Contamination, Lead, Cadmium, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)

MeSH

Cannabidiol, Lead, Cadmium

LCSH

Cannabis, Lead, Cadmium, Atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

In 2018, the United States passed the Farm Bill, which removed cannabidiol (CBD) from the list of controlled substances, where it was previously considered a schedule 1 drug, and legalized any cannabis-derived products containing less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). As a result of this bill, there has been an increase in sales and an influx of matrices for cannabis-based products. One subsection of cannabis products that has gained interest in recent years is the topical use of CBD. Research has shown that topical CBD products may be useful to stimulate wound healing, treat non-melanoma skin cancer, and reduce inflammation, itching, and pain. However, since CBD has no accepted medical or recreational use, with the expectation of Epidiolex to treat epilepsy, any cannabis-based products on the market are largely unregulated by The Food and Drng Administration (FDA). Due to the lack of regulations and limited analysis of CBD products before they enter the market, there are concerns about label accuracy and potential product contamination. Heavy metal contamination in CBD products is an area of concern, partially due to processing cross-contamination and post-processing adulteration, but also due to the natural bioaccumulative capacity of the cannabis plant, which removes heavy metals from substrate soils and deposits them in the plant tissues. Heavy metals are classified as carcinogens and have been shown to aid cancer progression or reduce sensitivity to treatment. Topical exposure to heavy metals was previously thought to only have local effects on the body, however recent studies have shown that they are capable of penetrating deep into the skin, reaching the blood circulatory system, and causing exposure to internal organs. An extraction method and a digestion method using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) were evaluated for their use in analyzing lotions for the presence of heavy metals, specifically lead and cadmium. Eight (8) topical CBD products sold online were analyzed for the potential presence of lead and cadmium. The extraction method analyzed was not successful in extracting heavy metals from lotion samples. The digestion method was found to be successful for use in analyzing lotions with relatively high levels of lead or cadmium. Lead and cadmium were unable to be detected in any of the eight CBD lotions analyzed.

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