皮革废料化身药用胶囊：良心都被谁吃了？

The food safety alarm is sounding once again. On Sunday, China’s top drug watchdog issued an emergency notice suspending sales of 13 kinds of drugs, all of which were found to have excessive chromium in the capsule. Some of the drugs are manufactured by well-known pharmaceutical companies in China.
　　The tainted capsules are made from industrial gelatin which is clearly banned in the use of food production. Factories in Hebei, Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces are involved in producing capsules with cheap gelatin made from waste leather.
　　Local bureaus of the State Food and Drug Administration have launched investigations. Public security authorities in the three provinces say they will round up the non-edible gelatin and tainted capsules in the market.
　　The problematic drugs have been detected in Beijing, along with Jiangxi and Jinlin provinces. More than 10, 000 types of drugs are in the market in China. Over ten percent is packed in capsules.
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　　用皮革厂鞣制过的下脚料制作工业明胶，再被制成药用胶囊，进入大小药厂。这种胶囊铬超标最高达90倍。长春海外、修正药业、青海格拉丹东、四川蜀中制药这些赫赫有名的药厂，竟然也使用工业明胶制作的胶囊。昨日，央视《每周质量报告》对此曝光。
　　昨日，国家食品药品监管局责成相关省食品药品监管局开展监督检查和产品检验，并派员赴现场进行督查。食药监局发出紧急通知，要求对媒体报道的13批次铬超标产品暂停销售和使用。待监督检查和产品检验结果明确后，合格产品继续销售，不合格产品依法处理。对违反规定生产销售使用药用空心胶囊的企业，将依法严肃查处。
　　由于皮革在工业加工鞣制时使用了含铬的鞣制剂，使用“蓝矾皮”加工的工业明胶，重金属铬的含量一般都会超标。铬，是一种毒性很大的重金属，容易进入人体细胞，对肝、肾等内脏器官和DNA造成损伤，在人体内蓄积具有致癌性并可能诱发基因突变。2010版《中国药典》明确规定，药用胶囊以及使用的明胶原料，重金属铬的含量均不得超过2mg/kg。