Most bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids manufactured by underground labs (UGLs) in the United States are primarily concerned with whether or not the product is accurately dosed with the anabolic steroid listed on the label. Some more health conscious steroid users are also concerned about potential health risks arising from the contamination of UGL steroid products with bateria and/or heavy metals. Fortunately, bacterial contamination is not a common problem since most UGLs effectively sterilize the product by adding ingredients such as benzyl alcohol, etc. However, few people have actually considered the potential toxicity of using anabolic steroids contaminated with heavy metals. Given that most of the steroid powder is illicitly imported from China, the possibility of contamination with lead, tin, mercury, arsenic, etc. is a real possibility.
William Llewellyn, author of the authoritative Anabolics 2007 and editor of Body of Science, recently completed a project designed to help consumers of UGL anabolic steroids to better assess the degree of toxic heavy metal contamination in underground steroids (“Going Underground?” September 23).
A total of 14 underground steroid samples were selected for laboratory testing, which included products from Amplio Labs, British Dragon, Diamond Pharma, Generic Anabolics, Generic Pharma, Lizard Laboratories, Medical Inc., Microbiological Labs, Nordic Supplements, Shark Laboratories, SWE Supplements, and Troy Labs. Included in this list were drugs that were made from small underground manufacturers, mid-level operations, and even producers large enough to have their items assembled under contract by drug manufacturing facilities. All 14 samples were analyzed at a registered and licensed facility in the U.S.
The results of the heavy metals tests revealed that 21% of anabolic steroid products from underground labs were contaminated with toxic heavy metals.
William Llewellyn also examined whether the “actual dosage” of anabolic steroids in the UGL products approximately “label claims” of stated ingredient. He tested 1 methandrostenolone product, 2 testosterone enanthate products, 1 testosterone propionate product, 2 boldenone undecylenate products, 3 testosterone cypionate products, 1 trenbolone hexahydro product, 1 trenbolone enanthate product, 1 nandrolone decanoate product and 2 methenolone enanthate products.
The quality control of the UGL steroids was terrible. Results revealed that 64% of the UGL steroids did not meet label claims either underdosed or overdosed by greater than 20%. Most were slightly underdosed, one contained no active ingredients, and a few were significantly overdose (by as much as 459%)! Additional information is available on the Body of Science website.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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