Protein powder heavy metal calculator
Turn a lead or other metal lab result into micrograms per label serving.
How it works
The concentration is one number.
The serving weight is another.
A certificate of analysis (COA) may report lead, cadmium, arsenic or mercury as a concentration. To convert it to an amount per label serving, you also need the grams of the same tested powder. This calculator performs that conversion; it supplies no product test data.
Micrograms per label serving = concentration in µg/g × powder grams per label serving
Mass-based unit equivalents: 1 ppm = 1 mg/kg = 1 µg/g; 1 ppb = 1 µg/kg = 1 ng/g
Half the concentration can mean more per serving
| Report number | A | B |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric concentration | 0.20 ppm | 0.10 ppm |
| Powder / label serving | 30 g | 90 g |
| Converted amount / label serving | 6 µg | 9 µg |
Report B has half the concentration and three times the serving weight, giving 1.5 times the reported amount per label serving. That is a unit comparison, not a safety verdict or a reason to change your serving.
Find the result, not the specification
Check the product, flavor, lot, sample description, test date and method. Look for the actual result column. A specification such as “≤ 1 ppm” describes an acceptance criterion; it does not say the laboratory measured 1 ppm. If only Pass is reported, ask for the numeric result or the applicable reporting limit.
Keep the less-than sign
A printed result of < 0.20 ppm with a 30 g label serving converts to a stated limit of < 6 µg per serving. It does not give an exact measured amount. ND also stays qualified, and without a stated limit its converted amount stays unknown. Detection and quantitation are different concepts in FDA’s EAM section 3.2, version 3.0 (December 2021).
Match the material and the reporting basis
Use a result for finished powder on an as-sold basis. Raw-material results, dry-weight values and laboratory-solution measurements need other information. Do not apply a powder result to the total weight of a prepared shake. Keep chemical forms separate, such as total arsenic and inorganic arsenic. Uncertainty, sampling and differences between lots remain outside this arithmetic.
The unit method follows mass-fraction arithmetic described in NIST’s SI guide and the unit-conversion and mass-correction discussion in FDA EAM section 3.4, version 3.1 (December 2021). Published October 12, 2026; sources consulted that day. These organizations have not reviewed or endorsed this tool.
Questions
Lead, lab units and reporting limits.
How do I calculate lead per serving from ppm?
For a mass-based result on the finished powder as sold, multiply the ppm value by the powder grams in one label serving. A hypothetical 0.20 ppm result with a 30 g serving converts to 6 micrograms per serving. Do not add the weight of milk or water used to make a shake.
How do I convert ppm to mcg?
You need the mass of the matching tested material. For mass fractions, 1 ppm equals 1 mg/kg or 1 microgram per gram. Multiply that concentration by the grams of powder. MCG, mcg and µg all refer to micrograms; ppm alone is a concentration, not an amount per serving.
Is ppb the same as ppm?
No. On a mass basis, 1,000 ppb equals 1 ppm. For example, 200 ppb and 0.20 ppm describe the same concentration. This tool also accepts mg/kg, µg/g, µg/kg and ng/g, and converts them to one common mass unit.
Does ND or not detected mean zero lead?
No. ND describes the report’s detection or reporting result, not proof that the substance is absent. If a sample-specific detection or reporting limit is stated, the tool can convert that limit. Without one, the amount stays unknown. Ask the laboratory what its qualifier and limit mean.
What if the report says less than 0.20 ppm?
Select Less than and enter 0.20. With a 30 g serving, the stated limit converts to less than 6 µg per serving. That does not mean the measured amount is 6 µg. At most preserves a ≤ qualifier separately. A specification limit in another column is not an actual result.
Can a lower ppm result give a higher amount per serving?
Yes. In our hypothetical example, 0.20 ppm multiplied by 30 g gives 6 µg, while 0.10 ppm multiplied by 90 g gives 9 µg. The concentration is halved but the serving weight is tripled. Compare the same metal and chemical form, and keep the different serving weights visible.
Can I use a raw-ingredient or dry-weight COA?
Not directly here. A raw-ingredient test is not a test of the finished powder. A dry-weight concentration needs matching dry mass or moisture information. A liquid or laboratory-solution result in mg/L needs volume and other context. This tool only converts matching finished-powder results on an as-sold mass basis.
Will this tell me whether my protein powder is safe?
No. It translates the report numbers you enter. It does not test or authenticate the powder or COA, assess measurement uncertainty, establish a personal exposure level, decide legal compliance, or recommend intake. Product identity, flavor, lot, sample type, date and laboratory method still matter. A result from another lot does not establish the contents of your powder.
Are my report numbers uploaded or saved?
No. There are no report uploads or account requirements. The calculation runs in your browser and does not submit or save the entered report quantities. Reloading restores the clearly marked hypothetical example.