Berkey Phoenix Heavy Metals Lab Test Results
Berkey Phoenix Heavy Metals Test Results
16 Heavy Metals Tested by ICPMS, Verified by Atom Testing Laboratory
Eleven metals reduced to non-detect, including mercury and arsenic
Summary: 16-Metal Panel, Eleven Metals Reduced to Non-Detect
Independent laboratory testing by Atom Testing Laboratory, now RAYNU Analytical Labs, measured the Berkey Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element against a 16-metal panel by ICPMS. Eleven metals were reduced to non-detect, including arsenic, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, manganese, and nickel. The remaining five were reduced by more than 82% under high-challenge water far harsher than typical tap. This report is the source for the Phoenix heavy-metals figures used across the site.
Test Report Details
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Report | Atom Testing Laboratory (now RAYNU Analytical Labs), Heavy Metals and Inorganic Contaminants, April 20, 2026 |
| Laboratory | Atom Testing Laboratory / RAYNU Analytical Labs, Bangalore, India |
| Accreditation | NABL (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) |
| Product Tested | Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element (PGF9-2), batch B02102616 |
| Instrument | Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) |
| Testing Standards | NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 test protocols, APHA 22nd Edition, AOAC 20th Edition, EPA Guidelines |
| Challenge Water | TDS 1,250 to 1,658 mg/L, pH 8.5 to 9.3 (high-challenge, far harsher than typical tap) |
Heavy Metals Panel: 16 Metals Tested
All values in micrograms per liter (ug/L). A result of Non-detect means the output fell below the laboratory detection limit, so the true reduction may be higher than the floor shown. Where the laboratory measured an actual output concentration, the computed reduction is shown.
| Metal | Input (ug/L) | Output (ug/L) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 200 | <2 | Non-detect |
| Antimony | 21 | <0.5 | Non-detect |
| Arsenic | 200 | <0.5 | Non-detect |
| Barium | 20 | <1 | Non-detect |
| Beryllium | 200 | <0.2 | Non-detect |
| Bismuth | 50 | 0.3 | 99.43% |
| Boron | 20 | <1 | Non-detect |
| Cadmium | 20 | <0.2 | Non-detect |
| Chromium | 200 | 7.2 | 97.21% |
| Copper | 2000 | 40.8 | 97.96% |
| Iron | 1500 | 25.9 | 98.35% |
| Manganese | 500 | <0.5 | Non-detect |
| Mercury | 10 | <0.1 | Non-detect |
| Nickel | 100 | <0.5 | Non-detect |
| Selenium | 100 | <0.5 | Non-detect |
| Zinc | 150 | 26.1 | 82.60% |
How to Read These Results
Detection-limit floors, not performance ceilings. A result of Non-detect means the output fell below the lowest concentration the instrument can measure, so the true reduction may be higher than shown. Mercury at more than 99.0% and arsenic at more than 99.5% are the provable floors set by their detection limits, not the limit of the filter.
This was a high-challenge test. Challenge water ran at 1,250 to 1,658 mg/L total dissolved solids and pH 8.5 to 9.3, far harsher than typical tap water. The lower measured percentages for chromium, copper, iron, and zinc reflect that aggressive challenge, not weak performance at normal tap levels.
On chromium specifically. Chromium measured 97.21% here under high-challenge water. A separate RAYNU test under milder challenge water (TDS 423 mg/L) reduced chromium to below 1 ug/L, more than 99.5%. Two independent labs, with the difference driven by test severity.
Notable Results
Arsenic, reduced to non-detect. Arsenic was reduced from a 200 ug/L challenge to below 0.5 ug/L, more than 99.5%. This is a second independent confirmation of Phoenix arsenic reduction, alongside a separate CVR Labs report.
Mercury, reduced to non-detect. Mercury was reduced from a 10 ug/L challenge to below 0.1 ug/L, more than 99.0%. Black Berkey elements reduce mercury by more than 98.0% to non-detect in separate testing. Both reduce mercury to non-detect, and neither outperforms the other; the percentage gap is a detection-limit and challenge-concentration artifact.
The Rest of This Report
The same Atom Testing Laboratory report also tested disinfectants and inorganic non-metallic contaminants, including free chlorine, chloramines, chloride, nitrates, nitrites, and fluoride. Those results are published on the PFAS, Radiologicals and Petroleum page so each data set has a single home.
Fluoride: the base Phoenix element reduced fluoride by 75.5% in this test, a partial reduction. For consistent fluoride reduction, pair the Phoenix element with the Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Element. Do not rely on the base element alone for fluoride.
Heavy Metals Portfolio Context
This report covers 16 heavy metals. Across the CVR Labs, RAYNU, and Atom reports, the Phoenix element has been tested against 21 heavy metals in total. For the CVR Labs panel (lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, selenium) see the VOC, Pesticide and Heavy Metals page. For the complete portfolio across all reports, see the Phoenix Complete Contaminant List.
Why These Contaminants Matter
Lead damages the nervous system with no known safe level of exposure. Arsenic is a known carcinogen linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer. Mercury is a neurotoxin that accumulates in the body and is especially harmful to developing brains. Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys over time. These metals enter drinking water from old plumbing, industrial discharge, mining, and natural geology, and they cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. Direct laboratory testing against a broad metals panel is the only way to verify reduction.
What This Testing Means for Certification
Berkey Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements are certified to NSF/ANSI 42 (aesthetic effects such as chlorine taste and odor) and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 (lead-free materials). This independent report applies NSF/ANSI test protocols to measure contaminant reduction directly, which extends well beyond the categories a certification covers. The results on this page are performance data, not a certification, and they do not represent an NSF/ANSI 53 or 401 certification. The certifications that apply are 42 and 372.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Berkey Phoenix filter remove heavy metals?
Yes. In independent ICPMS testing across a 16-metal panel, 11 metals were reduced to non-detect, including arsenic, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, manganese, and nickel. The remaining five were reduced by more than 82% under high-challenge water far harsher than typical tap.
Does the Berkey Phoenix filter remove mercury?
Yes. Mercury was reduced from a 10 ug/L challenge to below 0.1 ug/L, more than 99.0%, reduced to non-detect. Black Berkey elements reduce mercury by more than 98.0% to non-detect in separate testing. Both reduce mercury to non-detect, and neither outperforms the other; the percentage gap is a detection-limit and challenge-concentration artifact.
Does the Berkey Phoenix filter remove arsenic?
Yes. Arsenic was reduced from a 200 ug/L challenge to below 0.5 ug/L, more than 99.5%, reduced to non-detect. A separate CVR Labs report independently confirms Phoenix arsenic reduction.
Why do chromium, copper, iron, and zinc show lower percentages than the other metals?
This was a high-challenge test, with total dissolved solids of 1,250 to 1,658 mg/L and pH 8.5 to 9.3, far harsher than typical tap water. The measured percentages reflect that aggressive challenge, not performance at normal tap levels. Each of these metals was still reduced by more than 82%.
Does the Phoenix element remove fluoride?
Partially. It reduced fluoride by 75.5% in this test. For consistent fluoride reduction, pair the Phoenix element with the Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Element.
Which laboratory ran this test?
Atom Testing Laboratory, now RAYNU Analytical Labs, a NABL accredited laboratory certified to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Testing used ICPMS and was reported on April 20, 2026.
About Big Berkey Water Filters
Big Berkey Water Filters is a leading authorized dealer of Berkey water filtration systems in the United States. We provide transparent, third-party verified testing results, expert guidance, and comprehensive customer support to help families access genuinely clean drinking water through proven gravity filtration technology.
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Disclaimer: Test results represent performance under laboratory conditions using water intentionally spiked with contaminants to simulate contamination scenarios. Actual performance may vary based on water quality, flow rate, filter age, and maintenance. Results are specific to the tested filter element and do not constitute product certification or endorsement by the testing laboratory. Users should follow manufacturer guidelines for filter replacement, maintenance, and proper use.
