Description:
Metal toxicity is a significant environmental health concern.Some elements can accumulate in tissues causing toxic effects. A toxic load of lead, cadmium, mercury or arsenic is capable of rendering considerable damage to the brain and nervous system, particularly in children. Requires urine collection over a 6-8 hour period you collect at home and send to the lab. Doctors Order Provided, you receive the results.

Toxic elements produce their many negative effects through various mechanisms. One mechanism, irreversible enzyme inhibition, is illustrated by the anemia caused when lead binds to enzymes in the hemoglobin synthesis pathway. The cancer-inducing effect of arsenic seems to be due to an inhibition of DNA repair. Genotoxicity, in which chromosomes are damaged, is linked to the free radical generation abilities of cadmium, lead and nickel. Mercury causes enzyme poisoning.

Urine element testing is primarily useful to monitor levels of toxic metals such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury and for special mineral uptake testing. The test may be used with or without administration of chelating agents to assess the rate of excretion of the elements reported.