Heavy Metals Group # 3

33051

Arsenic, Blood
Lead (Venous)
Mercury, Blood
Cadmium, Blood

4 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (royal blue-top) tube

2 mL

Whole blood collected in a sodium heparin (royal blue-top) tube

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Non-trace element free collection or transfer container

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 1-2 days

See Laboratory Report

Arsenic (Half-Life: 7-8 hours):
Arsenic is the twentieth most abundant element in the earth's crust and is present in all living organisms. In certain areas of the United States and Canada, fresh water supplies contain up to 1.4 mg/L, substantially in excess of the acceptable limit of 0.01 mg/L. Arsenic is distributed throughout the body, with the largest amount found in the muscles. Workers occupationally exposed to arsenic trioxide dust had urine concentrations ranging from 0.02-2.00 mg/L (see reference 4). With chronic low-level worker exposure to arsenic, epidemiological evidence suggests that a significant increase in the incidence of respiratory and skin cancers will occur (see reference 4). Chronic arsenic poisoning often results in cardiovascular abnormalities and neurological effects and has been attributed to the drinking of contaminated well water or excessive occupational exposure; this is best diagnosed by a measurement of hair or urine arsenic concentrations.

Cadmium (Half-Life: 16 years, Total Body):
Exposure to cadmium is a common occurrence in industry, where it is incorporated into a variety of alloys and metal plating; the inhalation of cadmium dust or fumes constitutes a hazard during heating, grinding, welding, and soldering operations involving cadmium-containing metal products. The general populace is exposed to cadmium via food, water, air, and cigarette smoking (average 1.9 mcg per pack absorbed), and daily intake of 2-200 mcg of the metal is normal. Body accumulation of cadmium, which begins from birth, has been suggested to play a role in hypertension. Industrial contamination of water supplies by cadmium, with accumulation of the metal by shellfish, caused an epidemic of cadmium poisoning in Japan known as itai-itai disease. Renal damage leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism was believed responsible for the resulting skeletal deformities and back pain (see reference 4).

Lead (Half-Life: 30-70 Days, Blood and Soft Tissue):
Lead and inorganic lead compounds are found in a variety of commercial products and industrial materials, including paints, plastics, storage batteries, bearing alloys, insecticides, and ceramics. The average urban adult inhales 20-40 mcg of inorganic lead daily as atmospheric pollution primarily from automobile exhaust, retaining 30%-45%, and ingesting about 300 mcg in the diet, absorbing only 5%-10%. Humans are in a state of positive lead balance from the day of birth, such that a slow accumulation occurs until a total body burden of 5-350 mg of lead exists by age 60. Over 90% of absorbed lead is deposited in bone, primarily in dense bone, with only minor amounts excreted in hair, nails, or urine. Lead adversely affects many enzyme systems, especially the heme synthesis system. The symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include gastrointestinal disturbances, anemia, insomnia, weight loss, motor weakness, muscle paralysis, and nephropathy. Current sources of exposure to toxic quantities of lead include paint and plumbing in older houses, industrial processes, glazed ceramic vessels, and, rarely, the intentional self-administration of organic or inorganic lead compounds.

Mercury (Half-Life: 24 Days, Inorganic Mercury; 52 Days, Methyl Mercury):
Mercury is a nonessential trace element, the presence of which in human tissues represents uptake from both natural and man-made sources. Inorganic mercury released by industries into waterways can be converted to methylmercury by microflora; this lipid-soluble organic form of the element is efficiently concentrated by fish and other aquatic organisms. Organic mercury compounds are used as preservatives in paints and for agricultural purposes and as diuretics in clinical medicine. Mercury is widely used industrially, especially in electrical components, and also in dentistry. Metallic mercury vapor is approximately 74% absorbed by the lung during inhalation. Urine mercury concentrations in normal persons are nearly always less than 0.010 mg/L. The average lethal dose of mercury is about 100 mg for organic mercury and 1 g for inorganic mercuric salts. The organic mercury compounds can produce severe and often irreversible central nervous system toxicity in over dosage, while inorganic compounds result in primarily peripheral effects, including gastroenteritis and tubular nephritis leading to renal failure.