Heavy Metals Profile II, Whole Blood LabCorp

This heavy metals profile tests the blood for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. It is used to monitor exposure to these chemical elements, which can be toxic and poisonous to the body. Pesticides, rodenticides, weed killers, paint, and wood preservatives all contain arsenic. Industrial exposure to inorganic cadmium fumes may produce poisoning, along with symptoms such as fatigue, coughing, chest pain, throat burning sensation, and renal damage. Lead and organic lead compounds have various commercial and industrial applications; including paints, plastics, storage batteries, bearing alloys, insecticides, and ceramics. Exposure to lead may also occur by inhaling dust-containing lead that has been emitted by automobile exhaust. Blood mercury levels may become elevated from the exposure to inorganic and/or organic mercury compound (i.e. ethyl mercury and methylmercury). These alkylmercury compounds are generally not used in industry, but are considered more toxic to humans than inorganic mercury.