Trace elements can be essential or toxic. Trace element toxicity can occur as a result of occupational exposure, environmental exposure or iatrogenic toxicity. Any organ can be affected: the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, muscles or circulatory system. All elements can be toxic in excess. Those most commonly associated with toxicity include: aluminium, lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, thallium, barium, germanium, tellurium, tin, antimony, osmium, uranium.
Acute exposure can result in cardiac and renal failure. Other symptoms from exposure include bone disease and possible liver disease.
|Non-smokers||:|| <27 nmol/L
|Smokers||:|| <54 nmol/L
|Urine||:||<10 nmol/mmol creatinine|
Blood: EDTA (lavender top) or heparin (green top)
Urine: universal container for random sample or 24 hour collection
Blood: 0.5 mL
Urine: 0.5 mL
or 24 hour urine collection
There are increased levels of cadmium in smokers.