Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 I would use ALA taking that there is arsenic as well, but first check copper. If copper is in the red you should not use ALA until you got the copper back down. Dagmar. [ ] hair test results I just got the hair test results back on both of my kids and can't believe the amount of metals they have in their bodies. They were both very high in aluminum, uranium, tin, antimony and arsenic. My son met the counting rules for mercury, however my daughter did not (I am not convinced that she doesn't have mercury - her test did show some mercury so is that enough to chelate for it?) My question is do I start chelating with DMSA, then ALA or do I do something different for these other metals? Are these other metals high because of mercury? I just don't know where to begin. I never in a million years thought that these other metals would show up. thanks for any help anyone can give me Sharla Wiatt ======================================================= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 > I just got the hair test results back on both of my kids and can't > believe the amount of metals they have in their bodies. They were > both very high in aluminum, uranium, tin, antimony and arsenic. Consider removing current sources of exposure http://www.danasview.net/metals.htm Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Try to identify and eliminate/reduce their exposure to the offending metals. Aluminum is added to municipal water supplies in the fluoridation process, it's in cookware, and aluminum cans and baking powder unless labeled " aluminum-free " . It's also in vaccines. Tin's in toothpaste among other things. Antimony's used as flame retardant in bedding, sleepwear, upholstery, carpet, and things like strollers and carseats. Also used as solder for some water pipes. Arsenic's used as stain resistant in various things like carseats and strollers. It's used as weather treatment for lumber (often used for decks and wooden playground equipment). Also in pesticides, particularly those used on golf courses, cotton fields, and orchards. S <tt> I just got the hair test results back on both of my kids and can't <BR> believe the amount of metals they have in their bodies. They were <BR> both very high in aluminum, uranium, tin, antimony and arsenic. My <BR> son met the counting rules for mercury, however my daughter did not <BR> (I am not convinced that she doesn't have mercury - her test did show <BR> some mercury so is that enough to chelate for it?) My question is do <BR> I start chelating with DMSA, then ALA or do I do something different <BR> for these other metals? Are these other metals high because of <BR> mercury? I just don't know where to begin. I never in a million <BR> years thought that these other metals would show up. thanks for any <BR> help anyone can give me<BR> Sharla Wiatt<BR> <BR> </tt> <br><br> <tt> =======================================================<BR> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Was this a DDI hair elements test? There don't seem enough elements tested. Dagmar. [ ] Hair Test Results I just got my son's hair test results: Aluminium 5.80 Less Green <=23.13 Antimony 0.06 Over Red <=0.03 Arsenic 0.177 Over Red <=0.082 Bismuth 0.008 Less Green <=0.224 Cadmium 0.126 Over Red <=0.106 Lead 8.706 Over Red <=1.559 Mercury 0.20 Less Green <=1.69 Nickel 1.319 Over Red <=0.559 Tin 0.3705 Over Red <=0.1825 Calcium 291.2 Range Green 115.9-992.5 Chromium 0.62 Over Over 0.17-0.49 Cobalt 0.0262 Range Green 0.0035-0.0307 Copper 10.95 Range Green 7.62-28.76 Magnesium 17.2 Range Green 6.5-88.5 Manganese 1.495 Over Red 0.035-1.011 Molybdenum 0.189 Over Red 0.015-0.048 Strontium 1.13 Range Green 0.08-2.87 Sulfur 51237 Range Green 43122-51875 Vanadium 0.1022 Over Red 0.0254-0.0574 Zinc 86.6 Less Red 87.5-282.5 Does the low mercury mean it is not a problem or it is not being excreted? Should I start the chelation immediately? Can someone help interpret these results? I am going to a DAN doctor on March 11. Help would be appreciated. Ravi Shankar ======================================================= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Dagmar, whats a DDI? This was done by Great Smokies Lab. Ravi Shankar > Was this a DDI hair elements test? There don't seem enough elements tested. > > Dagmar. > [ ] Hair Test Results > > > I just got my son's hair test results: > > Aluminium 5.80 Less Green <=23.13 > Antimony 0.06 Over Red <=0.03 > Arsenic 0.177 Over Red <=0.082 > Bismuth 0.008 Less Green <=0.224 > Cadmium 0.126 Over Red <=0.106 > Lead 8.706 Over Red <=1.559 > Mercury 0.20 Less Green <=1.69 > Nickel 1.319 Over Red <=0.559 > Tin 0.3705 Over Red <=0.1825 > > > > Calcium 291.2 Range Green 115.9-992.5 > Chromium 0.62 Over Over 0.17-0.49 > Cobalt 0.0262 Range Green 0.0035-0.0307 > Copper 10.95 Range Green 7.62-28.76 > Magnesium 17.2 Range Green 6.5-88.5 > Manganese 1.495 Over Red 0.035-1.011 > Molybdenum 0.189 Over Red 0.015-0.048 > Strontium 1.13 Range Green 0.08-2.87 > Sulfur 51237 Range Green 43122-51875 > Vanadium 0.1022 Over Red 0.0254-0.0574 > Zinc 86.6 Less Red 87.5-282.5 > > > Does the low mercury mean it is not a problem or it is not being > excreted? Should I start the chelation immediately? Can someone help > interpret these results? I am going to a DAN doctor on March 11. > Help would be appreciated. > > Ravi Shankar > > > > > > > ======================================================= > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Not Dagmar here but DDI stands for Doctor's Data, Inc. It's the lab for which the counting rules apply. Your name's familiar, any connection to the famous one of that name? S Dagmar,<BR> whats a DDI? This was done by Great Smokies Lab.<BR> <BR> Ravi Shankar<BR> <BR> =======================================================<BR> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Ravi, Mercury toxicity doesn't show up as high in hair analyses, that's the reason Andy Cutler (PhD) came up with the counting rules. Mercury interferes with mineral transport and the counting rules provide guidelines for determininng disordered mineral transport. He developed the counting rules specifically for the DDI hair analysis, in part, because they test for more elements. > This test only shows 11 essential and other elements and these results show 4 of 11 in the red which would make me suspect disordered mineral transport. > I would also consider identifying and reducing/eliminating exposure to all the toxic metals which tested in the red. > Do NOT chelate if the individual has any mercury amalgam dental fillings until afer you have them removed and replaced by a mercury-free dentist who uses proper protocol. DMSA chelates both lead and mercury and ALA chelates both mercury and arsenic. > Please read up on Andy's protocol in the files of this list since it's safer than the dose and schedule most DAN doctors suggest. > S > I just got my son's hair test results:<BR> <BR> Antimony 0.06 Over Red <=0.03<BR> Arsenic 0.177 Over Red <=0.082<BR> Cadmium 0.126 Over Red <=0.106<BR> Lead 8.706 Over Red <=1.559<BR> Nickel 1.319 Over Red <=0.559<BR> Tin 0.3705 Over Red <=0.1825<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> Calcium 291.2 Range Green 115.9-992.5<BR> Chromium 0.62 Over Over 0.17-0.49<BR> Cobalt 0.0262 Range Green 0.0035-0.0307<BR> Copper 10.95 Range Green 7.62-28.76<BR> Magnesium 17.2 Range Green 6.5-88.5<BR> Manganese 1.495 Over Red 0.035-1.011<BR> Molybdenum 0.189 Over Red 0.015-0.048<BR> Strontium 1.13 Range Green 0.08-2.87<BR> Sulfur 51237 Range Green 43122-51875<BR> Vanadium 0.1022 Over Red 0.0254-0.0574<BR> Zinc 86.6 Less Red 87.5-282.5<BR> <BR> <BR> Does the low mercury mean it is not a problem or it is not being <BR> excreted? Should I start the chelation immediately? Can someone help <BR> interpret these results? I am going to a DAN doctor on March 11. <BR> Help would be appreciated. <BR> <BR> Ravi Shankar<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </tt> <br><br> <tt> =======================================================<BR> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 , Thanks for your info. I ordered these tests before my son was diagnosed with ASD as I thought I would be ready with metal toxicity details before I see a DAN doctor. I picked up the name Great Smokies Lab from another forum.I would read Andy's protocol ASAP. My son does not have any fiilings (he is 2yrs 11m old). And no...I am not the Ravi Shankar you are familiar with! Just another namesake! Actually 5 are in red (not four because I mentioned one as " over " instead of " red " by mistake). Thanks again. Ravi Shankar > > > I just got my son's hair test results:<BR> > <BR> > Antimony 0.06 Over Red <=0.03<BR> > Arsenic 0.177 Over Red <=0.082<BR> > Cadmium 0.126 Over Red <=0.106<BR> > Lead 8.706 Over Red <=1.559<BR> > Nickel 1.319 Over Red <=0.559<BR> > Tin 0.3705 Over Red <=0.1825<BR> > <BR> > <BR> > <BR> > Calcium 291.2 Range Green 115.9-992.5<BR> > Chromium 0.62 Over Over 0.17-0.49<BR> > Cobalt 0.0262 Range Green 0.0035- 0.0307<BR> > Copper 10.95 Range Green 7.62-28.76<BR> > Magnesium 17.2 Range Green 6.5-88.5<BR> > Manganese 1.495 Over Red 0.035-1.011<BR> > Molybdenum 0.189 Over Red 0.015-0.048<BR> > Strontium 1.13 Range Green 0.08-2.87<BR> > Sulfur 51237 Range Green 43122-51875<BR> > Vanadium 0.1022 Over Red 0.0254-0.0574<BR> > Zinc 86.6 Less Red 87.5-282.5<BR> > <BR> > <BR> > Does the low mercury mean it is not a problem or it is not being <BR> > excreted? Should I start the chelation immediately? Can someone help <BR> > interpret these results? I am going to a DAN doctor on March 11. <BR> > Help would be appreciated. <BR> > <BR> > Ravi Shankar<BR> > <BR> > <BR> > <BR> > </tt> > > <br><br> > <tt> > =======================================================<BR> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 ne, Aluminum's in baking powder (unless specially labeled aluminum-free) and thus baked goods. Also added to municipal water during the fluoridation process; aluminum cans, cookware, etc. > Antimony's used as flame retardant in bedding, sleepwear, strollers, carseats, playpens, upholstered furniture, etc. Used in some solder. > Arsenic's in pesticides used particularly on golf courses, orchards, and cotton fields. It's in the weather-treatment they use for lumber (the kind used for decks and playsets). Also in tap water and used as stain resistant used on carseats, strollers, carpet, upholstered furniture, etc. > Lead's in old paint, soil from the use of leaded gasoline for years, etc. > Silver's probably from your amalgams. Could be from colloidal silver if you've used that. > Tin's the stannous of stannous fluoride in some toothpaste. danasview.net has a more thorough list. > S > > aluminum 8.4 < 7.0 yellow<BR> antimony 0.21 < 0.050 red <BR> arsenic 0.12 < 0.060 yellow<BR> cadmium 0.15 < 0.10 yellow<BR> lead 2.4 < 1.0 yellow<BR> silver 3.2 < 0.15 red<BR> tin 1.8 < 0.30 red<BR> =======================================================<BR> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 > I don't know where else he is > getting all the toxic metals from. Mercury often causes their retention. The silver may or may not be a real issue. > Any recommendations of what to start with? DMSA and ALA? Yup. >He is 60 pounds. > How do I go about getting a prescription for DMSA? I want to try the > kirkmans formula since he doesn't swallow capsules yet, and I will need to > hide the taste. Can I get our pediatrician to order this or are they usually > reluctant, since they probably don't know the first thing about it? They can order it, prescribe Chemet (succimer) which you can get at a regular pharmacy and easily mix into food, or you can buy it on the net from www.vrp.com . Andy . . . . . . .. > Any thoughts are welcomed! Adrenal support. A thought. See Ca Mg Na K > Thank you for your time, > nne Skoog > > POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS > element result ref range color > ============================================= > aluminum 8.4 < 7.0 yellow > antimony 0.21 < 0.050 red > arsenic 0.12 < 0.060 yellow > beryllium <0.01 < 0.020 no line > bismuth 0.037 <0.10 green > cadmium 0.15 < 0.10 yellow > lead 2.4 < 1.0 yellow > mercury 0.15 <1.1 green > platinum <0.003 < 0.005 no line > thallium 0.004 < 0.010 green > thorium < 0.001 < 0.005 no line > uranium 0.017 <0.060 green > nickel 0.20 < 0.40 green > silver 3.2 < 0.15 red > tin 1.8 < 0.30 red > titanium 0.80 < 1.0 green > Total toxic representation 98 percentile red > ESSENTIAL AND OTHER ELEMENTS > element result ref range color under/over 50% > ============================================================ > Calcium 189 300-1200 yellow under > Magnesium 11 35-120 red under > Sodium 260 12-90 red over > Potassium 230 8-38 red over > Copper 16 12-35 white middle > Zinc 100 140-220 red under > Manganese 0.09 0.12-0.65 red under > Chromium 0.18 0.20-0.40 yellow under > Vanadium 0.043 0.018-0.065 green over > Molybdenum 0.10 0.028-0.056 yellow over > Boron 6.0 0.30-2.0 yellow over > Iodine 0.40 0.25-1.3 green under > Lithium 0.011 0.007-0.023 white middle > Phosphorus 273 160-250 yellow over > Selenium 0.87 0.95-1.7 yellow under > Strontium 0.50 0.50-7.6 green under > Sulfur 52100 44500-52000 green over > Barium 0.28 0.26-3.0 green under > Cobalt 0.010 0.013-0.050 yellow under > Iron 8.7 5.4-14 white middle > Germanium 0.049 0.045-0.065 green under > Rubidium 0.26 0.007-0.096 yellow over > Zirconium 1.7 0.020-0.42 red over > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 > aluminum 8.4 < 7.0 yellow > antimony 0.21 < 0.050 red > arsenic 0.12 < 0.060 yellow > cadmium 0.15 < 0.10 yellow > lead 2.4 < 1.0 yellow > silver 3.2 < 0.15 red > tin 1.8 < 0.30 red Consider removing sources of current exposure http://www.danasview.net/metals.htm > Calcium 189 300-1200 yellow under > Magnesium 11 35-120 red under Add cal/mag > Copper 16 12-35 white middle > Zinc 100 140-220 red under Add zinc > Selenium 0.87 0.95-1.7 yellow under My son improved noticeably when I added selenium. Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 > Hi all, > I am new writing to the group, although I have been reading for awhile. I > have read Andy's book,(at least a couple times!) and I am in the process of > getting my own amalgams out. I have a 7 1/2 year old son who's biggest issue > right now is ADD at school. He was Dx'd with autism at 3 years, so I feel we > are moving forward. > Any recommendations of what to start with? DMSA and ALA? He is 60 pounds. > How do I go about getting a prescription for DMSA? I want to try the > kirkmans formula since he doesn't swallow capsules yet, and I will need to > hide the taste. Here is more info on sources of DMSA: http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_buy_DMSA.html You are correct that to buy from Kirkman's you will need a doctor to sign up for it. There is also LOTS of information (same location) about ways to hide chelation agents in food etc. Look for the sections toward the bottom about " getting kids to take stuff " . There are many approaches....... > Can I get our pediatrician to order this or are they usually > reluctant, since they probably don't know the first thing about it? yes, depends upon the doctor--- many are quite reluctant. good wishes, Moria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 I had both my daughter and my hair tested, and I was hoping to get help or opinions on the results. They were not what I expected! I thought we were going to see mercury because my mom had high mercury, but we didn't. I know there's also some sort of counting rule about that? I don't know where we might have gotten the high levels of the other stuff though (where it came from). Nor do I know the best way to get rid of them (from our environment and our bodies). The exception is the Uranium I know is radon and we should have our home tested. The Bismuth that Catey has is supposed to not be toxic, but can cause constipation which Catey's always struggled with (I read it can be used as sauder for water pipes, but we do have a reverse osmosis filter). Ok here we go: Catey's results: Aluminum 10.6 normal ref: <= 17.3 Antimony .130 ext high ref: <=.016 Arsenic .039 normal ref: <=.080 Barium .15 low norm ref: <= 1.70 Bismuth .843 very high ref: <= .178 Cadmium .021 normal/high ref: <= .022 Gadolinium .0009 slight high ref: <= .0005 Gallium .0030 normal ref: <= .0190 Germanium <dl ref: <= .128 Lead .221 normal ref: <= .700 Mercury .12 normal ref: <= 1..32 Nickel .50 high normal ref: <= .55 Palladium <dl ref: <= .015 Platnium <dl ref: <= .0004 Rhodium <dl ref: <= .0005 Tellurium <dl ref: <= .0037 Thalium <dl ref: <= .0004 Thorium .0602 normal ref: <= .0749 Tin .572 ext high ref: <= .149 Tungsten .0065 ext high ref: <= .0014 Uranium .0662 ext high ref: <= .0057 Copper 14 normal ref: 8 - 136 Crystal's results Aluminum 15.2 normal Antimony .009 normal Arsenic .038 normal Barium .29 normal Bismuth .251 low high Cadmium .005 normal Gadolinium <dl Gallium .0029 normal Germanium <dl Lead .177 normal Mercury .10 normal Nickel .21 normal Palladium <dl Platinum .0005 low high (I don't have platinum jewelery) Rhodium .0003 normal Tellurium <dl Thallium <dl Thorium .0687 normal Tin .040 normal (Catey's is very high) Tungsten .0037 v. very high Uranium .1074 v. Ext high Copper 38 Both of them were the Genova Diagnostics (used to be Great Smokies) Toxic Element Exposure Profile, Hair analysis. We have a clay bath I had planned on using, would it be good for these? What suggestions do you have? Thanks so much for any input!!!! Crystal Mom to Catey, 2 yrs 4 months, Verbal Apraxia (moderate) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 You can check info like this at the CDC. Tugsten is used in fire retardent materials here is some info about how you get it into your body and how it affects children: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs186.html Public Health Statement for Tungsten (Tungsteno) August 2005 PDF Version, 67 KB CAS#: 7440-66-6 1.1 What is this substance? 1.2 What happens to it when it enters the environment? 1.3 How might I be exposed to it? 1.4 How can it enter and leave my body? 1.5 How can it affect my health? 1.6 How can it affect children? 1.7 How can families reduce the risk of exposure? 1.8 Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to it? 1.9 What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health? 1.10 Where can I get more information? References This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for Tungsten. It is one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and their health effects. A shorter version, the ToxFAQs™, is also available. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737. This public health statement tells you about tungsten and the effects of exposure to it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in the nation. These sites are then placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for long-term federal clean-up activities. Tungsten has been found in at least 6 of the 1,662 current or former NPL sites. Although the total number of NPL sites evaluated for this substance is not known, the possibility exists that the number of sites at which tungsten is found may increase in the future as more sites are evaluated. This information is important because these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure to this substance may harm you. When a substance is released either from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. Such a release does not always lead to exposure. You can be exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it. You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin contact. If you are exposed to tungsten, many factors will determine whether you will be harmed. These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in contact with it. You must also consider any other chemicals you are exposed to and your age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health. top 1.1 What is tungsten? Tungsten is a naturally occurring element that, in most environments, is a solid. In nature, it occurs in rocks and soil as minerals, but never as the pure metal. Two kinds of tungsten-bearing mineral rocks, called wolframite and scheelite, are mined commercially. The mineral ore is processed to recover the tungsten and turn it into either chemical compounds or metal. Elemental tungsten, like elemental copper or gold, is a metal. Its color can range from tin white (for the pure metal) to steel gray (for metal that has impurities in it). Tungsten can be used as a pure metal or mixed with other metals to make alloys. Tungsten alloys tend to be strong and flexible, resist wear, and conduct electricity well. Tungsten and its alloys are used as light bulb filaments, as the part of x-ray tubes where x-rays are formed, as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions, as a component of steel in high-speed tools, in turbine blades, in phonographic needles, as welding electrodes, as gyroscope wheels, as counterbalance and fishing weights, in darts, and in golf club components. They can be used in bullets (as a replacement for lead) and in armor penetrators (as a substitute for depleted uranium). Chemical compounds of tungsten are used for many purposes. Cemented tungsten carbide, a hard substance used to make grinding wheels and cutting or forming tools, is the most common tungsten compound. Other tungsten compounds are used in ceramic pigments, as fire retardant coatings for fabrics, and as fade-resistant dyes for fabrics. top 1.2 What happens to tungsten when it enters the environment? Tungsten occurs naturally in the environment, in minerals, but not as the pure metal. As an element, tungsten can be neither created nor destroyed chemically, although tungsten can change forms in the environment. Tungsten is released into air as fine dust-like particles by weathering. Emissions from hard metal industries also increase tungsten levels in air. The amount of tungsten that has been measured in the ambient air is, in general, less than 10 billionths of a gram per cubic meter (or parts per billion [ppb]). Very small dust particles of tungsten in the air fall out onto surface water, plant surfaces, and soil either by themselves or when rain or snow falls. These tungsten particles eventually recycle back in the soil or in the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and ponds, where they stay and mix with tungsten that is already there. Tungsten in water originates mainly from dissolution of tungsten from rocks and soil that water runs over and through. Tungsten has not been detected in the vast majority of surface water and groundwaters of the United States. Some exceptions include areas near mines and natural deposits, and also in Churchill County (City of Fallon), in Nevada, where tungsten has been detected in municipal water and groundwater. Only a very small fraction of tungsten in water originates from the settling of dust out of the air. Most tungsten products of human-origin that enter waterways originate from industry discharges of waste water. Tungsten in water may be in either soluble or insoluble forms. Insoluble tungsten in water can settle to the bottom where it enters sediment. Some insoluble tungsten compounds, however, can remain suspended in ocean water for many years, requiring as long as 1,000 years to settle to the bottom. Tungsten occurs naturally in soil as a mineral, or component of soil. It occurs in amounts that vary over a wide range from less than 1 to as high as 83 thousandths of a gram per kilogram of soil. Another way to say this is that the tungsten concentration ranges from 1 to 83 parts per million (ppm) in soil by weight. Disposal of coal ash, incinerator ash, and industrial wastes may increase the amount of tungsten in soil. A portion of tungsten in soil does not dissolve in water, but remains bound and is not likely to move deeper into the ground and enter groundwater. The remaining soluble portion may move deeper into the ground and enter groundwater if the pH is greater than 7. In the environment, chemical reactions can change the water-soluble tungsten compounds into insoluble forms. In some cases, water-insoluble tungsten compounds can change to soluble forms. In general, exposure to water-soluble tungsten compounds in the environment will pose a greater threat to human health than water-insoluble forms. top 1.3 How might I be exposed to tungsten? You can be exposed to low levels of tungsten by breathing air, drinking water, or eating food that contains tungsten. The average ambient concentration of tungsten in air has been reported to be less than 10 nanograms in a cubic meter of air (1 nanogram is 1 billionth of a gram). Cities have higher levels of tungsten in the air because tungsten is released from industry. Tungsten has been detected in municipal water from Fallon, Nevada. However, the amounts of tungsten in drinking water are generally not known. This is probably because the tungsten levels are lower than the laboratory methods are able to detect without concentrating samples, or the laboratory does not measure for tungsten. The amounts in foods are generally not known, possibly for the same reasons. Tungsten in plants was either taken up by the plant or was attached to the plant as a component of the soil. The concentration of tungsten in onions collected from Denmark is 17 micrograms in a kilogram of fresh vegetables. Although very limited data are available, exposure to tungsten from air, drinking water, and food is expected to be insignificant. In certain workplaces, you can be exposed to levels of tungsten in air that are higher than background levels, which are very small or none. Exposures are mostly in the form of tungsten metal or tungsten carbide. Occupational exposure to tungsten occurs primarily at places where individuals use hard metals containing tungsten or are engaged in the machining of these metals. This includes the grinding (pointing) of tungsten metal welding electrodes prior to use. Occupational exposure to tungsten carbide occurs during the machining of tungsten carbide tools in the manufacturing process. The total number of individuals occupationally exposed to tungsten or its compounds has been estimated to be about 47,000. Tungsten metal and metal alloys occur in consumer products such as electronics, light bulb filaments, cemented tungsten carbide grinding wheels, carbide tipped tools, and " green " bullets. No other consumer products or products used in crafts, hobbies, or cottage industries were identified that contain significant amounts of tungsten. It is unlikely that tungsten present in consumer products poses a hazard. However, appropriate dust masks are recommended for amateur craftsmen engaging in activities that may potentially produce tungsten carbide dust (e.g., metal grinding). top 1.4 How can tungsten enter and leave my body? Tungsten can enter your body from the food you eat or the water you drink, from the air you breathe, or from contact with the skin. When you eat, drink, breathe, or touch things containing tungsten compounds that can easily be dissolved in water, tungsten enters your blood and is carried to all parts of your body. Most of the tungsten that enters your blood is rapidly released from your body in the urine. When you eat or drink things containing tungsten, much of the tungsten passes through your digestive system and is released from your body in the feces. When you breathe air that contains tungsten, some of the tungsten moves quickly to your bloodstream from the lungs, and some of the tungsten is cleared from your lungs in mucus that is either swallowed or spit out. When you swallow tungsten that was first in your lungs, it passes through your digestive system as if you had eaten it. Some enters your blood from your digestive system and some passes out with the feces. A small portion of the tungsten that enters your blood may spend some time in bone, fingernails, or hair. Some of this tungsten is slowly eliminated from your body through the urine and feces. top 1.5 How can tungsten affect my health? Scientists use many tests to protect the public from harmful effects of toxic chemicals and to find ways for treating persons who have been harmed. One way to learn whether a chemical will harm people is to determine how the body absorbs, uses, and releases the chemical. For some chemicals, animal testing may be necessary. Animal testing may also help identify health effects such as cancer or birth defects. Without laboratory animals, scientists would lose a basic method for getting information needed to make wise decisions that protect public health. Scientists have the responsibility to treat research animals with care and compassion. Scientists must comply with strict animal care guidelines because laws today protect the welfare of research animals. You are not likely to experience any health effects that would be related to exposure to tungsten or tungsten compounds. Tungsten compounds have caused breathing problems and changed behavior in some animals given very large amounts of tungsten compounds, but you are not likely to be exposed to amounts of tungsten in the air you breathe or the food or water you take into your body that would be large enough to cause similar effects. If you are a worker who has inhaled tungsten heavy metal dust, your exposure would help determine if health effects similar to those seen in animals might occur. top 1.6 How can tungsten affect children? This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from conception to maturity at 18 years of age. Children could be affected in the same ways as adults. In adult animals, very large amounts of tungsten compounds have been shown to cause breathing problems and changes in behavior. However, it is not likely that children would be exposed to amounts of tungsten in the air they breathe or the food or water they consume that would be large enough to cause effects similar to those that were seen in the animals. Animal studies have shown that tungsten in the blood of a pregnant mother can enter the blood of a fetus in the womb. Studies in dairy cows have shown that tungsten may also enter the milk. There is no information to suggest that the effects seen in animals could not occur in humans. We do not know whether unborn babies, babies, and children might differ from adults in their susceptibility to health effects from exposure to tungsten or tungsten compounds. top 1.7 How can families reduce the risk of exposure to tungsten? If your doctor finds that you have been exposed to substantial amounts of tungsten, ask whether your children might also have been exposed. Your doctor might need to ask your state health department to investigate. Children living near waste sites containing tungsten are likely to be exposed to higher environmental levels of tungsten through breathing contaminated air, drinking contaminated water, touching soil, and eating contaminated soil. Children sometimes eat dirt, which should be discouraged. Parents should supervise to see that children wash their hands frequently and before eating. Parents should consult their family physicians about whether (and how) hand-to-mouth behaviors in their children might be discouraged. If your community's drinking water has been reported to contain elevated levels of tungsten, you should take advantage of alternative water sources such as bottled water for drinking. Some children may be exposed to tungsten by contact with a family member who works in a facility using tungsten or who works with tungsten carbide grinding wheels. If you work at a facility that uses tungsten or have tungsten dust on your clothes, change your clothes and clean your hair and skin before leaving your job or work site and returning home. Do not bring objects home such as work tools that may be contaminated with tungsten. top 1.8 Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to tungsten? Medical tests exist that can determine whether your body fluids contain high levels of tungsten. Samples of blood or feces can be collected in a doctor's office and sent to a laboratory that can measure tungsten levels. It is easier for most laboratories to measure tungsten in blood than in feces. The presence of high levels of tungsten in the feces can mean recent high tungsten exposure. High levels of tungsten in the blood can mean high tungsten consumption and/or high exposure. High tungsten levels in blood or feces reflect the level of exposure to tungsten. Measuring tungsten levels in urine and saliva also may provide information about tungsten exposure. Tests to measure tungsten in hair may provide information on long-term tungsten exposure. top 1.9 What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health? The federal government develops regulations and recommendations to protect public health. Regulations can be enforced by law. The EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some federal agencies that develop regulations for toxic substances. Recommendations provide valuable guidelines to protect public health, but cannot be enforced by law. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations that develop recommendations for toxic substances. Regulations and recommendations can be expressed as " not-to-exceed " levels, that is, levels of a toxic substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not exceed a critical value that is usually based on levels that affect animals; they are then adjusted to levels that will help protect humans. Sometimes these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal organizations because they used different exposure times (an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour day), different animal studies, or other factors. Recommendations and regulations are also updated periodically as more information becomes available. For the most current information, check with the federal agency or organization that provides it. Some regulations and recommendations for tungsten include the following: There are few guidelines for tungsten and tungsten compounds. For tungsten and insoluble tungsten compounds, NIOSH has established a recommended exposure limit (REL; 10-hour time weighted average) of 5 mg/m³ and a short-term exposure limit (STEL; 15-minute time weighted average) of 10 mg/m³. OSHA has established permissible exposure limits (PELs; 8-hour time weighted average) for tungsten of 5 mg/m³ (insoluble compounds) and 1 mg/m³ (soluble compounds) for construction and shipyard industries. top 1.10 Where can I get more information? If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32 Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO • 888-232-6348 (TTY) Email: cdcinfo@... Information line and technical assistance: Phone: 888-422-8737 FAX: (770)-488-4178 ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. To order toxicological profiles, contact: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000 top References Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2005. Toxicological profile for Tungsten. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. top This page was updated on 11/06/2006 Crystal <crystalam_@...> wrote: I had both my daughter and my hair tested, and I was hoping to get help or opinions on the results. They were not what I expected! I thought we were going to see mercury because my mom had high mercury, but we didn't. I know there's also some sort of counting rule about that? I don't know where we might have gotten the high levels of the other stuff though (where it came from). Nor do I know the best way to get rid of them (from our environment and our bodies). The exception is the Uranium I know is radon and we should have our home tested. The Bismuth that Catey has is supposed to not be toxic, but can cause constipation which Catey's always struggled with (I read it can be used as sauder for water pipes, but we do have a reverse osmosis filter). Ok here we go: Catey's results: Aluminum 10.6 normal ref: <= 17.3 Antimony .130 ext high ref: <=.016 Arsenic .039 normal ref: <=.080 Barium .15 low norm ref: <= 1.70 Bismuth .843 very high ref: <= .178 Cadmium .021 normal/high ref: <= .022 Gadolinium .0009 slight high ref: <= .0005 Gallium .0030 normal ref: <= .0190 Germanium <dl ref: <= .128 Lead .221 normal ref: <= .700 Mercury .12 normal ref: <= 1..32 Nickel .50 high normal ref: <= .55 Palladium <dl ref: <= .015 Platnium <dl ref: <= .0004 Rhodium <dl ref: <= .0005 Tellurium <dl ref: <= .0037 Thalium <dl ref: <= .0004 Thorium .0602 normal ref: <= .0749 Tin .572 ext high ref: <= .149 Tungsten .0065 ext high ref: <= .0014 Uranium .0662 ext high ref: <= .0057 Copper 14 normal ref: 8 - 136 Crystal's results Aluminum 15.2 normal Antimony .009 normal Arsenic .038 normal Barium .29 normal Bismuth .251 low high Cadmium .005 normal Gadolinium <dl Gallium .0029 normal Germanium <dl Lead .177 normal Mercury .10 normal Nickel .21 normal Palladium <dl Platinum .0005 low high (I don't have platinum jewelery) Rhodium .0003 normal Tellurium <dl Thallium <dl Thorium .0687 normal Tin .040 normal (Catey's is very high) Tungsten .0037 v. very high Uranium .1074 v. Ext high Copper 38 Both of them were the Genova Diagnostics (used to be Great Smokies) Toxic Element Exposure Profile, Hair analysis. We have a clay bath I had planned on using, would it be good for these? What suggestions do you have? Thanks so much for any input!!!! Crystal Mom to Catey, 2 yrs 4 months, Verbal Apraxia (moderate) --------------------------------- Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from real people who know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Crystal, I looked up some of the other things. Pretty interesting. Tin can cause sleep disorders. Where did you get this testing done? through a nutritionist? I am interested in having this done for myself and kids. Brigett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Thank you for looking up those sites! Also interesting is the Antimony was really high in Catey and it's used to make children's clothes, car seats, mattresses, and also furniture and carpet, fire retardent. I was always careful to never have her wear " fire retardent " pajamas, and yet it's still high! Anyway I had it ordered through a chiropractor. A doctor has to order it for you, and they have to sign up with them if they're not already signed up. gdx.net is there website and they'll tell you which doctors in your area use them regularly. We've always just gone through the chiropractor because they're more open to it (unless I suppose maybe a DAN! or alternative doctor). I was really expecting high mercury levels and just wanted a base level before I started trying to get rid of it, but this is helpful too. Just different research than what I've been working on! Thanks again! > > Crystal, > > I looked up some of the other things. Pretty interesting. Tin can cause sleep disorders. Where did you get this testing done? through a nutritionist? I am interested in having this done for myself and kids. > > Brigett > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Crystal, I looked up some of the other things. Pretty interesting. Tin can cause sleep disorders. Where did you get this testing done? through a nutritionist? I am interested in having this done for myself and kids. Brigett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Thank you for looking up those sites! Also interesting is the Antimony was really high in Catey and it's used to make children's clothes, car seats, mattresses, and also furniture and carpet, fire retardent. I was always careful to never have her wear " fire retardent " pajamas, and yet it's still high! Anyway I had it ordered through a chiropractor. A doctor has to order it for you, and they have to sign up with them if they're not already signed up. gdx.net is there website and they'll tell you which doctors in your area use them regularly. We've always just gone through the chiropractor because they're more open to it (unless I suppose maybe a DAN! or alternative doctor). I was really expecting high mercury levels and just wanted a base level before I started trying to get rid of it, but this is helpful too. Just different research than what I've been working on! Thanks again! > > Crystal, > > I looked up some of the other things. Pretty interesting. Tin can cause sleep disorders. Where did you get this testing done? through a nutritionist? I am interested in having this done for myself and kids. > > Brigett > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.