Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HMA or HTMA)
Testing 32 Metals and Minerals using Australian Laboratory
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DESCRIPTION:
For the first time in Australia, human hair testing is available to the public using the absolute latest Perkin Elmer Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometer at Environmental Analysis Laboratories in Lismore, Australia. Instrument detection limits are at or below the single part per trillion (ppt) level for many of substances tested.
Results are then presented online without any personal details - hence preserving privacy and confidentiality. Many innovative features are utilised so that individuals can get the outmost from their results. Example results are on this page.
It's also a great way for children to get screened for heavy metal exposure like antimony, lead and mercury because of the non-invasive nature of the test.
Because this test and the expertise is now available in Australia, we can keep the cost under $100 - which includes an interactive report (tests ordered in Australia from US labs are still around $130-$150)
See our Support Page
We are also proud to announce that animal hair testing is now available - starting with our Dog and Cat and Horse friends. Click link below to see forms and information.
Animal Hair Analysis launched on 3 April 2019 -
FROM THE LITERATURE:
"Trace element analysis on hair samples has been widely used to assess wildlife and human exposure to different contaminants present in the environment or at the workplace. Several advantages were mentioned for the use of this biological material in monitoring studies, namely: (i) the less invasive character of hair collection procedures that avoid venepuncture; (ii) the stability of hair, as a biological material, which facilitates the storage and transport processes; (iii) the higher concentrations of residues usually found in hair samples, when compared to those on blood and urine, and (iv) the capacity of hair to accumulate metals during extended periods, reflecting by this way, at least 1 year of exposure."
REF: Scalp hair analysis as a tool in assessing human exposure to heavy metals, R.Pereiraa, et al, Science of the Total Environment 327 (2004) 81–92
"Concern about the effects of environmental exposure to metals and metalloids on human health has driven the scientific community to find reliable tools and methods for assessing the impact of emissions of toxic metals from anthropogenic sources or naturally anomalous levels of metals in water, soil and air. There are various methods for measuring exposure to toxic substances. Biological monitoring has been extensively employed with this end in view, and blood, urine, faeces, hair and nails are the most frequently analysed biological materials to ascertain the levels of many metals.
With respect to blood and urine, the metal concentrations of which decrease rapidly after exposure, hair and nails appear to be of greater value in evaluating past and ongoing exposure to high levels of metals. Hair has been used more frequently than nails for different purposes and in different fields of application.
Medical research uses hair analysis to diagnose disease conditions and to define relationships between concentrations of metals and various diseases; forensic scientists examine hair to discover forms of poisoning due to the ingestion of abnormal doses of metals ; environmentalists try to identify areas which require attention, due to the potential exposure of resident populations to metals and also to ascertain occupational exposure to them."
REF: Trace elements in scalp hair of children living in differing environmental contexts in Sicily (Italy), G. Dongarra, et al, Environmental toxicology and pharmacology 34 (2012) 160–169
- COST
EAL LABORATORY TEST and TOXTEST INTERACTIVE ONLINE REPORT $98 AU
NOTE: All test fees are paid directly to Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) at Southern Cross University, Australia with details on order form below - SAMPLE SIZE
About 1 gram of hair or 2 heaped table spoons. See picture below. More details in order form.
- All SUPPORT via TOXTEST:
Founder: Hartmut Gunther
214 Beardy Street, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 2350
Phone: 0439 54 7788, EMAIL
- LAB DETAILS:
Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL);
SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY;
PO BOX 157, LISMORE NSW 2480; Phone: 02 6620 3678
Toxtest and Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW, Australia, collaborate to provide hair testing of 32 heavy metals and minerals using ultra-high-sensitive equipment and innovative dynamic result presentation. Our sister site, Toxno, provides extensive exposure route and health effects information on all metals.
DOWNLOAD Order Form and Shipping Instructions
DOWNLOAD Order Form and Shipping Instructions
Exampels of what Toxtest Dust, Soil, Water and Hair analyses look like...
DUST Analysis Results
Here are some of the latest examples, revealing what results look like.
Dust from floor of Bicycle repair worshop very high Lead levels. Includes larger particles from between the wooden floor boards of workshop
House Window sillsHigh Antimony
- outside and inside ledges. House near Hazelwood brown COAL MINE in Victoria. Dust from home Lounge room. Minimal levels of contaminants
- outside and inside ledges. House near Hazelwood brown COAL MINE in Victoria. Dust from home Lounge room. Minimal levels of contaminants
SOIL Analysis Results
Examples...
Soil with elevated Cadmium and high Lead
Soil with mostly normal background levels of all metals and minerals
Human Hair Results
Here are some of the latest examples, revealing what results look like.
Hair Result - 37 yr Woman with High Mercury
Hair Result - Male with very high Lead and elevated Arsenic and Mercury
Hair Result - Female, 44 yr with very high Beryllium and Uranium
Hair Result - Female with high Bismuth (possiblly from Bismuth Citrate in hair dye) and assessed for many Rare Earth Metals
Hair test result with mostly average levels of metals - Male, 43 yr
Example Water Results
Here are some of the latest examples, revealing what results look like.
Bore water with very high Arsenic
Bore water sample with high Total dissolved solids (TDS) and some bacteria detected
Kitchen Tap water with low level of contaminants
We test for all these Heavy Metals and Minerals across all our tests - Human & Animal Hair, Water, Soil, Dust & Compost. Links take you to exposure and health information for each metal.
Aluminium
Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Bismuth
Cadmium
Cobalt
Chromium
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
Nickel
Silver
Strontium
Thorium
Uranium
Calcium
Boron
Copper
Iron
Lithium
Magnesium
Molybdenum
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Sodium
Sulphur
Vanadium
Zinc
RED: Toxic Heavy Metal
YELLOW: Potentially Toxic
GREEN: Mineral/Nutrient
OTHER: Caution
RED: Toxic Heavy Metal
YELLOW: Potentially Toxic
GREEN: Mineral/Nutrient
OTHER: Caution
State-of-the-art testing facilities used
Toxno, Toxtest and Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW, Australia, collaborate to provide innovation and an Australian first in hair, water, soil/compost or dust testing of 32 heavy metals and minerals. Our Hair or Water analysis is AU$98. Order forms can be downloaded below.
All results are published (de-identified) online and updated regularly as new health or exposure route information becomes available for each metal/mineral. All results are dynamic, contain instructions, have full support and contain clickable links to current health and exposure information for each metal/mineral.
Hair results are live and use innovative moving graphical visualisations, while our water and soil analyses concurrently visualise your results based on human, animal and agricultural guidelines - a true Australian innovation. See Example Results above.
Download test order forms here. Each test covers MERCURY, CADMIUM, LEAD, ARSENIC plus other Heavy Metals, Metalloids and Minerals (32 in total).