Thread: RNZ Article About Lead Poisoning

does anyone here know about the hair test for heavy metals? im sure i read somewhere that people in the trade can get it done at taxpayers expense. I think the hair sample goes over seas for the test.

Originally Posted by 40mm

does anyone here know about the hair test for heavy metals? im sure i read somewhere that people in the trade can get it done at taxpayers expense. I think the hair sample goes over seas for the test.

Any laboratory with an AAS(atomic absorption spectrophotometer) should be able to run the test. Its a question of if they are accredited to do it.
Hair is pretty interesting especially in the case of single exposure poisoning as by determining the position of the poison spike in the hair and comparing it to hairs average growth rate a pretty accurate time of poisoning can be obtained, assuming no haircuts.

I remember nursing an old bloke whod been an old time plumber .drainlayer in the days of lead pipes being used domestically
.IIRC hed had lead poisoning due to prolonged exposure to high doses of the stuff over his years of work.
yep lead in gaseous /fine particulate is the most deadly .

A bit disappointing to hear the guy got turned down by his GP who could have ordered a free blood test simply by putting down "lead exposure" on the form.