Pollution, the presence of toxic chemicals and metals in the surrounding environment, is now found all over the globe. ALL of us are exposed to chemicals used as food additives, cleansers, fragrances, plastics, etc. These daily “background” exposures may affect us throughout our entire lives and accumulate over time.

Toxic exposures affect our bodies in several different ways. The exposure may alter our DNA, change the function of the body’s biochemical pathways and enzymes, or increase the amount of oxidative stress in the body, leading to accelerated aging and other health consequences. Environmental toxins, such as pesticides and industrial chemicals, can bind to enzymes and disrupt metabolic pathways, leading to various health issues like fatigue, hypersensitivity, depression, neurodegeneration and more.

• The World Health Organization estimates that up to one-quarter of global disease burden in adults, and one-third of the global disease burden in children is due to environmental factors such as pollution.
• Even in Antarctica, industrial chemicals are found in the snow where humans have never lived.

Who needs to be tested for environmental exposures?

Due to the pervasiveness of toxic chemicals, those who want o to assess their risk and proactively address exposures should  consider this test. Individuals who have inherited low-activity forms of detoxification enzymes, those with poor nutrition or poor nutrient absorption due to gastrointestinal issues, or those suffering from existing chronic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions may especially benefit from testing. It may be especially important for these people to monitor and reduce their everyday toxic exposures to the chemicals screened in the Environmental Toxins Profile.

The Environmental Toxins Panel is designed to assess exposure to a wide array of common environmental chemicals that may accumulate over time and contribute to health concerns. By quantifying 48 distinct toxin markers, this profile provides objective insight into toxic burden and supports data-driven clinical decision-making for detoxification and wellness planning. Toxins often work synergistically together, making their impact exponentially worse in the body. The more toxins that accumulate in your body, the more health effects a person will likely experience.

To assess exposure to these chemicals, 48 urinary markers are measured across multiple categories of environmental toxins:

The following document provides a full set of instructions for completing the test:

Notes

The following food preservatives should be avoided for 48 hours prior to collection for best results; however, this test can still be completed if this is not possible:

• Benzoic Acid / Benzoate (E210-213)
• Sorbic Acid / Sorbate (E200-203)

This test is packaged as a kit and requires collection of a liquid urine sample which is sent directly to the lab (US BioTek) by the customer.

Results take 1-2 weeks from the time the lab receives the sample.

This test is not available in PA, AK, NY. Results for this test are not available online.

This test is available to minor test recipients over 2 years of age with parental consent.