Conventional Lab Tests Indicating Toxic Load

This Appendix recommends conventional laboratory tests to help determine if you are overloaded with toxins. Although these tests are typically used to detect disease and not intended to assess toxicity, the research shows that within the supposed “normal” range they can indicate physiological adaptations to or damage from toxins. The Appendix shows Test Name, typical “Normal” Range, Toxic Ranges, and the Types of Toxins known to cause these alterations. While the tests won’t tell us the exact toxin, they do suggest types of toxins. Their huge value is that they are inexpensive and easily available. Finally, there is a simple scoring method to help you determine your general level of toxicity. As an example, my total score is 6.0. I and my family do everything we can to decrease our toxic exposure. Nonetheless, I need to do a bit better.

 

Test Name Typical Toxins Normal Range Toxic Range Toxic Score Your Score
ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) Cadmium, lead, mercury, OCPs, PCBs 0-35 U/L 0-24
25-30
31-35
0
1
2
AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) OCPs 0–35 U/L 0-23

24-26

26-35
0

1

2
Bilirubin (total) PCBs, PFOA, PFOS 0.3–1.2 mg/dL 0.3-0.7

0.8-1.0

1.1-1.2
0

1

2
LDL-Cholesterol PCBs ≤ 130 mg/dL <100

110-130
0

1
GGTP (Gamma-glutamyltransferase) Most toxins 10-50 U/L 10-20

21-30

31-45

46-50
0

2

4

8
HbA1c Most POPs 4.0–8.5% 4.0-5.5

5.6-6.0

6.1-6.4

>6.4
0

1

3

5
Homocysteine Cadmium, lead 4–12 μmol/L 4.0-8.0

8.1-10.0

10.1-12.0
0

1

2
Platelet Count Benzene, solvents 150-400 150-200

201-250

251-400
2

1

0
T3 (total) PCBs, PFOAs 0.7-1.5 ng/dL 0.7-0.8

0.9-1.0

1.1-1.5
2

1

0
T4 (total) PCBs 4.9-11.7 ng/dL 4.9-5.9

6.0-7.9

8.0-11.7
2

1

0
Uric acid (blood) PFOA, PFOS 2.5-8.0 md/dL 2.5-5.3
5.4-5.6
5.7-8.0
>8.0
0
1
3
5

 

Your Total Toxic Score: 

Interpretation

Low toxin load < 5.0

Marginally toxic 5.0-10.0

Modestly toxic 10.0-15.0

Highly toxic > 15.0

Notes

1. Tests listed alphabetically, not in importance.

2. “Normal” ranges can vary to some degree by laboratory. If your lab test range is different, use proportionately. For example, if the top of the range in your lab is 10% higher, than scale the toxic ranges by 10%.

3. Some tests also vary according to nutritional status, such as homocysteine being higher when people are deficient in B-vitamins.

4. The Toxin Scores are my interpretation of the strength of predictive value of the tests.

References

Gleason JA, et al. Associations of perfluorinated chemical serum concentrations and biomarkers of liver function and uric acid in the US population (NHANES), 2007-2010. Environ Res. 2015;136:8-14

Guallar E, et al. Confounding of the relation between homocysteine and peripheral arterial disease by lead, cadmium, and renal function. Am J Epidemiol. 2006 Apr 15;163(8):700-8

Kumar J, et al. Persistent organic pollutants and liver dysfunction biomarkers in a population-based human sample of men and women. Environ Res. 2014;134:251-256

Lee DH, et al (2003) Gamma-glutamyltransferase and diabetes—a 4 year follow-up study. Diabetologia 46:359–364

Penell J, Lind L, Salihovic S, et al. Persistent organic pollutants are related to change in circulating lipid levels during a 5 year follow-up. Environ Res 134(2014)190–197

Serdar B, et al. Potential effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on immune cells and blood biochemistry measures: a cross-sectional assessment of the NHANES 2003-2004 data. Environ Health. 2014;13:114.

Serdar B, et al. Potential effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on immune cells and blood biochemistry measures: a cross-sectional assessment of the NHANES 2003-2004 data. Environ Health. 2014;13:114

Shih HT, et al. Subclinical abnormalities in workers with continuous low-level toluene exposure. Toxicol Ind Health. 2011 Sep;27(8):691-9