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What are heavy metals ? 

Heavy metals are naturally occurring metallic elements with a density greater than 5 g/cm³. Most often found in the environment in trace amounts, they include mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, arsenic, nickel, zinc, cobalt and manganese. 

While some are essential to the body, others serve no biological function. 

However, even the essential metals can be toxic at high concentrations. 

Moreover, their toxicity depends not only on their concentration, but also on their speciation, i.e. the chemical form in which they are present in our environment. 

The most toxic heavy metals are lead, cadmium and mercury. 

 

What does heavy metal testing involve ? 

All analyses are carried out in accordance with standardised or laboratory-specific protocols and are accredited. 

The process involves taking a representative aliquot from the sample being tested, then adding strong acids to prepare it for the mineralisation phase, to take place in a high-temperature microwave oven. 

This crucial step is a prerequisite for detection and measurement by ICP-MS, AES or atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). 

The choice of technology depends on the type of sample and the maximum thresholds required. 

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