2017-12-15 Now, what do I do with the Lab Report? First, try to digest it.

This posting is one in a set:

• Why I wanted hair analysis done:  Diagnosed with childhood polio, but was it polio or heavy metal poisoning?  (includes chronology)

• 2017-09-29:  Lab Report on the hair analysis

• 2017-12-15   Now, what do I do with the Lab Report?   First, try to digest it.

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Digest the Lab Report  as far as possible:

Hair samples contain

• Essential / non-Toxic Elements   and
• Toxic / Potentially Toxic Elements

“If the Essential Element distribution pattern is statistically normal, then both toxic and essential element results can usually be taken at face value.”  (p. 1, Lab Report)

My hair exhibited a statistically improbable distribution pattern for the Essential Elements.   (So, don’t take results at face value.)

The statistically unlikely pattern  “suggests heavy metal toxicity or some other interfering process”.

DISCLAIMER:  The College of Physicians and Surgeons (Alberta) – – –  aren’t sold on hair analysis . (p. 3 t0p)

REFERENCE BOOK:  Hair Test Interpretation:  Finding Hidden Toxicities, by Dr. Andrew Hall Cutler.  Dec 2004. (p. 3 middle of Lab Report)   Phone order to (425) 557-8299 (from http://www.noamalgam.com/hairtestbook.html.)

HAIR SAMPLE, TAKEN AT AGE:    almost 4-years old

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS p. 4):

• “there are at least four red and purple bars . . .probability that this is by chance is less than 5% . . .  may be a manifestation of the accumulation of toxic elements.  
• “Scattered Distribution” (fewer than 12 green bars) . . . probability less than 5%.   May also be manifestation of toxic elements accumulation.  (p. 3)
• Right-Shifted:  18 or more green, red, yellow or purple bars go right (results lie above the mean).  “One interpretation of this is that the body may be “dumping” elements into the hair over and above (normal).  It is more commonly seen in children.  Some (experienced) practitioners (associate) this with a toxic influence such as a heavy metal interfering with the element transport mechanisms into hair.  It may also be a genetic tendency.  The right-shift should not be interpreted as an excess of the essential elements.  Rather, as symptom of perturbation (disturbed movement) in the element transport.
• Lithium markedly elevated.  (In the 99th percentile)   note,  but doesn’t appear to be a factor in my case.
• Sulfur below normal    – – Some authorities think that low sulphur can be associated with a high body burden of mercury.

TOXIC ELEMENTS (p. 5)

• Interpretations for some elements may be equivocal.  The distribution pattern of essential elements is statistically unlikely in my case … in which case the readings for the toxins aluminum, antimony, nickel, tin, & titanium are then often elevated well above levels which are actually present in other body tissues.
• the right-shifting:  levels in hair may be “overstating” what might be present in the blood and other tissues. 
• The highest readings (purple bars – – all above the 99th percentile) are for Lead, Cadmium and Antimony.
• Next highest (red bars – – all above the 93rd percentile) are for Gadolinium, Arsenic, Cesium and Tin)
• Yellow (above the 69th percentile) are Mercury, Gallium, Uranium, Silver, Aluminum and Nickel.

NOTE re the Mercury reading:  (from the chronology):

1953 – March 2 –  Sandy’s hair cut .  ..  short  . . .  (hair sample, age 4.  Sent for analysis in 2017.)   (The average hair growth rate of Caucasian females is  a little more than 5 inches (13 cm) per year.  I don’t know if the rate is different for child vs adult.)  So, mercury filling in Sept (don’t know the day),  and hair cut on March 2; the hair sample was taken between 5 and 6 months after the filling.   Let’s say 6 months which means one half a year of new hair growth = approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm).

The mercury from the one source (the filling) that may have made its way to the hair for excretion would be captured in the hair sample,  IF the sample included hair taken from within (approximately) 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)  of the scalp.   Can’t know if it did.   Affects the results.  2017-09-29:  Lab Report on the hair analysis

• Aluminum (p. 6)  (yellow reading)   is believed to reflect body burden, even if the transport of elements is abnormal. . . . Children absorb aluminum more readily than adults and are more sensitive to toxicity. Aluminum can be neurotoxic and has been implicated in dementia.
• Hair Arsenic (reading is red)  is thought to accurately reflect body burden.  . . . was widely used in the past as a pesticide .  ..Rice is notorious for being contaminated with arsenic;  rice pablum is an easily overlooked source . . . Maternal-fetal transfer takes place . . . Arsenic toxicity can result in peripheral neuropathy.  . . . may result in impaired cognitive development in children.
• Cadmium (purple reading)  . . .  accumulates in the kidneys and it can cause learning disabilities and cognitive problems in children.   . . . and other bad things.
• Maternal mercury level in pregnancy.  a 2010 meta-analysis  . . . concluded . . . the risk of adverse neurological impact on the fetus was significant when hair mercury level in the mother exceeded 0.3 mcg/g  (mcg = microgram. mg = milligram)(1 microgram = 1 µg = 0.001 milligrams.) My hair sample was 0.4 ug/g which is the same as 0.4 mcg/g (I think!).   As noted in Diagnosed with childhood polio, but was it polio or heavy metal poisoning?  (includes chronology),  my mother would have had a high level of mercury, most likely (a mouthful of mercury fillings).
• Mercury –  is elevated (in my hair sample) in the face of a statistically unlikely essential element distribution pattern.  Retention of Mercury in the body may actually be the cause of the abnormal pattern,  Hence mercury may be disrupting the transport of many elements (including itself) into hair.  The mercury level reported here should not be interpreted as being reflective of body burden,.  Sources of mercury exposure include (“fish” would not have been a factor; “allergy shots” would not have been a factor; childhood vaccinations would have been) and silvery coloured dental amalgams as well as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  . . .  Note that children are more sensitive to the effects of mercury than adults.
  (As pointed out above, Mercury from the filling would be reflected in the hair sample, IF the sample included hair taken from within (approximately) 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)  of the scalp.   Can’t know if it did.
• Lead high  (a purple reading, 17 ug/g which would be 17 mcg/g,  I believe)  . . .  Children are more sensitive to lead than adults;  levels above 1 mcg/g may cause problems with attention and activity level in children . .
• Lead greater than 5 ppm.   Use of lead-based hair colouring agents is widespread.  Hair lead levels above 3-5 mcg/g are probably due to use of hair colouring agents (No!  at 4 years of age I was not colouring my hair!)   . . .  If this patient is not using a lead-containing hair colourant, please contact the Medical Director at 403 241 4513 or 866 370 5227
• Antimony markedly elevated  (purple reading) . . . Antimony is also found in gun powder;  individuals who frequent firing ranges and load their ammunition often have elevated hair antimony.  . . .   the elevated level measured here should be taken to be reflective of body burden. Levels in normal individuals in the literature range up to 1 mcg/g.  (The reading here is 0.5 ug/g. – –  which is less??) . . .  significance best left to the practitioner involved.
• Tin – – may have been from uncoated tin food cans common in the ’50s.  . . . treatment to reduce body burden of mercury is often effective in reducing the hair tin level, as mercury causes the retention of tin in the body.  Chronic tin exposure can be neurotoxic, affecting balance, co-ordination, memory, vision; chronic tin exposure also results in malaise, fatigue and depression.
• uranium – – go to the  Lab Report  to read about it.

ELEMENT RATIOS (p. 9)     again, please go to the  Lab Report.