Fecal thallium (Tl) provides an indication of Tl that has been excreted from the body in bile, and to a lesser extent recent oral exposure to the element. The biliary fecal route is the primary route of Tl excretion from the body, although about 35% is excreted in urine. Tl is rapidly and near completely absorbed when ingested, inhaled or brought into contact with skin.
Thallium is a highly toxic heavy metal which is generally tasteless and odorless, and doesn’t have physiological functions in the body.
Currently the most common sources of dietary Tl are contaminated vegetables, fish and shellfish; particularly those obtained in close proximity to drilling sites for natural gas and oil. Kale, spinach, cabbage and other Brassicaceae family vegetables appear to be most highly contaminated. The highest levels of urine Tl observed at Doctor’s Data have been associated with daily consumption of “green drinks” that were prepared at home from raw Brassicaceae vegetables.
It should be noted that a statement of “organic” generally does not provide any assurance that the produce is not contaminated with Tl. Contaminated water has apparently been used to irrigate crops in certain agricultural areas in California. Other possible sources of Tl include tobacco, fly ash (coal), cement dust, some fertilizers, some artists’ paints, semiconductors, and hazardous waste sites and landfills (nearby drinking water/soil). Thallium is also a by- product from the smelting of copper, zinc and lead ores.
Symptoms associated with significant exposure to Tl may include: fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance, neuropathy, ataxia, depression, psychoses, and extreme loss of hair. Thallium follows potassium in the body and accumulates in tissues with high potassium content including skeletal/cardiac muscle, and central/ peripheral nerves.
Hair elemental analysis may be utilized to assess exposure to Tl over the past 2-4 months.
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Currently the most common sources of dietary Tl are contaminated vegetables, fish and shellfish; particularly those obtained in close proximity to drilling sites for natural gas and oil. Kale, spinach, cabbage and other Brassicaceae family vegetables appear to be most highly contaminated. The highest levels of urine Tl observed at Doctor’s Data have been associated with daily consumption of “green drinks” that were prepared at home from raw Brassicaceae vegetables.
It should be noted that a statement of “organic” generally does not provide any assurance that the produce is not contaminated with Tl. Contaminated water has apparently been used to irrigate crops in certain agricultural areas in California. Other possible sources of Tl include tobacco, fly ash (coal), cement dust, some fertilizers, some artists’ paints, semiconductors, and hazardous waste sites and landfills (nearby drinking water/soil). Thallium is also a by- product from the smelting of copper, zinc and lead ores.
Symptoms associated with significant exposure to Tl may include: fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance, neuropathy, ataxia, depression, psychoses, and extreme loss of hair. Thallium follows potassium in the body and accumulates in tissues with high potassium content including skeletal/cardiac muscle, and central/ peripheral nerves.
Hair elemental analysis may be utilized to assess exposure to Tl over the past 2-4 months.
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