Elements Testing – Why Sample Type Matters!

Urine, serum, plasma, whole blood, red blood cells, feces, hair, fingernails…the list goes on. How do you decide what biological sample(s) to use for element analysis? Can results be compared to scientific literature or do they have clinical significance? Is it possible for values to be elevated or low in one sample type and normal in another? Do test results indicate recent intake, body burden,…


Read this article

High Air Levels of Arsenic & Cadmium May Be Linked to a Cancer Cluster in Portland, Oregon

Many residents were surprised to learn that high levels of arsenic and cadmium are being detected at an air monitoring station in Southeast Portland, Oregon according to the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Watch the News: Dr. Zava comments on toxin exposure in SE PortlandThe state began monitoring air quality after moss samples taken from the area last October were found to be…


Read this article

Does Bioaccumulation of Toxic Elements Lead to Large Problems?

Bioaccumulation is the concentration of toxic substances by an organism over an extended period of time. This occurs in all species, and is magnified progressively up the food chain. Toxic elements we consume in liquids and foods, breathe in from the air, or absorb through our skin are retained in the body for different durations, depending on their chemical properties. The amount of time it takes…


Read this article

Colorado Mine Spill Makes High Levels of Heavy Metals a Threat to Humans & Wildlife

On August 5, 2015 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accidentally breached a tunnel holding liquid waste as part of the cleanup of the Gold King Mine in Colorado. This breach resulted in the release of 3 million gallons of toxic waste into Colorado’s Animas River. The waste stained the river yellow and continued to travel downstream into the San Juan River. The Animas and San Juan Rivers are…


Read this article

Arsenic Exposure from Rice and Rice-Based Breakfast Cereals

Did you know that the amount of arsenic in your public water supply is strictly regulated by the FDA, and must test below 10 ppb* total arsenic? Ironically, the food we eat has no such regulations on arsenic content, and some staple foods such as rice may contain high levels of arsenic. Arsenic is a natural element found in soil and water at different concentrations throughout the world. There are…


Read this article

Bromine: An Essential Element?

According to researchers at Vanderbilt University, bromine should be recognized as the 28th essential element for all species, from fruit flies to humans. Study results were published June 5, 2014 in Cell, and demonstrate that without bromine, collagen type IV molecules will not bond together properly to form the structural proteins of connective tissues, leading to disrupted tissue development. 1…


Read this article

How 5 Elements Can Affect Your Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid gland, while small in size, is one of the most significant endocrine glands. It's also key to how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins and it controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), thyroid disease is more common than diabetes or heart disease and affects as many as 30 million Americans.…


Read this article

Excessive Sweating, Athletic Performance & Iodine Deficiency

While working or exercising, do you sweat for an extended period of time? Are you constantly exposed to a hot or humid environment? Do you take pre or post workout supplements and/or a multivitamin to replenish key nutrients lost during exercise? Are you aware that excessive perspiration has been linked to iodine deficiency? Thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are…


Read this article