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Lab testing can identify the presence of heavy metals in the body and enable individuals to take steps to reduce their exposure. For example, chelation therapy can be used to remove heavy metals fro m the body (ATSDR, 2019).
Environmental Contamination:
Heavy metals can enter the environment through various sources, such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition. These metals can accumulate in soil, water, and air, posing a risk to human health as well as the health of plants and animals.
Lab testing can identify the presence of heavy metals in the environment and enable the implementation of appropriate remediation measures. For example, soil testing can determine if heavy metal concentrations exceed regulatory limits, and if so, remediation techniques such as soil amendments can be used to reduce exposure (EPA, 2018).
Regulatory Compliance:
Many industries are subject to regulations regarding heavy metal content. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established limits for heavy metals in certain foods, such as lead in candy and arsenic in apple juice (FDA, 2022).
Lab testing can ensure that these industries are in compliance with regulations and avoid legal penalties. For example, a study of heavy metal content in herbal supplements found that some products contained lead, mercury, and arsenic above acceptable levels (Gardner et al., 2013). This led to regulatory action by the FDA to remove these products from the market.
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