WSLH Toxicology: Arsenic Testing

Arsenic Testing is performed on urine and hair samples. Urine is the preferred sample for measuring recent exposures, while hair analysis is primarily used for confirming chronic toxicity. Some common environmental sources of arsenic exposure include seafood, well water, arsenic treated wood, and arsenic containing pesticides.

Specimen collection:

Testing Procedure:

The biological samples are digested and the arsenic is oxidized to the pentavalent form. The arsenic is converted to the iodide and extracted into toluene. The arsenic complex is then back-extracted into an acidic nickel nitrate solution and the arsenic measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Links:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Arsenic in Drinking Water and Groundwater Information Page
Link to EHD water testing
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR)