Heavy Metals Panel Blood Test: Normal Ranges, Causes & What Your Results Mean

What Is a Heavy Metals Panel?

A heavy metals panel is a blood test that measures the levels of toxic and potentially harmful metals circulating in your body. The most commonly tested metals include lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, though some panels also include aluminium, chromium, nickel, and thallium depending on clinical need.

Heavy metals are naturally present in the environment but become dangerous when they accumulate in the body beyond safe thresholds. Unlike essential trace elements (such as iron, zinc, and copper), toxic heavy metals serve no beneficial biological function. Even at relatively low concentrations, chronic exposure can damage multiple organ systems, including the brain, kidneys, liver, bones, and cardiovascular system.

Sources of exposure are more common than many people realise. They include contaminated drinking water, certain fish and seafood, occupational hazards (such as working with batteries, paint, or solder), old lead paint in pre-1978 buildings, cigarette smoke, some herbal or traditional remedies, and even certain cosmetics. The heavy metals panel provides an objective measurement of your body's burden, enabling early detection and intervention before serious health consequences develop.

In the UK, occupational exposure limits are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), whilst the NHS investigates heavy metal exposure when clinical symptoms or risk factors are present.

Why Is a Heavy Metals Panel Tested?

Heavy metals testing is ordered for a variety of clinical and occupational reasons:

• Occupational exposure monitoring: Workers in industries such as mining, manufacturing, battery production, plumbing, painting, and welding are routinely screened for heavy metal exposure under UK workplace health regulations.
• Unexplained symptoms: Chronic fatigue, neurological symptoms (numbness, tingling, memory problems), abdominal pain, or anaemia without a clear cause may prompt testing for heavy metal poisoning.
• Children's health: Lead exposure in children is particularly concerning as it can impair cognitive development, cause behavioural problems, and reduce IQ. Children living in older housing are at higher risk.
• Environmental concerns: If you live near industrial sites, former mines, or areas with contaminated water supplies, testing can assess your exposure level.
• Dietary exposure: Regular consumption of large predatory fish (tuna, swordfish, shark, marlin) can lead to mercury accumulation. The Food Standards Agency provides guidance on safe fish consumption.
• Kidney or liver dysfunction: Unexplained renal impairment or liver damage may be investigated with heavy metals testing, as several metals are directly nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic.
• Complementary medicine users: Some Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese, and herbal medicines have been found to contain dangerous levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic.

Normal Ranges

The following table shows typical UK reference ranges for the most commonly tested heavy metals. Results are usually reported in micrograms per litre (µg/L) or micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL) for lead.

Metal	Normal Range	Units	Action Level
Lead (Pb)	< 5	µg/dL	> 10 µg/dL requires investigation; > 50 µg/dL occupational suspension
Mercury (Hg)	< 10	µg/L	> 15 µg/L requires monitoring; > 50 µg/L clinical concern
Arsenic (As)	< 10	µg/L	> 35 µg/L warrants further investigation
Cadmium (Cd)	< 1.0	µg/L	> 5 µg/L occupational concern; > 2 µg/L non-occupational concern
Aluminium (Al)	< 10	µg/L	> 60 µg/L associated with toxicity (especially in dialysis patients)
Chromium (Cr)	< 0.5	µg/L	> 17 µg/L occupational biological monitoring guidance value

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. The HSE publishes biological monitoring guidance values for occupational exposure. For non-occupational exposure, any detectable level above the reference range warrants clinical review and potential source investigation.

What Do High Heavy Metal Levels Mean?

Elevated levels of heavy metals in the blood indicate excessive exposure and potential toxicity. The implications vary by metal:

• Lead poisoning (plumbism): Chronic lead exposure can cause anaemia, abdominal pain, constipation, kidney damage, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive impairment, and in severe cases, encephalopathy. In children, even low-level lead exposure is associated with reduced IQ and behavioural problems.
• Mercury toxicity: Methylmercury (from fish consumption) primarily affects the nervous system, causing numbness, tremors, vision and hearing changes, memory problems, and difficulty with coordination. Inorganic mercury exposure (occupational) can damage the kidneys.
• Arsenic exposure: Chronic arsenic exposure through contaminated water or occupational contact is associated with skin changes (hyperpigmentation, keratoses), peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, and increased risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancers.
• Cadmium accumulation: Cadmium has an exceptionally long biological half-life (10-30 years). Chronic exposure — often from smoking or occupational contact — damages the kidneys (proximal tubular dysfunction), weakens bones (osteomalacia), and increases lung cancer risk.
• Occupational over-exposure: Workers in certain industries may have elevated levels that require workplace modifications, personal protective equipment review, or temporary removal from exposure.
• Environmental contamination: Living near industrial sites, contaminated land, or areas with polluted water supplies can lead to chronic low-level exposure affecting entire communities.
• Accidental or intentional poisoning: In rare cases, extremely high levels may indicate acute poisoning requiring emergency medical treatment, including chelation therapy.

What Do Low Heavy Metal Levels Mean?

For toxic heavy metals, low or undetectable levels are the desired outcome. However, certain considerations apply:

• Normal, healthy result: Undetectable or very low levels of toxic metals indicate minimal exposure and no significant body burden — this is the ideal finding.
• Adequate protective measures: For workers in high-risk industries, low levels despite potential exposure suggest that workplace safety measures (ventilation, PPE, hygiene protocols) are effective.
• Successful chelation therapy: If you have previously undergone treatment for heavy metal poisoning, declining levels confirm effective decontamination.
• Recent acute exposure not yet reflected: Blood levels of some metals (particularly cadmium) reflect recent exposure rather than total body burden. A low blood level does not necessarily rule out significant accumulation in organs such as the kidneys and bones.
• Specimen timing: Arsenic has a short half-life in blood (approximately 4-6 hours). Testing performed long after the last exposure may yield misleadingly low results. Urine testing may be more appropriate for arsenic assessment.
• Essential trace elements: Note that some metals tested in broader panels (such as chromium, selenium, and zinc) are essential nutrients. Very low levels of these may indicate deficiency rather than a positive finding.

How to Improve Your Heavy Metal Levels

The primary strategy for improving heavy metal levels is reducing or eliminating exposure. Here are practical steps:

Reducing Exposure

• Know your water source: If you live in an older property with lead plumbing, consider having your water tested. Running the tap for 30 seconds before use and using a certified water filter can reduce lead exposure.
• Manage fish consumption wisely: The Food Standards Agency recommends limiting intake of shark, swordfish, and marlin. Pregnant women should limit tuna to no more than two steaks or four medium tins per week. Choosing smaller fish (sardines, mackerel, anchovies) reduces mercury exposure.
• Stop smoking: Cigarette smoke is a significant source of cadmium exposure. Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to reduce cadmium accumulation.
• Check traditional medicines: If you use Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese, or herbal medicines, ensure they are sourced from reputable suppliers and tested for heavy metal contamination.
• Workplace safety: Follow all occupational health protocols, use personal protective equipment, practise thorough hand washing before eating, and change clothes before leaving the workplace.

Supporting Detoxification

• Eat a nutrient-rich diet: Adequate intake of calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin C can reduce the absorption of certain heavy metals. Green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, lean meats, and dairy products are beneficial.
• Increase fibre intake: Dietary fibre helps bind metals in the gut and promotes their excretion. Whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables are excellent sources.
• Stay well hydrated: Adequate water intake supports kidney function and the urinary excretion of water-soluble metal compounds.
• Consider sulphur-rich foods: Garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts), and eggs contain sulphur compounds that support the body's natural detoxification pathways, particularly glutathione production.
• Seek medical treatment when necessary: Chelation therapy (using agents such as DMSA, DMPS, or EDTA) is the medical treatment for significant heavy metal poisoning and should only be administered under specialist supervision.

When Should You Get Tested?

Consider heavy metals testing if any of the following apply to you:

• You work in an industry with potential metal exposure (manufacturing, construction, mining, painting, plumbing, welding, battery recycling)
• You live in a property built before 1970 that may contain lead paint or lead plumbing
• You regularly consume large quantities of predatory fish (tuna, swordfish, shark)
• You use traditional or herbal medicines that may contain metal contaminants
• You experience unexplained neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, memory problems, or tremors
• You have unexplained anaemia, kidney dysfunction, or liver problems
• You live near industrial sites, former mines, or contaminated land
• You are concerned about environmental exposure (contaminated water, soil, or air)
• You are a current or former smoker and want to assess cadmium levels

For occupational exposure, the HSE provides specific biological monitoring guidance, and your employer is legally required to provide regular health surveillance. For non-occupational concerns, your GP can arrange testing through the NHS, or you can take a proactive approach with a private blood test.

Which Lola Health Tests Include Heavy Metals?

Lola Health offers comprehensive blood testing panels that can assess your exposure to toxic substances alongside a wide range of health biomarkers:

• Peak Insights — Our most extensive health panel, providing a thorough assessment of your overall health including key markers that can indicate the effects of toxic exposure.
• Vital Check — A comprehensive wellness assessment covering essential biomarkers to help identify potential health concerns, including those related to environmental exposures.
• Core Health — An essential health check covering foundational biomarkers that can reveal the downstream effects of heavy metal exposure, such as anaemia and kidney function markers.

All Lola Health tests use venous blood draws for medical-grade accuracy. Results are reviewed by GP-certified professionals who can help interpret your findings and recommend next steps if any concerns are identified.