Trace Element and Micronutrient Unit
Scotland's specialised laboratory for trace elements and vitamins in health and disease
TRACE ELEMENTS Al-Zn
Please select the element you wish more information on:-
| Aluminium | A potentially toxic element mainly of interest in renal dialysis |
| Arsenic | Potentially toxic |
| Cadmium | Potentially toxic |
| Chromium | Although it has been put forward as an essential element, concentrations in the body are extremely low. Most interest is in the toxic effects of chromium in occupational exposure. |
| Cobalt | Present in the cobalmin, vitamin B12 but most interest is in the toxic effects of cobalt in alloy production and working |
| Copper | An essential element |
| Iron | An important essential element, but toxic when in excess as found in genetic haemochromatosis |
| Lead | A potentially toxic element from occupational and environmental sources. Environmental lead exposure is now generally much lower than ten years ago. |
| Manganese | Considered an essential element, although evidence for its essentiality in humans is scant. Of importance in patients on total parenteral nutrition, mainly for toxicity. |
| Mercury | A toxic element. Mercury is volatile and the vapour is easily absorbed. |
| Nickel | A potentially toxic element, mainly of importance in industrial exposure |
| Selenium | An essential element important in muscular function, cardiac function and preventing free radical damage |
| Zinc | An essential element important for growth and protein synthesis |