Tin, Whole Blood

This test is used to evaluate the exposure to tin. Tin is a soft, faintly bluish-white metallic element found in the air, water, soil, and the tissues of animals, plants, and humans. Even so, no studies have shown tin to be an essential element for humans.

Fruits and vegetables are grown in soil and therefore contain small traces of tin. Many canned foods and beverages are also packaged in containers lined with tin. Yet, the amount of tin found in most foods and drinks is not toxic enough to harm the body. When manufacturers use properly lacquered tin cans and follow food safety standards, the risk of tin exposure is very low. However, food stored in opened cans, canned foods kept beyond the listed expiration date, and canned foods not packaged using proper food safety standards may contain a higher tin level.

People working in industrial environments such as warehouses, plants, manufacturing, or fabrication facilities where tin is used or produced can risk exposure to toxic levels of tin from airborne dust or fumes. In addition, runoff from factories that use tin may cause contamination in the surrounding environment, putting people living in these areas at a higher risk of exposure.

Testing for tin levels is typically ordered for people who work in these industrial environments with a higher risk of exposure, especially if they experience symptoms of toxicity. Symptoms of tin toxicity can include:

• anemia
• stomachache
• liver and kidney problems
• difficulty breathing