InstalabEnvironmental Toxins + Solvents
Should you take a Environmental Toxins + Solvents test?
This test is most useful if any of these apply to you.
51 biomarkers included
- Kidney1
- CreatinineNot a toxin; measured to adjust every other result for how dilute or concentrated your urine sample is.Without it, a well-hydrated sample could look falsely clean and a concentrated one falsely alarming.
- Toxins50
- N-Acetyl (3,4-Dihydroxybutyl) CysteineA mercapturic acid marker of 1,3-butadiene, a combustion and rubber-industry chemical.Elevated levels point to butadiene exposure from traffic exhaust or tobacco smoke.
- N-Acetyl (Carbomethyl) CysteineA mercapturic acid conjugate reflecting exposure to a reactive volatile chemical.Detection indicates absorption of a specific industrial compound.
- N-Acetyl Phenyl CysteineS-phenylmercapturic acid (technically N-acetyl-S-phenyl-cysteine), the most specific urinary marker of benzene exposure.An elevated result is the clearest sign of recent benzene exposure, often from smoke or fuel.
- N-Acetyl (Propyl) CysteineA mercapturic acid marker of exposure to specific reactive volatile compounds.Its presence reflects internal contact with particular industrial solvents.
- 4-NonylphenolA breakdown product of surfactants in detergents and industrial cleaners, with estrogen-like activity.Detection suggests exposure to industrial surfactants or contaminated food and water.
- Bisphenol ATracks recent exposure to a plastics chemical that can mimic estrogen, and is among the most-studied endocrine disruptors in human biomonitoring.An elevated result signals recent contact with polycarbonate plastics, can linings, or receipts, not a fixed body burden.
- Bisphenol SA common BPA-free replacement measured to catch substitution, rising in populations as older bisphenol use falls.A detectable level shows exposure to newer bisphenols that may carry similar hormonal activity.
- TriclosanAn antibacterial agent once common in soaps and toothpaste, with endocrine-disrupting signals in studies.Detection points to antibacterial personal care or household products.
- 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic AcidA widely used lawn and agricultural herbicide measured as the parent compound in urine.Detection suggests contact with treated lawns, gardens, or agricultural areas.
- AtrazineA common corn herbicide and water contaminant with endocrine concerns.A positive result points to agricultural or drinking-water exposure.
- Atrazine MercapturateA specific atrazine metabolite that confirms true internal exposure rather than surface contamination.Its presence verifies that atrazine was absorbed, not just contacted.
- Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA)The main breakdown product of glyphosate, measured to corroborate herbicide exposure.High levels alongside glyphosate strengthen evidence of recent herbicide intake.
- GlyphosateThe active ingredient of the world's most used herbicide; urinary levels reflect recent dietary or occupational contact.An elevated result signals recent herbicide exposure, most often through food.
- 2-Hydroxyisobutyric AcidA body-made metabolite proposed as a nonspecific marker of metabolic disruption from exposure.A raised level reflects general metabolic change, not a specific toxin, and needs cautious interpretation.
- TiglylglycineAn organic acid sometimes used as a marker of mitochondrial stress; its link to toxin exposure is exploratory.Elevation may hint at disrupted energy metabolism but is not a validated toxin indicator.
- BenzylparabenA less common paraben included to complete the preservative panel.Detection indicates a specific, less typical preserved-product source.
- ButylparabenA longer-chain paraben with stronger estrogen-like activity in laboratory studies, and less commonly detected.A positive result flags exposure to a paraben with more potent hormonal activity.
- EthylparabenA preservative in cosmetics and some foods, adding breadth to the paraben profile.Detection reflects added preserved-product exposure across cosmetics or processed foods.
- MethylparabenThe most common paraben preservative in cosmetics and lotions, frequently detected and relatively reproducible.High levels point to heavy use of preserved personal care products.
- 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (4-HBA)A shared breakdown product of parabens that reflects total paraben load.High levels support overall paraben exposure when several parabens are elevated together.
- PropylparabenA second widely used cosmetic preservative measured to map personal care exposure.Elevated levels corroborate cosmetic and skincare products as a source.
- 3-Phenoxybenzoic AcidThe shared metabolite of pyrethroid insecticides used on crops, homes, and pets.Elevated levels reflect recent pyrethroid exposure from household or dietary sources.
- DiethylphosphateA dialkyl phosphate marker of organophosphate insecticide exposure.High levels suggest recent organophosphate contact, though food breakdown products also contribute.
- Diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP)A less common organophosphate metabolite that adds specificity to the pesticide read.Detection indicates exposure to particular organophosphate compounds.
- Diphenyl PhosphateA metabolite of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers found in furniture and electronics.A high result points to flame-retardant exposure from household dust and furnishings.
- Diethylthiophosphate (DETP)Another organophosphate metabolite measured with diethylphosphate to broaden pesticide detection.Its elevation supports organophosphate exposure from diet or environment.
- Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)A shorter-chain forever chemical replacement that clears faster and reflects more recent exposure.Detection points to newer-generation fluorinated chemicals entering your environment.
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)A persistent forever chemical from nonstick and waterproof coatings that lingers for years, unlike others here.A detectable level reflects long-term accumulated exposure, not just recent contact.
- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)Another long-lasting forever chemical from stain- and water-resistant products, measured alongside PFOA.Elevated levels signal a persistent body burden built up over years.
- Butyl Benzyl phthalate (BBP)The parent plasticizer measured to link its metabolite back to vinyl and PVC products.Detectable levels corroborate recent contact with vinyl consumer goods.
- Mono-Benzyl phthalate (mBzP)The main metabolite of butylbenzyl phthalate, used in vinyl flooring and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products.A high result points toward vinyl building materials and flooring as a source.
- Monobutyl PhthalateMarker of dibutyl phthalate from coatings, adhesives, and some cosmetics, reflecting steadier everyday exposure.Elevated levels suggest continuous low-level exposure rather than a single contact.
- Mono (3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (mCPP)A nonspecific metabolite of several longer-chain phthalates, capturing broad plasticizer exposure.An elevated result flags exposure to multiple longer-chain phthalates at once.
- MonoethylphthalateThe urinary marker of diethyl phthalate, used mainly in fragrances and personal care products.High levels point to scented personal care products as a dominant phthalate source.
- Mono-2-ethylhexyl PhthalateA metabolite of the plasticizer DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) found in food packaging and vinyl; DEHP metabolites carry the strongest reproductive and metabolic signals.Elevated DEHP metabolites are the phthalate results most consistently tied to reproductive and metabolic effects.
- Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP)An oxidative DEHP breakdown product that is more stable than the parent metabolite and better reflects true intake.Corroborates DEHP exposure and, being less variable, sharpens the plasticizer picture.
- Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) PhthalateAnother oxidative DEHP breakdown product measured alongside MEHHP to gauge total DEHP burden.High levels with MEHHP confirm substantial DEHP intake from food-contact materials.
- Mono-n-octyl phthalate (mOP)Metabolite of di-n-octyl phthalate used in flooring and industrial plastics.Detection points to industrial or vinyl plastic contact beyond food packaging.
- Phthalic AcidA shared downstream product of many phthalates, giving a summary read of overall phthalate load.A high value reflects total phthalate intake across sources when individual metabolites are combined.
- Quinolinic AcidA body-made marker of immune activation and inflammation, included to reflect the body's response rather than exposure itself.A high level suggests active inflammation, raised across many conditions and not specific to any single toxin.
- 2-Hydroxyethyl Mercapturic AcidA mercapturic acid marker linked to reactive industrial gases and combustion products.Detection reflects contact with certain volatile industrial chemicals or smoke.
- Mandelic AcidThe main metabolite of styrene and ethylbenzene, with strong air-to-urine correlations in workers.Elevated levels point to styrene or ethylbenzene exposure from plastics, fumes, or tobacco smoke.
- Phenylglyoxylic AcidA second styrene and ethylbenzene metabolite measured with mandelic acid to confirm exposure.Its rise alongside mandelic acid corroborates styrene or ethylbenzene contact.
- Mandelic Acid + Phenylglyoxylic AcidThe summed styrene and ethylbenzene metabolites, which track airborne exposure more tightly than either alone.A high combined value is the strongest urinary indicator of styrene or ethylbenzene exposure.
- t,t-Muconic AcidA second benzene marker, useful at higher exposures but influenced by the food preservative sorbic acid.High levels suggest benzene exposure but should be read with diet and the more specific benzene marker.
- 3,4-Dimethylhippuric AcidA metabolite reflecting exposure to trimethylbenzene and related aromatic solvents.Detection points to solvent exposure from paints, thinners, or fuels.
- Benzoic AcidA precursor of hippuric acid tied to toluene metabolism and dietary preservatives.Elevation is nonspecific and best read alongside the more specific solvent markers.
- Hippuric AcidA classic toluene metabolite, most reliable at higher exposures and also produced from diet.High levels can reflect toluene exposure but are confounded by benzoate-containing foods and drinks.
- 2-Methylhippuric AcidA specific metabolite of xylene, a solvent in paints, glues, and fuels.A high result reliably indicates recent xylene exposure.
- 3-Methylhippuric AcidAnother xylene metabolite measured with 2-methylhippuric acid to capture different xylene forms.Elevation confirms xylene exposure from paints, solvents, or fuel.
About Environmental Toxins + Solvents
Your body carries a chemical record of modern life. Trace amounts of plastics, pesticides, and industrial solvents move through you every day, and most exit within hours through your urine. This panel captures that passing traffic from a single sample.
Think of it as an exposure map rather than a diagnosis. Instead of checking one chemical at a time, it reads dozens of exposure markers together, revealing which families of chemicals you are contacting and giving a rough sense of how much.
What This Panel Reveals
The value here comes from the combination. Any one marker tells you about a single chemical, but read together these markers sort your exposure into recognizable sources: the plastics you handle, the products you put on your skin, the food you eat, and the air you breathe. Because most of these chemicals leave the body quickly, the panel describes recent exposure, usually within the last day or two.
Everyday Plastics and Products
The largest group of markers tracks plastics and consumer goods. The phthalate breakdown products reflect softeners used in food packaging, vinyl, and fragrances, and the markers of one plasticizer called DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) carry the strongest links to reproductive and metabolic effects in human studies. Alongside them sit markers of common plastics chemicals (bisphenols, including bisphenol A, or BPA) and preservatives from cosmetics (parabens) and antibacterial products (triclosan). Detection of these is nearly universal in population surveys, so the question is usually how much, not whether.
Pesticides, Herbicides, and Solvents
A second group covers what you take in from food, lawns, and workspaces. The herbicide and pesticide markers include the widely used weedkiller glyphosate and its breakdown product, plus markers of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides. In an eight-country study, these pesticide markers turned up in essentially everyone tested, pointing to diet as a shared source. The solvent markers are the most established part of the panel: occupational medicine has used urinary metabolites for decades to gauge exposure to xylene, styrene, and benzene from paints, fuels, glues, and smoke.
Persistent Chemicals and Body Response
Two smaller groups round out the picture. The 'forever chemicals' (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) behave differently from everything else here, lingering in the body for years rather than hours, so they reflect long-term buildup instead of a recent contact. A few endogenous markers, such as quinolinic acid, measure your body's own biology rather than a chemical you contacted, and are included to hint at inflammation or metabolic stress. This last group is exploratory: standardized ways to read it in the context of exposure do not yet exist.
How to Read Your Results Together
The pattern across markers matters more than any single number. Exposures tend to cluster by source, so a group of plastics markers rising together tells a different story than a group of cosmetic preservatives rising together. Use the table below as a starting point, then look at your own habits for the likely source.
| Pattern | What It May Suggest |
|---|---|
| Several phthalate and bisphenol markers high together | Recent contact with plastics, food packaging, or receipts |
| Parabens and triclosan high, plastics normal | Cosmetics and personal care products as the main source |
| Pesticide or herbicide markers high | Recent exposure through diet or home and garden products |
| Forever chemicals detectable but short-lived markers low | Long-term accumulated burden rather than a recent contact |
One caution shapes every pattern: a persistent forever chemical result carries different weight than a short-lived one. High PFAS with otherwise low markers points to a burden accumulated over years, while high phthalate or bisphenol markers reflect something you contacted in the past day.
When Results Can Be Misleading
This panel is a snapshot, and most of what it measures changes hour to hour. A single urine sample estimates your typical exposure well for steadier markers like some parabens, but poorly for the most variable ones. BPA and DEHP markers in particular swing so much that one sample can misrepresent your usual level, which is why researchers often collect more than one.
Several everyday factors move whole sections of the panel at once. Smoking raises the benzene, styrene, and ethylbenzene markers regardless of workplace exposure. Foods and drinks containing preservatives raise hippuric acid and can inflate the benzene marker t,t-muconic acid, which is unreliable at low exposure. And how hydrated you are changes every concentration, which is why creatinine is measured alongside everything else to adjust for dilution.
What to Do with Your Results
Start by remembering what a result means. Detectable does not mean dangerous, and the reference ranges here describe how your levels compare to the general population, not a threshold for disease. A high marker is a signal to find and reduce the likely source, not a diagnosis and not a reason to pursue unproven detox treatments.
If one class stands out, act on its source and confirm the change. Swap the suspected product or food, then retest in about eight to twelve weeks, ideally using a first-morning sample, to see whether the marker fell. Serial tracking is where this panel earns its value, since a single number is noisy but a downward trend after a real change is meaningful.
Some results warrant a conversation with a clinician. Persistent forever chemical levels, high solvent markers from a workplace, or exposures while planning a pregnancy are worth reviewing with an occupational or environmental medicine specialist. Pairing the panel with kidney function, inflammation markers, or a heavy-metals test can round out the picture when results are unclear.