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Metal exposure biomonitoring

Bibliography of indexed study records on metal exposure biomonitoring.

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Coverage

This topic bibliography links to the indexed study records. Human observational, experimental and review evidence retain their source-specific designs and limitations; a combined causal synthesis has not been compiled here.

Toenail and fingernail biomonitoring

Toenails and fingernails incorporate metals bound to keratin during nail growth, reflecting cumulative exposure over approximately 6-12 months prior to clipping. Several indexed studies use nail samples as long-term exposure biomarkers:

  • Lard et al. 2026 measured 22 metals in toenails from 52 residents of Coifax, Louisiana before and after cessation of a nearby open-burn/open-detonation hazardous waste thermal treatment facility; statistically significant decreases in nickel, lead, and molybdenum were observed after operations ceased (2026; peer reviewed).

  • Hall et al. 2026 measured total arsenic, cadmium, total mercury, nickel, lead, and uranium by ICP-MS in toenails from 297 young people in Nicaragua’s chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology regions; nickel and arsenic were independently associated with reduced eGFR (2026; peer reviewed).

  • Robinson et al. 2026 measured total mercury and six other metals in toenails from 298 Canadian children with nephrotic syndrome in the INSIGHT cohort; no significant associations were found between nail metals and disease outcomes (2026; peer reviewed).

  • Sonntag et al. 2025 measured 17 minerals and trace elements by ICP-MS in fingernail clippings from 184 German adults in the NutriNAIL cross-sectional study; selenium nail content reflected dietary patterns and supplement use; omnivores had higher nail selenium than vegans (2025; peer reviewed).

  • Zierold et al. 2025 compared PIXE and ICP-MS for 27 elements in nail samples from 235 children near Kentucky coal plants; Ca, Cu, K, and Zn showed strong concordance between methods; Fe, Mg, and aluminum (Al) differed substantially (2025; peer reviewed).

  • Yim et al. 2026 used maternal toenail clippings as a prenatal exposure biomarker in 783 mother-infant pairs in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort; higher prenatal mercury and lead were associated with accelerated growth trajectories in male infants (2026; peer reviewed).

Other biomonitoring records

Lead — Nickel — Total mercury — Total arsenic — Prenatal exposure.

References

Works cited in this page’s text, in first-appearance order. Each title links to a source record with bibliographic details, reported findings, and document provenance.

  1. Changes in community members’ toenail metal concentrations after cessation of nearby open-burn thermal treatment of munitions wasteLard ML, Guo C, Yu Q, Blanchard T, Vallee B, Subra W, et al. · Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology 36(5): 845-850 · 2026 · doi.org/10.1038/s41370-026-00872-9Peer-reviewed
  2. Toenail metal concentrations and kidney health among young people at risk of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiologyHall SM, Henn BC, Brown SV, Amador Velazquez JJ, Lopez MB, Amador Sanchez MR, et al. · Environmental Epidemiology 10: e461 · 2026 · doi.org/10.1097/ee9.0000000000000461Peer-reviewed
  3. Associations Between Toxic Metal Exposure and Childhood Nephrotic SyndromeRobinson C, Aman N, Arora H, Banh THM, Brooke J, Dhillon V, et al. · Kidney International Reports 11: 106357 · 2026 · doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2026.106357Peer-reviewed
  4. Fingernail Mineral Profiling as a Non-Invasive Tool to Assess Dietary and Lifestyle Factors: Results From the Cross-Sectional Fulda NutriNAIL StudySonntag N, Muller L, Plendl K, Dewald D, Milde JT, Hollenbach H, et al. · BioFactors (Oxford, England) · 2025 · doi.org/10.1002/biof.70056Peer-reviewed
  5. Distinct Features of Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) When Used for Elemental Analysis of Nail SamplesZierold KM, Smith MJ, Xu J, Cai L, and Sears L · Cardiovascular Toxicology 25: 969-978 · 2025 · doi.org/10.1007/s12012-025-10011-9Peer-reviewed
  6. Prenatal exposure to essential and toxic elements in relation to infant growth trajectoriesYim G, Heggeseth BC, Gilbert-Diamond D, Peacock JL, Margetaki K, Baker ER, et al. · Environmental Health 25: 17 · 2026 · doi.org/10.1186/s12940-025-01252-wPeer-reviewed
  7. Assessment of human exposure to uncommon industrial toxicants in Glynn County, GeorgiaScovronick N, Lappe B, Pearson MA, Smith KA, Eick SM, D’Souza PE, et al. · Environmental Pollution · 2025 · doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126240Peer-reviewed

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