Randy Holmes-Farley
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My Tank Thread
I agree that ICP-MS can be a useful diagnostic tool, especially when unexplained issues arise.
That said, we still don’t know the chemical speciation or bioavailability of the metals measured by ICP, and total concentration alone doesn’t necessarily equal toxicity.
I agree and I think many folks considering ICP, or who have results, do not understand this since most ICP companies do not seem to mention this substantial limitation to their testing programs.
At the very least, its a reason to not get obsessed over targeting a specific value for, say, iron,, just because someone else says they have good results at the concentration.