Assessing Toxic Metal
Exposure in Humans
Capturing Acute and Long-Term Toxic Metal Exposure in Ecuador: A Comprehensive Human Testing Initiative
In a major step toward strengthening child health and environmental monitoring in Ecuador, the Harriet Joyce Foundation (HJF) is launching a pioneering initiative to assess acute and long-term human exposure to toxic metals through a multi-sample, multi-institutional study. This effort is guided by the University of Pittsburgh’s Public Health Program, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, and involves partnerships with Capitainer and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
This initiative will include human testing of blood and urine for up to 15 heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, using Capitainer’s quantitative dried blood spot (qDBS) technology. While blood and urine tests reflect recent or acute exposures, the study will also include hair and toenail sampling, conducted by Johns Hopkins, to capture longer-term exposure patterns over weeks or months. Together, this multi-tissue approach will generate a more complete and time-sensitive picture of environmental exposure in vulnerable populations.
While the collaboration agreement between HJF and Capitainer is now officially in place, and regulatory approval has been granted by ARCSA (Ecuador’s national agency for sanitary regulation and control), the study itself has not yet begun. Further approvals are still required from Ecuador’s Ministry of Health and an Institutional Review Board (IRB).
This work is particularly urgent in Ecuador, where rates of chronic infant malnutrition are the highest in South America and second highest in Latin America, behind Guatemala. Environmental toxicants are increasingly recognized as hidden drivers of developmental delays, stunting, and cognitive impairment—especially in malnourished children, who are more likely to absorb and retain toxic metals due to nutritional deficiencies.
Capitainer’s remote testing technology enables individuals in even the most underserved areas to self-collect highly precise samples without the need for refrigeration, phlebotomy, or clinical infrastructure. These samples can then be analyzed at certified labs, supporting large-scale, population-level monitoring at low cost.
Jeffrey Himmel, President of the Harriet Joyce Foundation, emphasized that this collaboration represents a bold step toward understanding and addressing the hidden environmental burdens undermining child development. “By identifying where the greatest exposures are occurring,” he said, “we can help shape policies and practices that protect children’s futures.”
With foundational agreements and initial regulatory steps complete, this initiative brings together cutting-edge diagnostics, leading academic institutions, and a deep commitment to health equity in Ecuador. The study’s insights are expected to guide future interventions, inform national policy, and inspire broader regional action against environmental contributors to child malnutrition and disease.