Why is the recommendation for a urine analysis instead of a hair analysis? I read that urine analysis is only good for 1-2 days after exposure, but hair analysis is good for up to 12 months and that toxins are 200-300 times more concentrated in the hair.

Unfortunately for those of us living in a 1/2 mile radius of plant for 35 yrs it is panic time. And time to look at the DEQ's inability to manage, monitor, inform or protect us from toxins and poisons. It is also time for businesses to take an active role in their responsibilities when using toxic chemicals that could potentially poison thousands of people. It is also time for the city to make sure there in fill and density model for the city is safe. It's time for the State of Oregon to take appropriate action now! Our lives depend on it.

Each element is excreted differently from the body. Some accumulate in the kidneys while others are rapidly excreted in feces, for example. Long term cadmium exposure is best assessed in urine, while blood shows more recent exposure. Arsenic should always be tested in urine, as a majority is excreted by this route within 2-4hr of exposure. Blood arsenic is rapidly cleared, meaning that testing would need to occur immediately after exposure.

*2-4 days, not hours.