The invention relates to a method for screening an environmental sample to determine if the environmental sample is associated with exposure of a subject to a neurotoxic amino acid or neurotoxic derivative thereof associated with a neurological disorder, comprising, obtaining a keratinous tissue sample from the subject and analyzing the sample to determine the amount of ²-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) or a BMAA derivative, and obtaining an environmental sample from material that may be ingested by the subject and analyzing the environmental sample to determine the presence of BMAA or a BMAA derivative, wherein the presence of BMAA or a BMAA derivative in the environmental sample indicates exposure of the subject to at least one neurotoxic amino acid or neurotoxic derivative thereof associated with a neurological disorder. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for screening a food chain for a neurotoxic amino acid or neurotoxic derivative thereof associated with a neurological disorder comprising, obtaining environmental samples from at least two trophic levels of the food chain and analyzing each environmental sample to determine the presence of BMAA or a BMAA derivative, wherein the presence of BMAA of a BMAA derivative in at least one sample indicates at least one neurotoxic amino acid associated with a neurological disorder is found in the food chain. Finally, a kit for screening an environmental sample to determine if the environmental sample is associated with exposure of a subject to a neurotoxic amino acid associated with a neurological disorder, comprising means for identifying material that may be ingested by the subject and obtaining an environmental sample from the material, and assay means for analyzing the environmental sample to determine the presence of BMAA or a BMAA derivative is envisaged.
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