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Is HEAVY METAL TOXICITY affecting your health?Heavy Metal
Poisoning
“Heavy metal toxicity is frequently the result of long term low level exposure to pollutants common in our environment: air water food and numerous consumer products. Exposure to toxic metals is associated with many chronic diseases. Recent research has found that even low levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, and arsenic can cause a wide variety of health problems.” Arsenic Common sources of exposure to higher-than-average levels of arsenic include near or in hazardous waste sites and areas with high levels naturally occurring in soil, rocks, and water. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death.
Beryllium Elemental beryllium has a wide variety of applications. Occupational exposure most often occurs in mining, extraction, and in the processing of alloy metals containing beryllium. Beryllium causes lung and skin disease in 2 to 10 percent of exposed workers.
Cadmium Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal commonly found in industrial workplaces, particularly where any ore is being processed or smelted. Several deaths from acute exposure have occurred among welders who have unsuspectingly welded on cadmium-containing alloys or working with silver solders.
Hexavalent Chromium Calcium chromate, chromium trioxide, lead chromate, strontium chromate, and zinc chromate are known human carcinogens. An increase in the incidence of lung cancer has been observed among workers in industries that produce chromate and manufacture pigments containing chromate.
Lead Lead is a dangerous element that can be harmful even in small amounts. Lead enters the human body in many ways. It can be inhaled in dust from Lead paints, in Garden Soils, or waste gases from leaded gasoline. It is found in trace amounts in various foods, even Cocoa and Cocoa Products , notably fish, which are heavily subjected to industrial pollution. Some old homes may have Lead water pipes, which can easily contaminate drinking water. Most of the Lead we take in is removed from our bodies in urine; however, there is still risk of buildup, particularly in children. If Lead buildup occurs, health problems including damage to the nervous system, mental retardation, and even death, can ensue.
Mercury Mercury is considered by many to be even more toxic than lead. Although mercury is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, mercury vapor is easily taken in through the lungs and readily passes into the brain. Once in the body, mercury also concentrates in the nerves, liver, and especially the kidneys. Mercury is a potent cellular toxin and is known to decrease neurotransmitter production, disrupt important processes within the nerve cells, and decrease important hormones such as thyroid and testosterone. Signs and SymptomsThe primary symptoms of mercury-poisoning are short term memory deteriorates. You may find it difficult to concentrate on tasks which require attention and thinking. It is easier to execute tasks that are well known rather than to learn something new. You avoid social contacts which demand that you get out of your introvert behavior. You loose your temper easily and switch between different moods for no particular reason. Gradually a more physical kind of exhaustion is added to the condition. More effort is required to initiate activities and sometimes break things due to inability to co-ordinate your movements with your visual impressions (ataxia). Occasional headaches, minor involuntary muscle spasms or ticks within groups of muscles can also appear. Hands and feet become easily cold, attacks of dizziness or vertigo can occur, and periodically you may find it difficult to focus your eyes and to see clearly. Joint and muscle pains, stiffness, lumbago and similar symptoms often appear at an early stage. They can be caused or increased by low availability of the trace element selenium. Nervous heart, sometimes accompanied by a week pulse, sometimes by a hard pulse, creates a feeling of anxiety. You don't sleep well; you wake up stiff and never feel thoroughly rested. As a whole you need more sleep than before, and you are constantly tired. Some individuals develop pronounced intestinal and stomach disturbances. Bloating is comon and diarrhea can alternate with constipation. From 50 to 200 micrograms mercury from amalgam daily passes the gastrointestinal tract. There is usually irritation where mercury first interacts with tissues. The upper respiratory tract easily becomes chronically inflamed and symptoms in mouth appear. The gums bleed when you brush your teeth, red and white irritations (lichen, leukoplakia) arise, blisters and sensitivity to certain nutritives develop, your teeth ache, the whole jaw can become more or less inflamed, and some persons develop sinusitis. Metal taste in your mouth is a direct sign of metal-poisoning (mercury, copper). The more poisoned you are, the more serious and chronic your problems become. The pituitary gland will be affected which often leads to frequent urination. When the thyroid gland is affected secondary effects on metabolism can appear. Both glands accumulate mercury. Neurological symptoms such as numbness, hypersensitivity and paralysis exacerbate. It is often hard to determine if the cause is in the nervous or circulatory systems. Structural and Functional Abnormalities associated with various Heavy Metal ToxinsPublished in the August Issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies (a magazine for doctors) and Published in the April, 2001, Issue of Townsend Letter for Doctor's & Patients Psychiatric Disturbances
Social Deficits Social withdrawal
Repetitive perseverative stereotyped behaviors
Depression mood swings flat affect
Schizoid tendencies
Irritability aggressive behaviors temper tantrums
Suicidal Behaviors
Sleep difficulties/ disturbances
Chronic fatigue (CFS)
Anorexia
Anxiety
Attention problems (ADHD) lacks eye contact impaired visual fixation
Speech and Language Deficits
Speech disorders
Loss of speech developmental problems with language
Speech comprehension deficits
Dysarthria Cognitive Impairments
Mental retardation borderline intelligence
Uneven performance on IQ scores low IQ scores
Poor concentration attention deficits (ADHD) response inhibition
Poor memory (short term verbal and auditory)
Dementia
Stupor
Impaired reaction time Sensory Abnormalities
Abnormal Sensations in the mouth and extremities
Hearing loss difficulty hearing
Abnormal touch sensations
Blurred vision
Motor Disorders
Choreiform movements myoclonal jerks unusual postures
Difficulty walking swallowing talking
Flapping circling rocking toe walking
Problems with intentional movements or imitation
Abnormal gait/posture
Decreased locomotor activity
Convulsions
Brain and Central Nervous System
Neurofibrillary tangles
Neuritis retrobulbar neuritis
Encephalopathy
Alterations in nerve conduction velocity
Alterations in the spinal chord
Accumulates in CNS structures
Abnormal EEGs
Autonomic disturbances
Peripheral Nervous System
Peripheral neuropathy
Alterations in peripheral nerves
Loss of feeling/ numbness in the extremities
Gastrointestinal Tract
Nausea vomiting diarrhea
Abdominal pain stomach cramps
Esophagitis
Cancers (colon pancreatic stomach or rectal)
Renal and Hepatic Impairment
Hepatotoxicity
Cirrhosis of the liver
Kidney disease
Renal toxicity
Kidney Damage histological alterations
Cardiovascular System
Blood vessel damage
Anemia
Hypertension Electrocardiac disorders
Peripheral vascular disease
Respiratory System
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pneumonia laryngitis pharyngitis bronchitis
Restrictive airway disorders asthmatic conditions pneumoconisis
Respiratory tract cancers
Immune System
Immunosuppression
Decreased white blood cell count Reproductive System
Genital abnormalities
Disturbances in menstrual cycle
Birth defects
Reproductive dysfunction
Other Physical Disturbances
Rashes contact dermatitis eczema itchy/irritating skin
Muscle pain
Alopecia (hair loss)
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