Heavy Metal Toxicity
Metals that have no safe
amount in the human system, may accumulate within the body (fat cells, central
nervous system, bones, brain, glands, and hair) and may have negative health
effects. Any level of these toxic metals is not normal. The levels usually need
to rise above the established safety ranges to actually manifest in health
problems. However, there is individual variation, and high normal levels may
aggravate one person and not another.
Symptoms: Wide variety of possible symptoms. In general, a
harmful (above safety index range) amount of any toxic metal is a stress on the
entire body and can manifest in a wide array of seemingly confusing symptoms or
in the individual's weakest physical link. Symptoms that manifest depend on the
type of metal toxicity, the age of the individual (children are more
susceptible to toxic metal damage), the extent of the exposure, and the
presence of antagonist/protective elements that inhibit absorption, binding,
and effects of the toxic metals. For example, calcium deficiency aggravates
lead toxicity, and the more normal levels of calcium that are in the body act
to protect the system against lead toxicity.
The most common heavy metal
toxicities are lead, cadmium, mercury, and nickel. Aluminum is not a heavy
metal, and is absorbed and removed from the body by different mechanisms. All
may be associated with a metallic taste in the mouth. Possible side effects of
each are the following.
Lead: Lead toxicity may be associated with poor bone growth
and development, learning disabilities, fatigue, poor task performance,
irritability, anxiety, high blood pressure, weight loss, increased
susceptibility to infection, ringing in the ears, decreased cognitive
functioning and concentration and spelling skills, headaches, gastrointestinal
problems, constipation, muscle and
Cadmium: Cadmium toxicity may be associated with fatigue,
irritability, headaches, high blood pressure, benign (non-cancerous)
enlargement of the prostate (male sex) gland, increased risk for cancer, hair
loss, learning disabilities, kidney disorders, liver disorders, skin disorders,
painful
Mercury: Mercury toxicity may be associated with cognitive
problems, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, gastrointestinal
disorders, decreased immune response, irrational behavior, numbness, tingling,
muscular weakness, impaired vision and hearing, allergic conditions, asthma,
and multiple sclerosis related to dental amalgams.
Nickel: Nickel toxicity may be associated with fatigue,
respiratory illnesses, heart conditions, skin rashes, psoriasis, fatigue, and
headaches.
Aluminum: Aluminum toxicity may be associated with headaches,
cognitive problems, learning disabilities, poor bone density (osteoporosis),
ringing in the ears, gastrointestinal disorders, colic, hyperactivity in
children, and ataxia (an abnormal walking pattern). It's
possible role in poor memory or Alzheimer's disease is speculative at this time
but also worth noting.
Possible routes of exposure
to and contamination from the above metals:
Lead: Cigarette smoke exposure, eating paint that is lead
based (in children especially in poor housing or older housing), eating and
cooking foods in ceramic glazes that are lead based, leaded gasoline, eating
liver that may be contaminated with lead, living in the inner city that may
have elevated lead air levels, contaminated water, canned foods (especially
fruit in which the lead-soldered cans may leach out into the food), certain
bone meal supplements, and insecticides.
Cadmium: Possible contamination from cigarette and pipe smoke,
instant coffee and tea, nickel-cadmium batteries, contaminated water, some soft
drinks, refined grains, fungicides, pesticides, and some plastics.
Mercury: Possible contamination from mercury-based dental
amalgam fillings, laxatives that contain calomel, some hemorrhoid
suppositories, inks used by some printers and tattooist, some paints, some
cosmetics, and many products that may contain small amounts of mercury such as
fabric softeners, wood preservatives, solvents, drugs, and some plastics and
contaminated fish.
Nickel: Many pieces of jewelry have nickel and wearing next
to skin creates some absorption. Some metal cooking utensils have some nickel
added to them, even stainless steel which is mostly a problem when cooking
acidic foods. Cigarette smoke, hydrogenated fats (as nickel is the catalyst for
the reaction to create them), some refined foods, and fertilizers contain
nickel.
Aluminum: Aluminum-containing antacids, many over-the-counter
drugs and douches that contain aluminum such as, to name a few, Amphojel, Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil,
Arthritis Pain Formula, Bufferin, Massengil,
Summer's Eve, aluminum cookware and aluminum foil, especially when preparing
and storing acidic foods, aluminum containing underarm antiperspirants, most
commercial baking powders, and contaminated water.
Antagonist/protective
minerals for each toxic metal:
Lead: Calcium, vitamin C, amino acids (L-lysine, L-cysteine, and L-cystine), iron,
zinc.
Cadmium: Zinc, vitamin C, amino acids (L-methionine,
L-cysteine, and L-lysine).
Mercury: Selenium, vitamin C, amino acids (L-glutathione, L-methionine, L-cysteine, and L-cystine).
Nickel: Iron, zinc, vitamin C.
Aluminum: Calcium, magnesium, vitamin B complex, vitamin C.