5 Common Toxic Metals to Avoid & Where You'll Find Them

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Misty L. Trepke

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Five Common Toxic Metals to Avoid, and Where You'll Find Them

http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/27/toxic_metals.htm

 

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

with Rachael Droege

 

Are you feeling tired or irritable? Is your head foggy or are you

suffering from Alzheimer's disease, depression or anemia? These are

just a few of the signs that you may be suffering from metal

poisoning--a toxic accumulation of heavy metals in the soft tissues

of the body.

 

Heavy metal poisoning is much more common than most people realize,

and if you're thinking that it doesn't apply to you because you

haven't been exposed to any, think again. If you've eaten fish

regularly, had amalgam fillings, received vaccinations, drank

contaminated water, or done industrial or agricultural work

or pharmaceutical manufacturing, there's a good chance that you have

a fair amount of toxic metals in your system.

 

The effects of these toxic metals can range from subtle symptoms to

serious diseases. Since metals build up in your body over time,

symptoms are often attributed to other causes and people often don't

realize that they have been affected by metals until it's too late.

 

The worst part about heavy metals is that once they build up in your

body they can cause irreversible damage. Further damage can be

prevented by removing the metals, but this can be a slow, difficult

process. Prevention is the best defense when it comes to metal

poisoning, and this list of five common toxic metals will give you a

heads up to avoiding further exposure to these health-degenerating

elements.

 

Mercury

 

Mercury is one of the most problematic of all toxic metals because,

despite its dangers and known role as a neurotoxin, many people have

it implanted in their mouth, injected into their bloodstream, or are

consuming it daily in fish.

 

Dental Amalgams

 

If you are one of the millions of Americans who has received silver

dental fillings, take heed: Mercury makes up about 50 percent of

every amalgam dental filling, also known as " silver " fillings.

According to the American Dental Association, " Dental amalgam

(silver filling) is considered a safe, affordable and durable

material that has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100

million Americans. It contains a mixture of metals such as silver,

copper and tin, in addition to mercury, which chemically binds these

components into a hard, stable and safe substance. Dental amalgam

has been studied and reviewed extensively, and has established a

record of safety and effectiveness. "

 

However, consider that while 78 percent of Americans have dental

fillings, 95 percent of people with disorders of the central nervous

system such as MS, epilepsy, paralysis and migraines also have

silver dental fillings. This begs the question, would you want

mercury, one of the most powerful neurotoxins on the planet,

embedded in your mouth, only inches from your brain? The answer is

obvious.

 

Vapors from amalgams are released continually, and studies have

found that those with these fillings can have mercury vapor

concentration 10 times higher than people without them. Simple

activities such as chewing gum, drinking hot liquids and brushing

teeth can increase the release of mercury even more.

 

If you decide to have your amalgams replaced with a non-toxic

material, the most important thing is to find a dentist who can

remove your amalgams safely. Any dentist can technically replace

your amalgams, but if they don't employ proper precautions much of

the mercury in your fillings will go straight to your brain.

Secondly, I would highly recommend getting healthy BEFORE you start

on your fillings. Even a good dentist will likely liberate some

mercury in the removal process and you want your detoxification

mechanisms optimized prior to removal.

 

Vaccines

 

Thimerosal, a mercury-containing vaccine preservative, is still

widely used in vaccines, including those routinely administered to

children. Thimerosal contains close to 50 percent ethyl mercury by

weight. Children are particularly sensitive to the mercury as their

nervous systems are still rapidly developing. Years ago, health-

related organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics

(AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

recommended that thimerosal be removed from vaccines as soon as

possible, yet it's still present in many vaccinations including

Hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, acellular pertussis, tetanus and

Hib.

 

Over the past decade, the prevalence of autism and other

neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit disorder have

been increasing at epidemic proportions, and many experts believe

that mercury from vaccines is at least partly to blame. It is

thought that a child's reduced ability to excrete the mercury--

children's detoxification abilities may vary greatly--may also play a

role.

 

It is possible to get childhood vaccines without thimerosal, since

some manufacturers have developed thimerosal-free vaccines, however,

you will have to ask your doctor to check the package insert and

provide a written guarantee that the vaccine is mercury-free. Even

then you will not know for sure, as the package inserts, which are

supposed to detail exactly what is in a vaccine, may not even be

accurate. You will also want to read the many other reasons why

vaccines can do more harm than good.

 

Fish

 

Tragically, our oceans are largely contaminated with industrial

pollutants like mercury. Ocean and farm-raised fish pick up these

toxic chemical residues, which bioconcentrate in their flesh.

 

The larger the fish, the more problematic because big fish eat

smaller fish, thereby getting an even greater dose of accumulated

toxins. People who regularly eat fish have higher levels of

methylmercury than those who don't.

 

Even the conservative Environmental Protection Agency and Food and

Drug Administration have issued warnings about the dangers of

mercury in fish, and they are now planning to issue a federal

warning to pregnant and nursing women, and even those thinking of

getting pregnant to limit their consumption of tuna, along with

their previous warnings about other types of fish, due to mercury

concerns. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can transfer mercury to

their newborns, causing significant neurological problems.

 

Even if you are a man or not planning to become pregnant, mercury

from fish can still accumulate in your body and cause serious

problems down the road. If you do eat fish, please be sure to have

it lab tested for mercury. We have found a brand of salmon, Vital

Choice, that has tested free of mercury time and time again, so this

is one option for those of you looking for a safe source of fish.

Alternatively, most sardines have little to no mercury since they

are so small, and you can also take a high-quality, purified fish

oil or cod liver oil to safely receive the health benefits of fish

without the mercury.

 

If you are concerned about mercury poisoning, please review my

Mercury Detoxification Protocol for detox information.

 

Lead

 

There are many ways that humans can be exposed to lead. Among the

major sources are lead-based paint, leaded gasoline, lead-

contaminated water, manufacturing of lead batteries, rubber

products, glass and other lead-containing products, and lead oxide

fumes that result when demolishing industrial buildings. While some

of these sources, such as lead-based paint and leaded gasoline, have

been discontinued over the past few decades, their effects still

show up in the environment. For instance, it is estimated that 64

million homes in the United States still contain lead paint, which

can either be ingested in flakes or inhaled as a microscopic dust.

 

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

(NHANES), the prevalence of lead toxicity (levels greater than 10

mcg/dL) in U.S. children ranged from 1.5 percent for upper-income

white children living in recently built houses in the suburbs, to

36.7 percent for black children residing in large cities. Children

are more susceptible to lead absorption than adults, whose lead

toxicity is generally related to occupational exposure. It's

estimated that more than 800,000 U.S. workers are exposed to lead

through their work.

 

However, low-level exposure to lead, such as through drinking water

or living near an incinerator or toxic dump, is also associated with

many negative health effects like brain dysfunction in children,

neurobehavioral changes in adults (such as a reduction in cognitive

abilities and IQ, and personality changes), hypertension and chronic

kidney disease.

 

Aluminum

 

As with the other elements, aluminum is absorbed and accumulated in

the body, and has been linked to serious illnesses including

osteoporosis, extreme nervousness, anemia, headache, decreased liver

and kidney function, forgetfulness, speech disturbances and memory

loss.

 

Aluminum has also been widely associated with Alzheimer's disease.

People who have died from Alzheimer's disease have been found to

have up to four times the average amount of aluminum accumulated in

the brain's nerve cells.

 

Antiperspirant

 

Antiperspirants contain aluminum that is absorbed by your body. It's

best to avoid it all together and use simple soap and water instead.

Deodorants aren't as bad as antiperspirants, but I would also avoid

using them unless it was made from some form of baking soda.

 

Water

 

Aluminum-contaminated water is another significant concern, as

studies have found that Alzheimer's disease is more common in

regions where levels of aluminum in drinking water are highest.

 

 

To find out whether you may be at risk from aluminum and other

toxins in your water you'll need to have your water tested by a

reliable source. I've worked with AquaMD, a top-notch water-testing

agency, to create the " Mercola's Recommended Water Tests " --and to

make them affordable compared to other sources--so you can ensure

the safety of your tap water today.

 

Other Common Sources

 

Aluminum cookware: Although aluminum pots are probably less

problematic than the sources mentioned above, I personally would not

use aluminum cookware. Aluminum foil. Over-the-counter drugs: These

include many antacids, anti-diarrheal drugs and drugs used for pain

and inflammation. Several douche brands. Some baking powders: Most

baking powders contain aluminum as an additive, but health food

stores carry non-aluminum varieties. Refined foods, refined flours,

baked goods, processed cheeses, and common table salt

 

Arsenic

 

Organic arsenic compounds are mainly used as pesticides, primarily

on cotton plants, while inorganic arsenic is primarily used to

preserve wood. Once arsenic is released in the environment it cannot

be destroyed, and many arsenic compounds dissolve in water.

 

The primary route of exposure to high levels of arsenic is typically

through occupational hazards, or near hazardous waste sites or areas

with high natural levels. You can also be exposed by breathing

sawdust or burning smoke from arsenic-treated wood. Arsenic has also

shown up in drinking water, especially among well water, and long-

term exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been linked to cancer

of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver and

prostate.

 

Exposure to low levels of arsenic can cause nausea and vomiting,

decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart

rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of " pins and

needles " in hands and feet, and over the long term can cause

darkening of the skin and the appearance of small " corns " or

" warts " on the palms, soles, and torso.

 

In January 2001, the EPA revised the standard allowable level of

arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb.

Levels must reach this lower amount by 2006. However, some experts

believe that an even tougher standard of 3 parts per billion should

have been adopted.

 

It's a good idea to have your water tested for arsenic, especially

if your water comes from a well, to ensure you are not being slowly

poisoned.

 

Cadmium

 

Cadmium, a naturally occurring metal, can be found in food, water

and cigarette smoke. It is a known human carcinogen that appears to

act in two ways: it harms DNA directly and disturbs a DNA repair

system that helps to prevent cancer.

 

Like other metals, cadmium stays in the body for a long time and

accumulates after long-term exposure to even low levels. Cadmium is

released into the air from mining, industry, burning coal and

household wastes, where it then binds to soil particles and

dissolves in water. Fish, plants, and animals accumulate

cadmium from the environment, as such there are low levels of the

metal in most all foods with the highest levels found in shellfish,

liver, and kidney meats.

 

People are exposed to cadmium not only through foods but also

through drinking contaminated water and breathing cadmium-

contaminated air (such as near burning waste, battery manufacturing,

metal soldering or welding). Cadmium is also present in cigarette

smoke, and smoking doubles the average daily intake.

 

It is thought that cadmium is carcinogenic, and long-term exposure

to low levels can contribute to kidney disease, lung damage and

fragile bones. Animal studies also suggest that it may lead to liver

disease, high blood pressure, and nerve or brain damage.