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

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Related Articles:

Spirulina for Arsenic Poisoning

 

Learn How Mercury Is Affecting You and the Ones You Love

 

Aluminum in Water May Increase Alzheimer's Risk

 

Lead Poisoning Risk From Some Candles

 

 

 

 

 

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