Did you ever wonder what are the main sources and health effects of heavy metals? Do you know the danger of heavy metals and their link with contemporary diseases like allergies, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, endocrine problems, and psychological disorders?
Our terrestrial environment consists of 94 natural elements. From a chemical point of view, 71 elements are metals; among them, about sixty are considered heavy metals.
In the environment in which we live, this can range from a few percent (tens of grams per kilogram, for example, iron) to a fraction of the picogram per kilogram (platinum, iridium). Some are essential for the good functioning of our organism, while others have no biological function. But in excess, all can present health risks.
The term “heavy metals” refers to natural metal elements with a density greater than 5 g / cm3. Their reactivity and toxicity do not depend solely on their concentration. Their ability to accumulate or transform in living organisms and their ecotoxicological or toxicological properties depends on the chemical form in which they are present in our environment.
Like radioactivity, we do not see them; we do not feel them; we only detect their presence in analysis laboratories.
*** Contamination of the Environment by Heavy Metals
Through the air, household and industrial waste, manure, and fertilizers, our environment has been enriched by a series of heavy metals that no longer have their original stability.
Present naturally in our environment and used industrially, heavy metals are emitted into the air in the form of very fine particles and eventually fall back on the soil, contaminating animals and plants. Most are found in our diet.
They invaded the earth, the sky, and the sea, and they accumulated dangerously in the organisms of all living beings. Today, heavy metals pose a serious threat to the balance of nature and the survival of many living species.
We cannot keep our system clean and without toxic pollutants because the only thing that separates us from our toxic environment is semi-permeable membranes: skin and mucous membranes. Keeping our body relatively clean requires a number of body systems to work overtime against the osmotic pressure of incoming toxins. When the toxicity of our environment increases, the osmotic pressure also increases and pushes the poisons into our bodies. Toxic substances almost never come alone. They are associated and act synergistically.
I – Main Sources and Health Effects of Heavy Metals
We will see some heavy metals were most known and most interactive with humans and their environment.
1 – Sources and Effects of Aluminum
*** Sources
– Aluminum foil, cigarette filters, tobacco smoke, color additives, pesticides.
– Animal feed, yeast, beer, bleached flour, dairy products, vanilla powder, salt.
– Antacids, aspirin, drugs, nasal spray, dental amalgam.
– Automobile exhaust, building materials, wiring insulation.
– Cans, ceramics, kitchen utensils.
– Cosmetics, deodorants, toothpaste.
– Pollution, tap water, treated water.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, memory loss.
– Anemia, colds, colitis, constipation, headaches, and heartburn.
– Loss of appetite, loss of energy.
– Behavior problems, hyperactivity, learning difficulties.
– Inhibition of enzymatic systems, renal dysfunction, reduction of immunity, liver dysfunction, neuromuscular disorders, osteoporosis weakness and muscle pain, and skin problems.
2 – Sources and Effects of Mercury
*** Sources
– Industrial waste, wastewater.
– Insecticides, pesticides.
– Paints, waxes for the floor, leather tanning, felts.
– Seafood products (in particular tuna and swordfish), cereals.
– Creams for skin whitening, cosmetics, and tattoos.
– Air conditioning filters, manufacture of batteries, broken thermometers.
– Combustion of newspapers and building materials.
– Dental amalgams, solution for contact lenses, laxatives.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Adrenal dysfunction, congenital malformations, cerebral lesions, cerebral palsy, memory loss, schizophrenia, tremors (eyelids, lips, tongue, fingers, extremities).
– Allergies, alopecia, anorexia, rashes.
– Cataracts, hearing loss, hypothyroidism.
– Depression, emotional disorders, hyperactivity.
3 – Sources and Effects of Arsenic
*** Sources
– Combustion of arsenate in the treatment of building materials, combustion of coal.
– Pesticides, spray against insects.
– Seafood in coastal waters, especially mussels, oysters, and shrimps.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, convulsions.
– chronic anemia, dermatitis, anorexia.
– Burning sensation in the mouth, the smell of garlic for the breath, hyper-pigmentation of the nails and the skin, hair loss.
– Increased risk of liver/lung/skin cancer.
– Respiratory tract infections.
4 – Sources and Effects of Beryllium
*** Sources
– Coal combustion.
– Household products.
– Industrial dust.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Disruption of calcium and vitamin D metabolism, magnesium depletion.
– Lung cancer, pulmonary infection.
– Rickets.
– dysfunction of vital organs.
5 – Sources and Effects of Cadmium
*** Sources
– Contaminants in industrial air, batteries.
– Smoke of cigarettes and marijuana.
– Ceramics, copper alloys, dental alloys.
– Wastewater, drinking water.
– Fungicides, pesticides.
– Incineration of tires/rubber/plastic, motor oil.
– Paints, galvanized pipes, metal welding, iron roofs.
– Automatic vending machines for soft drinks and soldering (including in cans).
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Anemia, arthritis (osteo and rheumatoid arthritis), osteoporosis, digestive disorders.
– Cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, lung diseases, stroke, growth disorders.
– Cirrhosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, hypoglycemia, and alopecia.
– Infertility, dysfunction of the prostate.
– Alcoholism.
– Learning disabilities.
6 – Sources and Effects of Copper
*** Sources
– Contraceptive pill.
– Cookware made of copper, copper tubes, and dental alloys.
– Fungicides, insecticides.
– Industrial emissions, welding.
– Pools, water (city/well).
– Corn oil, beer, crabs, chocolate, gelatin, cereals, margarine, milk, yeast.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Acne, allergies, anemia, digestive disorders, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, toxemia of pregnancy.
– Adrenal insufficiency, arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), arterial hypertension, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, high cholesterol, inflammation, renal disorders.
– Autism, hyperactivity.
– Cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple sclerosis, myocardial infarction.
7 – Sources and Effects of Iron
*** Sources
– Potable water.
– Iron kitchen utensils, iron pipes.
– Food: bone meal, bran, chives, clams, leafy vegetables, legumes, meat, molasses, offal, oysters, red wine, refined foods, crustaceans, soya, wheat germ, whole flours.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Amenorrhea, congenital malformations, infections, insomnia, premature aging.
– Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, damage to the pancreas.
– Cancer, Parkinson’s disease.
8 – Sources and Effects of Lead
*** Sources
– Industrial emissions, automobile exhaust, car batteries, coal combustion, refineries, foundries, and lead pipes.
– Manufacture of batteries, colored inks, and pottery in glazed terracotta with lead.
– Chocolate, tea bags, canned fruit, and fruit juice.
– Smoke of cigarettes and toys.
– Cosmetics, hair dyes, toothpaste.
– Painting, newspaper, pencils, pesticides, PVC containers.
– Water (city/well), rainwater.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Abdominal pain, allergies, anemia, convulsions, hypertension, depression, memory loss (long term).
– Adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis, myelopathy (pathology spinal cord).
– Saturnism, arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis and osteo), cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease.
– Autism, attention deficit disorder, behavioral disorders.
– Hyperactivity, dyslexia, learning disabilities.
– Infertility, stillbirths, sudden infant death.
9 – Sources and Effects of Nickel
*** Sources
– Food processing, hydrogenated fats, and oils, butter, margarine, imitation whipped cream, tea bags.
– Industrial waste, fertilizer.
– Stainless steel cooking utensils.
*** Effects of Heavy Metals
– Anorexia, skin problems, vomiting.
– Renal dysfunction, disruption of hormones, and lipid metabolism.
– Low blood pressure, heart attack, muscle spasms.
– Cancer.
II – Diagnosis
The presence of heavy metals profoundly disturbs the biochemical balance and, in addition, destroys the biology of the cells. Already in 1975, the World Health Organization declared that about 80% of chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, and cancer could be caused directly or indirectly by environmental pollution.
In general, heavy metals disrupt basic metabolic functions in two ways:
1. They accumulate and disrupt the function of vital organs and glands such as the heart, brain, kidneys, bones, liver, etc.
2. They displace essential nutrients, which are minerals that no longer fulfill their biological function. For example, instead of having calcium in an enzymatic reaction, lead or cadmium may be in its place.
Because their impact is at such a fundamental level, heavy metals can be causal factors in literally all health problems. The unavoidable reality is that it is impossible in our time not to be exposed to heavy metals. It’s only a question of how much and how often.
III – Symptoms of Intoxication of Heavy Metals
Warning signs
– Great unexplained and constant fatigue, increasing over time.
– Headache, sinusitis, and recurrent sore throat.
– Back pain (often at the top) at the cervical, shoulders, and limbs.
– Apathy, indifference.
– Psychic disorders (mood instability, shyness, withdrawal, anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression, temper tantrums, nervousness, decision difficulties, emotional instability).
– Cerebral difficulties (memory, concentration, one does not find one’s words, one mistake more and more often of the word).
– Digestive disorders (diarrhea or constipation or abdominal pain).
– Problems in the mouth (moving teeth, repeated mouth ulcers, inflammation, swelling, bleeding gums, dry mouth or hypersalivation, burns in the mouth, metallic taste, blackish or grayish pigmentation of the mucous membrane).
– Other repetitive infections, mycoses, herpes.
– Hypoglycaemia (frequent unexplained pumping with a feeling of weakness).
– Spasms or muscle cramps, or involuntary contractions (eyelid shaking, etc.).
– Skin problems, Recurrent candidiasis.
– Allergies.
– The difficulty of breathing and oppression in the chest.
IV – Main Dangers or Effects of Heavy Metals
– They replace or substitute essential minerals.
– They have an antibiotic effect, which increases the resistance of bacteria.
– They change the genetic code.
– They produce free radicals.
– They neutralize the amino acids used for detoxification.
– They cause allergies.
– They damage the nerve cells.
V – Detection of Heavy Metals
These intoxications are difficult to highlight because they are heavy by definition; these metals will lodge in the heart of tissues – especially the brain and other fatty tissues, then the kidneys – and only a biopsy could irrefutably reveal the rate of poisoning.
The fetuses having the particularity of capturing the heavy metals of the mother, there is a phenomenon of accumulation over generations, hence the emergence of certain pathologies.
The presence of a metal taste in the mouth is quite common in cases of poisoning of this type.
*** Analyses
They make it possible to objectify the intoxication and quantify the detoxification eventually.
The blood test:
For lead, mercury, aluminum, and cadmium for smokers. Only metals circulating in the blood are measured. This gives an idea of the degree of intoxication because it does not allow us to take into account the substances stored in tissues. The results may be insignificant if the substances are all stored (often linked to autoimmune diseases).
Hair analysis:
All the poisons are there. Requires not to have the hair treated. It detects heavy metals, trace elements, and minerals.
The analysis of Porphyrins in the urine:
The most accurate method is because porphyrins occur as soon as there is contact with heavy metals.
VI – Elimination of Effects of Heavy Metals – Chelation
Neurotoxins, whether chemical or metallic, are permanently filtered by the liver and transported in the intestine by the bile. But it reabsorbs them, creating a cycle without end, generating chronic diseases. If we can break this cycle with a neurotoxin sensor, we can witness a quick cure.
Fortunately, it is possible to stimulate the release of excess heavy metal ions with substances by a widely accepted process called chelation.
From the Greek word “khêlê,” which means “claws” or “tongs,” chelation is the process by which an organic substance – the chelating agent – binds to electrically charged minerals or metals such as iron, calcium, lead, copper, etc. The resulting complex is stable, inactive, non-toxic, and soluble and can easily be removed by the urinary tract.
Chelators have molecules that have a particular affinity for heavy metals. Introduced into the body, they cling to all the metal ions they encounter in the bloodstream and carry them out of the body with urine and feces.
1 – Natural Solutions for Effects of Heavy Metals
*** The Chlorella Alga
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed the ability of the seaweed Chlorella Vulgaris to absorb and eliminate heavy metals as well as toxins. The fibers of its wall, as well as its chlorophyll, allow it to fix the toxic elements and reject them via feces. Chlorella is the plant that contains the most chlorophyll on Earth (> 3000 mg / 100 g).
The addition of wild garlic and coriander greatly improves the effectiveness of Chlorella. The metals from which mercury comes out through the skin, breathing, stool, and urine.
*** Modified Citrus Pectin
Studies have shown that pectin increases the renal elimination of toxic metals. It can be compared to a safe and gentle form of chelation therapy.
2 – Chemical Chelators – DMSA and DMPS
They are more effective but much more sensitive to use and need to be treated by an experienced therapist.
DMSA and DMPS capture and excrete unwanted metals, thereby lowering their burden on the body. They work well and are at the forefront of high and medium poisonings.
They mainly eliminate mercury easily. In diseases related to amalgam, its positive effects remain to be proven. However, these substances chelate unwanted minerals but also those that the body needs. It is not recommended to use DMSA or DMPS if you suffer from demineralization. An irreproachable diet is required.
3 – Specific Effects of Natural Substances
– Vitamin B6 helps eliminate aluminum.
– Vitamin C at high doses stimulates the liver’s enzyme system, which helps detoxify the liver and eliminate pollutants, heavy metals, and pesticides. In addition, it protects against the high oxidative stress that results from heavy metal poisoning.
– Vitamin E protects from toxic aluminum. It also hinders accumulation.
– Calcium reduces the absorption of lead in the digestive tract, thus reducing its cellular toxicity. Insufficient levels of calcium promote the absorption of aluminum by the body.
– Selenium has a protective effect against aluminum and reduces the toxicity and oxidative damage caused by mercury.
– Zinc reduces the toxicity of aluminum and the cellular damage it causes. Zinc also competes with lead for binding sites on a number of enzymes and can thus squeeze out the lead. The presence of cadmium often causes a lack of zinc.
– Cysteine and methionine – two amino acids – contain sulfur in their chemical structure. Heavy metals react with sulfur, causing the formation of sulphides. It is only in this form that they become soluble and can finally be eliminated by the kidneys and liver.
– MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) is an organic form of sulfur. White crystalline powder represents a source of sulfur and thereby chelates the heavy metals, making them soluble. MSM has an essentially extracellular function.
Alpha-lipoic acid – also called thioctic acid – is a saturated fatty acid with an unusual ring structure that contains two sulfur atoms. It has a chelating effect comparable to that of MSM. Still, by its nature as a tiny water-soluble molecule, it has access to almost all body tissues and, therefore, also works with cells.