Elliece S. Smith, M.D.
Gynecologist and Cosmetic Surgeon
9470 Annapolis Road, Suite 316
anham, MD 20706
(301) 459-5744
Heavy Metal Toxicity
By Wanda Ramsey, M.D.
In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with various heavy metals inhaled and absorbed from our food and water and through our skin. Acute heavy metal toxicity is extremely rare now, but chronic low-grade toxicity is becoming relatively common. This presents initially with subtle, nonspecific symptoms, but can eventually cause serious damage leading to chronic disease.
A heavy metal is a metallic substance that is at least five times as dense as water. This list would include antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum, silver, tellurium, thallium, tin, uranium, vanadium, and zinc. Out of this list, there are some metals, such as chromium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc, that are actually required for nutritional health, but they can be toxic in large doses. Then there are other heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, that are toxic at even low levels. Aluminum, although not technically a “heavy metal,” has also been shown to have a toxic risk to humans.
Heavy metal toxicity can adversely affect the human body in two main ways. Firstly, they can deposit in vital organs, such as heart, brain, kidneys, liver and bone, and disrupt their normal function. Secondly, these heavy metals can displace vital nutritional minerals from their binding sites in various biologic functions and consequently discombobulate the normal cellular activities. This is known as “molecular mimicry.”
Chronic heavy metal toxicity can be very hard to diagnose without a high index of suspicion because the symptoms start out very subtly and are very ambiguous. The same symptoms can be associated with many other conditions. Heavy metal overload symptoms include:
Headaches Indigestion/bloating Anemia Diarrhea
Fatigue Tremors/tingling Dizziness Constipation
Muscle pains Chronic infections (e.g. candida) Food allergies Brain fog
Some of the most common metal toxicities causing symptoms are aluminum, arsenic, lead, and mercury. Many of the sources of aluminum are obvious, e.g. cans, cookware, aluminum foil and bakeware, but it can also be found in antacids, auto exhaust, baking powder, beer, cigarette filters, color additives, cosmetics, deodorants, drying agents, nasal sprays, pesticides, tap water, tobacco smoke and toothpaste. Aluminum toxicity has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease, behavioral problems, constipation, confusion, dry skin, energy loss, flatulence, kidney dysfunction, lowered immune function, memory loss, various neuromuscular disorders, and osteoporosis.
Arsenic can be found in coal combustion, insect sprays and other pesticides, and seafood from coastal waters, especially mussels, shrimp and oysters. Chronic arsenic poisoning can result in abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, skin and nail changes, confusion, burning sensation in the mouth and/or stomach, convulsions, hair loss, drowsiness, headaches, muscle aches and weakness and an increased risk of cancers of the liver, lung and skin.
Lead, as we all know, is found in the paint in older buildings, which is the main source for toxicity in children, but it is also found in auto exhaust, cigarette smoke, canned fruit and juice, coal combustion, cosmetics, electroplating, hair dyes, lead pipes, pottery glaze, newsprint, paint (sometimes paint used on toys), pesticides, tobacco, toothpaste, and some wines and water (both city and well). Symptoms of lead toxicity include anemia, allergies, abdominal pain, behavioral disorders, arthritis, concentration loss, constipation, visual and hearing deficits, epilepsy, attention deficit disorder, hostility, hyperactivity, hypertension, dyslexia and other learning disorders, hallucinations, infertility, insomnia, memory loss, neuropathy, muscle weakness, kidney dysfunction, mental retardation, adrenal insufficiency and tooth decay. Children are much more susceptible to toxicities, but adults have the disadvantage of many more years of exposure.
Mercury is probably the most publicized heavy metal poisoning in these times. We are exposed to mercury in some adhesives, antiseptics, lotions, dental amalgams, cosmetics, fungicides, floor wax, paints, germicides, pesticides, deep water seafood (especially tuna, mackerel and swordfish), tattooing, wood preservatives and medications. The effects of this type of toxicity include allergy, hair loss, eczema, emotional disturbance and depression, dizziness, headaches, forgetfulness, adrenal and immune dysfunction, joint pains, irritability, visual loss, weakness, tingling and tremors.
When multiple metals are present at the same time, there can be a “synergistic toxicity.” For example, being exposed to a small amount of mercury OR a small amount of aluminum generally causes few symptoms and has a very low mortality rate. However, being exposed to a low level of mercury AND a low level of aluminum at the same time increases the death rate exponentially. Also, the presence of lead makes mercury a hundred times more toxic.
There are some people who are genetically predisposed to getting heavy metal toxicity because they cannot excrete the metals efficiently, and they consequently develop a buildup. These patients usually eventually suffer from multiple heavy metal toxicities.
People can be tested for heavy metals using various blood, urine and hair analysis tests. In the event that you have a heavy metal toxicity, there are many things that can be done at home to help your situation. This would include the use of antioxidants such as Vitamins C, E, and A, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione, lactoferrin, selenium and zinc (remembering that zinc also is a heavy metal and must be used with discretion), cilantro, garlic, green tea, good minerals and essential amino acids. Detoxifying agents such as alfalfa, chlorella, MSM, rutin and dietary fiber are also helpful in clearing heavy metals out.
Further treatment involves chelation therapy, which is the use of agents that bind to the heavy metals and form complexes that are then easily passed out through the bowels or in the urine. This kind of treatment can be done intravenously, transdermally or orally, but should always be done under the direction of a health care professional because care must be taken to restore the “good minerals” because the chelators cannot distinguish between toxic and good minerals. These chelating agents include DMSA, EDTA, DMPS, and magnesium succinate, and some chelators work better for specific metals.
Though avoidance of heavy metals would be the best way to prevent heavy metal toxicities, that is virtually impossible in these times. Consequently, being aware of such overloads, developing a routine to minimize your current risks, and getting tested and treated if indeed you currently have heavy metal poisoning is probably your best way to attack this problem.
