Heavy Metal Toxicity – Getting To The Core Of Countless Health Conditions
The core cause of many health conditions is heavy metal toxicity. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium are present in our environment. These toxic substances enter our ecosystem and accumulate in the soil, water, plants, and animals. They can be found in the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat, and even the products we use on a daily basis.
One of the main sources of heavy metal toxicity is pollution from industries and human activities. This includes emissions from factories, mining operations, and waste incineration. Exposure to heavy metals can also occur through certain occupations or hobbies where individuals come into contact with these substances regularly. For example, people who work in battery manufacturing plants or handle electronics may have higher levels of exposure to lead. Similarly, individuals who engage in activities such as fishing and shellfish harvesting may be exposed to high levels of mercury.
Another way that heavy metal toxicity takes place is through contaminated food. This can occur due to the use of pesticides or fertilizers containing heavy metals, as well as contamination from industrial processes. Food that has been grown in contaminated soil or water can also lead to exposure to heavy metals.
Furthermore, some medical treatments and procedures may also result in heavy metal toxicity. For instance, certain medications contain heavy metals as ingredients and prolonged use can lead to accumulation in the body. Additionally, dental fillings made with amalgam (a mixture of silver, tin, copper, and mercury) have been linked to elevated levels of mercury in the body.
In addition to these sources, individuals may also be exposed to heavy metals through household items such as cooking utensils, cosmetics, and even toys. These products may contain traces of heavy metals that can leach into food or get absorbed through the skin.1
A 2023 study even shows that regular marijuana users have significantly higher levels of heavy metals, specifically lead and cadmium, in their blood and urine.2
In short, many people unknowingly suffer from heavy metal toxicity that is responsible for a wide range of health problems and illnesses.
Heavy Metal Toxicity And The Damage It Causes
It is important to note that while our bodies do have a natural ability to eliminate small amounts of heavy metals, prolonged exposure or high levels of accumulation can lead to serious health problems. Heavy metal toxicity has been linked to conditions such as chronic inflammation, neurological disorders, kidney damage, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune conditions. The accumulation of heavy metals in the body disrupts normal cellular function and leads to a wide range of health issues.3 4 5
Other potential effects of heavy metal toxicity include developmental delays, reproductive problems, and impaired cognitive function. This is because heavy metals can interfere with crucial processes in the body such as enzyme activity, protein synthesis, and hormone production.6 7 8
Heavy metals are known to disrupt the normal functioning of enzymes in the body. Enzymes play vital roles in various biological processes such as metabolism and DNA repair. When these enzymes are inhibited by heavy metals, it can lead to serious health consequences.9
In addition to enzyme activity, heavy metals can also interfere with protein synthesis. Proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues in the body. Heavy metal toxicity can disrupt this process, resulting in tissue damage and impairments in growth and development.10
Hormones are another crucial aspect of our body’s functioning that can be affected by heavy metal toxicity. These toxic substances disrupt the production and regulation of hormones, leading to reproductive problems and developmental delays.11
It is particularly concerning when these toxic substances affect children and prenatal babies during critical stages of development, as it can have long-term repercussions on their physical and mental health.12
Heavy Metal Toxicity Causes Cellular Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response of our immune system to protect us from harmful substances. When our cells detect an injury or foreign substance like bacteria or viruses, they release pro-inflammatory cytokines, signaling proteins that attract white blood cells to fight off the threat.
However, when heavy metals accumulate in our bodies, they trigger the release of these pro-inflammatory cytokines even when there is no actual threat. This ongoing inflammation can lead to damage and dysfunction of cells, tissues, and organs, affecting various bodily functions.13
Furthermore, inflammation also plays a significant role in the aging process. The constant release of pro-inflammatory cytokines damages cells and accelerates their aging, leading to premature aging and age-related illnesses.14
Chronic Inflammation And Autoimmune Conditions
Chronic inflammation and autoimmune conditions are two interlinked health issues that have been receiving increasing attention in recent years. Since heavy metal toxicity is often the core cause of autoimmune conditions, the only real solution to such disorders is to remove these toxins from the body.
Read more about the link between heavy metals and autoimmune conditions.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage. This can result in a range of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Chronic inflammation can also disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, which plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response. This imbalance can further contribute to autoimmune conditions as well as other health issues.
On the other hand, autoimmune conditions themselves can also cause chronic inflammation by continuously triggering the immune system to attack healthy tissues. This creates a vicious cycle of inflammation and tissue damage, leading to progressive deterioration of the affected organ or system.15
Read more about inflammation and autoimmune conditions.
Heavy Metal Toxicity – Removing The Source Of Contamination
To address the issue of heavy metal toxicity, it is important to reduce exposure and implement proper disposal methods for products containing heavy metals. The best way to protect yourself from heavy metal toxicity is to minimize your exposure to these substances. Here are some ways you can reduce your intake of heavy metals.
Choosing organic produce reduces your exposure to pesticides that may contain heavy metals. Certain types of fish, such as tuna and swordfish, tend to have high levels of mercury. Opt for low-mercury seafood options like wild-caught salmon.
Investing in a good quality water filter can help remove heavy metals from your drinking water. Water filters use different methods to remove impurities and improve the overall quality of the water. Reverse osmosis filtration is the best at removing heavy metals although the system is quite pricey. Another common method used is activated carbon filtration. This process involves the use of activated carbon which has a high surface area and is able to absorb impurities, such as heavy metals, from the water.16
In addition to removing heavy metals, water filters also help in reducing chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in tap water. These chemicals can give water an unpleasant taste and odor, making it less appealing to drink. By using a water filter, you can enjoy clean and fresh-tasting drinking water without any added chemicals or impurities.
Read more about the toxins lurking in your tap water.
Some cosmetics and personal care products may contain heavy metals such as lead. Read labels carefully and choose natural, organic alternatives when possible.17
Read more about toxins in everyday products.
Heavy Metal Toxicity – Removing Mercury Amalgam Fillings
Many people are unaware of the potential danger of mercury amalgam fillings in their teeth. This type of filling, commonly known as a “silver filling”, is made up of around 50% mercury. Although these fillings have been used for decades in dentistry, there are significant health risks associated with them.
When a person has mercury amalgam fillings in their mouth, they are constantly exposed to low levels of mercury vapor. This vapor can be released during activities such as drinking hot liquids, chewing, brushing, or grinding teeth.18
Fortunately, there are ways to remove these potentially harmful fillings and reduce exposure to mercury. The best option is called “safe amalgam removal”, which involves specific protocols and safety measures to minimize the release of mercury vapor during removal.
Read more about removing mercury dental fillings.
Heavy Metal Toxicity – Removing Heavy Metals From The Body With Chelation Therapy
Fortunately, there are ways to remove these heavy metals from the body and improve overall health. One method is through oral chelation therapy using DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) and ALA (alpha-lipoic acid). These chelating agents bind to heavy metals and facilitate their elimination through urine and feces.
Oral chelation is a non-invasive method of chelation therapy where the chelating agent is taken orally in the form of capsules or tablets. This allows for easy administration at home. DMSA and ALA are two commonly used chelating agents in oral chelation therapy, although there are others. DMSA primarily binds to heavy metals in the blood and tissues, while ALA works on a cellular level by crossing the blood-brain barrier to remove heavy metals from the brain.
Both DMSA and ALA are water-soluble, which means they can easily dissolve in water and be eliminated through urine. This makes them effective at removing heavy metals without causing further harm to the body.19 20
Read more about heavy metal chelation therapy.
References
1 Witkowska D, Słowik J, Chilicka K. Heavy Metals and Human Health: Possible Exposure Pathways and the Competition for Protein Binding Sites. Molecules. 2021 Oct 7;26(19):6060. doi: 10.3390/molecules26196060. PMID: 34641604; PMCID: PMC8511997.
2 Katlyn E. McGraw, Anne E. Nigra, Joshua Klett, Marisa Sobel, Elizabeth C. Oelsner, Ana Navas-Acien, Xin Hu, Tiffany R. Sanchez. Blood and Urinary Metal Levels among Exclusive Marijuana Users in NHANES (2005–2018). Environmental Health Perspectives, 2023; 131 (8) DOI: 10.1289/EHP12074
3 Rowley, B., & Monestier, M. (2005). Mechanisms of heavy metal-induced autoimmunity. Molecular immunology, 42(7), 833–838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2004.07.050
4 Valko, M., Morris, H., & Cronin, M. T. (2005). Metals, toxicity and oxidative stress. Current medicinal chemistry, 12(10), 1161–1208. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867053764635
5 Cortés, S., Zúñiga-Venegas, L., Pancetti, F., Covarrubias, A., Ramírez-Santana, M., Adaros, H., & Muñoz, L. (2021). A Positive Relationship between Exposure to Heavy Metals and Development of Chronic Diseases: A Case Study from Chile. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(4), 1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041419
6 Hsueh YM, Lee CY, Chien SN, Chen WJ, Shiue HS, Huang SR, Lin MI, Mu SC, Hsieh RL. Association of blood heavy metals with developmental delays and health status in children. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 2;7:43608. doi: 10.1038/srep43608. PMID: 28252669; PMCID: PMC5333623.
7 Manouchehri A, Shokri S, Pirhadi M, Karimi M, Abbaszadeh S, Mirzaei G, Bahmani M. The Effects of Toxic Heavy Metals Lead, Cadmium and Copper on the Epidemiology of Male and Female Infertility. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2022 Nov 9;26(4):627-630. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20220013. PMID: 35916450; PMCID: PMC9635604.
8 Sasaki N, Carpenter DO. Associations between Metal Exposures and Cognitive Function in American Older Adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 17;19(4):2327. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042327. PMID: 35206515; PMCID: PMC8871766.
9 Morales ME, Derbes RS, Ade CM, Ortego JC, Stark J, Deininger PL, Roy-Engel AM. Heavy Metal Exposure Influences Double Strand Break DNA Repair Outcomes. PLoS One. 2016 Mar 11;11(3):e0151367. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151367. PMID: 26966913; PMCID: PMC4788447.
10 Tamás MJ, Sharma SK, Ibstedt S, Jacobson T, Christen P. Heavy metals and metalloids as a cause for protein misfolding and aggregation. Biomolecules. 2014 Feb 25;4(1):252-67. doi: 10.3390/biom4010252. PMID: 24970215; PMCID: PMC4030994.
11 Liu D, Shi Q, Liu C, Sun Q, Zeng X. Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Heavy Metals on Human Health. Toxics. 2023 Mar 29;11(4):322. doi: 10.3390/toxics11040322. PMID: 37112549; PMCID: PMC10147072.
12 Koh EJ, Yu SY, Kim SH, Lee JS, Hwang SY. Prenatal Exposure to Heavy Metals Affects Gestational Age by Altering DNA Methylation Patterns. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021 Oct 28;11(11):2871. doi: 10.3390/nano11112871. PMID: 34835636; PMCID: PMC8618483.
13 Haidar Z, Fatema K, Shoily SS, Sajib AA. Disease-associated metabolic pathways affected by heavy metals and metalloid. Toxicol Rep. 2023 Apr 24;10:554-570. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.04.010. PMID: 37396849; PMCID: PMC10313886.
14 Jenny NS. Inflammation in aging: cause, effect, or both? Discov Med. 2012 Jun;13(73):451-60. PMID: 22742651.
15 Duan L, Rao X, Sigdel KR. Regulation of Inflammation in Autoimmune Disease. J Immunol Res. 2019 Feb 28;2019:7403796. doi: 10.1155/2019/7403796. PMID: 30944837; PMCID: PMC6421792.
16 Vidu R, Matei E, Predescu AM, Alhalaili B, Pantilimon C, Tarcea C, Predescu C. Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewaters: A Challenge from Current Treatment Methods to Nanotechnology Applications. Toxics. 2020 Nov 10;8(4):101. doi: 10.3390/toxics8040101. PMID: 33182698; PMCID: PMC7711730.
17 Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (2022, November 22). Limiting Lead in Lipstick and Other Cosmetics. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/limiting-lead-lipstick-and-other-cosmetics
18 Bernhoft RA. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:460508. doi: 10.1155/2012/460508. Epub 2011 Dec 22. PMID: 22235210; PMCID: PMC3253456.
19 Zalups RK, Bridges CC. Relationships between the renal handling of DMPS and DMSA and the renal handling of mercury. Chem Res Toxicol. 2012 Sep 17;25(9):1825-38. doi: 10.1021/tx3001847. Epub 2012 Jun 15. PMID: 22667351; PMCID: PMC4640686.
20 Sears ME. Chelation: harnessing and enhancing heavy metal detoxification–a review. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013 Apr 18;2013:219840. doi: 10.1155/2013/219840. PMID: 23690738; PMCID: PMC3654245.
