HEAVY METAL POISONING
A recent report suggests that many of us may unknowingly be brushing our teeth with toothpaste containing toxic heavy metals—including lead. Lead Safe Mama (LSM), an organization committed to preventing childhood lead poisoning through independent testing of consumer products, has revealed that several popular toothpaste and tooth powder brands contain detectable levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and/or cadmium—all of which are toxic to humans.
Among the products tested were well-known brands such as Crest Regular Toothpaste, Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste, and Tom’s of Maine Kid’s Natural Toothpaste. While none of them exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommended limits for lead contamination, the World Health Organization maintains that any exposure to lead is potentially harmful.
Reading this led me to dig deeper into the risks of heavy metal exposure (aside from the kind you get from blasting classic rock). I came across an informative article by the Cleveland Clinic titled Heavy Metal Poisoning (Toxicity). I’ve included key excerpts below to share with you what I found.
What is heavy metal poisoning?
Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your organs from doing their job. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life-threatening and they can cause irreversible damage.
Several metals can be toxic to your body. The most common toxic metals are:
- Lead. Contaminated water from lead pipes, batteries, paint, gasoline, construction materials.
- Mercury. Liquid in thermometers, lightbulbs, dental amalgam (“silver”) fillings, batteries, seafood, topical antiseptics.
- Arsenic. Topical creams, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, paints, enamels, glass, contaminated water, seafood, algae.
- Cadmium. Cigarette smoke, metal plating, batteries.
- Thallium. Rodenticides, pesticides, fireworks.
How does someone get heavy metal poisoning?
You can get heavy metal poisoning by exposing yourself to heavy metals. Heavy metals form naturally within the Earth’s crust. We interact with small amounts of heavy metals every day, like when you check the temperature of your thermometer, which uses mercury. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when metals get into your body. This can happen if you’re exposed to a large amount of metal including:
- Eating a lot of food that contains metals (fish).
- Drinking water from older water supply systems.
- Working with metals on the job.
- Taking medications or supplements with high amounts of metallic elements.
- Handling metals or products made with a large amount of metal (like paint or pesticides) without using personal protective equipment.
Most metals that cause poisoning are in a microscopic (molecular) form when they enter your body. They are so small, you won’t be able to see them. Heavy metals can enter your body by:
- Absorbing into your skin.
- Breathing in or inhaling tiny metal molecules.
- Eating or drinking (ingesting) the metal from food or water.
Who does heavy metal poisoning affect?
Heavy metal poisoning can affect anyone who has exposure to heavy metals. This most often affects people who:
- Drink water from pipes made of older metals (lead).
- Work with metals.
- Take more than the prescribed dosage of medicine or supplements that contain metal.
- Live in an environment with high air or water pollution.
- Eat a lot of foods that contain metal.
- Consume a non-edible product made with metal (paint).
How common is heavy metal poisoning?
The exact rate of occurrence is unknown, but in the United States, heavy metal poisoning is rare since it only affects people who have exposure to heavy metals. The number of people diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning decreased significantly over the last 20 years because of awareness and preventative measures to remove heavy metals from homes.
What does heavy metal poisoning do to my body?
Exposure to heavy metals can be dangerous to your health. While we use and interact with metals every day, certain heavy metals are toxic because the molecules that make up the metal damage or negatively interact with the cells in your body that are essential to keep your organs functioning.
Your body has small amounts of metals in it already, like iron, copper and zinc. These metals are important to keep your organs functioning. If you have too much metal accumulated within your body, it can damage your vital organs like your brain and liver.
Symptoms and Causes
Heavy metal poisoning can cause potentially life-threatening symptoms if you don’t seek treatment after exposure.
What are the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning?
Signs and symptoms vary for each type of metal and range in severity based on your body’s exposure. Symptoms could include:
- Abdominal pain
- Chills or a low body temperature
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Feeling weak.
- Nausea or vomiting
- A scratchy feeling in your throat.
- Numbness or prickly sensation in your hands and feet.
What causes heavy metal poisoning?
An accumulation of heavy metals within your body causes heavy metal poisoning. The accumulation happens after you’re exposed to heavy metals. Once inside of your body, the metals reside in your blood or tissues, which spreads from your head to your toes.
Heavy metals fight with components in your cells, like enzymes and proteins. These components are important to help your organs function. If your organs aren’t able to do their job because they’re getting bullied by heavy metals, you experience symptoms of heavy metal poisoning that can be life threatening without treatment.
How is heavy metal poisoning diagnosed?
It can be difficult for providers to diagnose heavy metal poisoning because symptoms are similar to other conditions. Tell your provider if you know you had exposure to a toxic metal. After a physical exam, your provider will offer several tests to check for heavy metal poisoning including:
- Heavy metal blood test.
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Electrocardiogram
- Imaging tests like an X-ray
- Kidney function tests
- Liver function studies
- Urine protein test
The results of this test identify if you’ve had exposure to toxic metals and how much of that metal is in your body.
How is heavy metal poisoning treated?
Treatment for heavy metal poisoning varies based on the type of metal that accumulated in your body. The goal of treatment is to remove the metal from your body. Treatment could include:
- Taking chelating agents to remove toxic metals from your body through your urine.
- Pumping your stomach (gastric lavage).
- Hemodialysis for kidney failure.
- Medicines to treat symptoms.
Some metals, like cadmium, don’t have an effective treatment to remove it from your body. Studies are ongoing to find a treatment for cadmium poisoning.
What medications treat heavy metal poisoning?
There are several drugs available to remove heavy metals from your body. These drugs are chelating agents that attract the metal to the components in the medicine, then pass the metal out of your body as waste in your urine. Common chelating agents include:
- Dimercaprol
- Dimercaptosuccinic acid (succimer).
- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
- Penicillamine
These chelating agents are usually given to people with severe heavy metal poisoning through an IV that places a small needle into your vein to slowly distribute the medicine into your body. Chelating agents can also attach to healthy metals and minerals in your body, so your provider will closely monitor how your body responds to treatment.
.Treatment may be ongoing for people with severe symptoms that affect the function of their organs.
How can I reduce my risk of heavy metal poisoning?
You can reduce your risk of heavy metal poisoning by minimizing your exposure to heavy metals. You can do this by:
- Wearing personal protective equipment, like a mask and gloves, when working with heavy metals.
- Calling your local environmental protection agency to clean up any heavy metal spills.
- Limiting the amount of fish that contain metals (mercury) in your diet.
- Contacting your local health department, landlord or inspector to make sure you don’t have any heavy metals in your home.
- Washing your hands before you eat.
- Reading labels on products you purchase to see if they contain metals (baby food).
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Visit your healthcare provider or contact poison control if you experience symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, especially after being exposed to heavy metals.
If you experience any severe symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, visit the emergency room immediately.
Leave a Reply