Extended Health

Behavioral Abnormalities Associated with Various
Heavy Metal Toxins

Motor Disorders
Psychiatric Disturbances
Social Deficits, Social withdrawal Mercury
Repetitive, preseverative, stereotyped behaviors; OCD-typical behaviors Mercury
Depression, mood swings, flat affect; impaired facial recognition Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury
Schizoid tendencies; hallucinations; delirium Mercury
Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums Lead, Mercury
Suicidal Behaviors Copper, Mercury
Sleep difficulties/ disturbances Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Chronic fatigue (CFS); weakness, malaise Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Anorexia; symptoms reflecting eating disorders; loss of appetite/weight Arsenic, Lead, Mercury
Anxiety; nervous tendencies Thallium
Attention problems (ADHD), lacks eye contact, impaired visual fixation Lead, Mercury
Speech and Language Deficits
Speech disorders Aluminum, Mercury
Loss of speech, developmental problems with language Mercury
Speech comprehension deficits Mercury
Dysarthria articulation problems slurred speech, unintelligible speech Mercury
Cognitive Impairments
Mental retardation, borderline intelligence Arsenic, Lead, Mercury
Uneven performance on IQ scores, low IQ scores Copper, Lead
Poor concentration, attention deficits (ADHD), response inhibition Aluminum, Lead
Poor memory (short term, verbal and auditory) Aluminum, Lead
Dementia; pre-senile and senile dementia Aluminum
Stupor Aluminum, Arsenic
Impaired reaction time; lower performance on timed tests Lead
Sensory Abnormalities
Abnormal Sensations in the mouth and extremities Arsenic
Hearing loss, difficulty hearing Arsenic, Lead, Mercury
Abnormal touch sensations; diminished touch sensations, aversion to touch Arsenic
Blurred vision; sensitivity to light Arsenic, Mercury
Choreiform movements, myoclonal jerks, unusual postures Copper, Mercury
Difficulty walking, swallowing talking Copper, Mercury
Flapping, circling, rocking, toe walking Mercury
Problems with intentional movements or imitation Mercury
Abnormal gait/posture; incoordination, loss of balance; problems sitting, lying, crawling, and walking Mercury
Decreased locomotor activity Aluminum, Arsenic
Convulsions; seizure Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium

Structural and Functional Abnormalities associated
with various heavy metal toxins

Physiological Impairment

Brain and Central Nervous System

Neurofibrillary tangles
Aluminum

Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis; neuropathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Thallium

Encephalopathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium

Alterations in nerve conduction velocity
Lead

Alterations in the spinal chord
Thallium

Accumulates in CNS structures
Aluminum, Mercury

Abnormal EEGs
Arsenic, Lead

Autonomic disturbances
Copper, Lead,Mercury, Thallium

Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral neuropathy
Arsenic, Mercury

Alterations in peripheral nerves
Arsenic

Loss of feeling/ numbness in the extremities paresthesia
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium

Gastrointestinal Tract

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite
Arsenic, Copper, Mercury, Thallium

Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning of the throat and mouth
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium

Esophagitis; gastroenteritis; colitis
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium

Cancers (colon, pancreatic, stomach, or rectal)
Arsenic

Renal and Hepatic Impairment

Hepatotoxicity; Liver; dysfunction damage
Arsenic, Copper, Thallium

Cirrhosis of the liver hepatitis
Copper

Kidney disease; kidney failure
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury

Renal toxicity; tubular proteinosis
Arsenic, Copper, Lead

Kidney Damage, histological alterations
Arsenic, Lead

Cardiovascular System

Blood vessel damage
Arsenic

Anemia decreased red blood cell count
Arsenic, Copper, Lead

Hypertension increased heart rate (tachycardia)
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium

Electrocardiac disorders

Peripheral vascular disease cardiovascular disease vascular collapse
Arsenic, Lead

Respiratory System

Pulmonary Fibrosis
Aluminum, Arsenic

Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis
Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury

Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconiosis
Arsenic, Aluminum

Respiratory tract cancers
Arsenic

Immune System

Immuno suppression
Lead

Decreased white blood cell count
Arsenic, Thallium

Reproductive System

Genital abnormalities
Aluminum, Thallium

Disturbances in menstrual cycle menstrual pains
Copper, Mercury

Birth defects premature births Spontaneous abortion
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury

Reproductive dysfunction
Arsenic, Aluminum, Cadmium, Lead

Other Physical Disturbances

Rashes, contact dermatitis, eczema, itchy/irritating skin
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury

Muscle pain; headache; acrodynia; colic
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium

Alopecia (hair loss)
Thallium