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TOXINS, WHERE DO HEAVY METALS COME FROM?

Another category of minerals in human health is the heavy metal category. This category consists of minerals that are toxic to the body such as lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium, and nickel. Most of the heavy metals in the body are result of environmental contamination due to industry. In the United States alone, lead from industrial sources are leaded gasoline contribute more than 600,000 tons of the lead being dumped into the atmosphere to be inhaled or-after being deposited on food crops, in fresh water, and soil-to be ingested. Other common sources of heavy metals include: lead from the solder in tin cans, pesticide sprays, and cooking utensils; cadmium and lead from cigarette smoke; mercury from dental fillings, contaminated fish, and cosmetics; and aluminum from antacids and cookware. Some professions with extremely high exposure include: battery makers, gasoline station attendants, printers, roofers, solders, dentists, and jewelers.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAVY METAL TOXICITY?

Early signs of heavy metal poisoning are usually vaque, often depending upon the level of toxicity. Toxins tend to accumulate within the brain, kidneys, immune system, and other body tissues where they can severely disrupt normal function. Mild cases of toxicity may be associated with headache, fatigue, and impaired ability to think or concentrate. As toxicity increases so does the severity of signs and symptoms. A person with severe toxicity may also experience muscle pains, indigestion, tremors, constipation, anemia, pallor, dizziness, and poor coordination.

Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong relationship among intelligence, childhood learning disabilities, and body stores of lead, aluminum, cadmium, and mercury. Basically, the higher a child’s level of heavy metals, the lower IQ. The same sort of relationship exists with blood pressure, as high blood pressure is also associated with higher levels of lead and other heavy metals. Heavy metals have a very strong affinity for body tissues composed of fat, like the brain, nerves, and kidneys. As a result, heavy metals are almost always linked to disturbance in mood and brain function, as well as neurological problems (including multiple sclerosis) and high blood pressure (the kidneys regulate blood pressure).

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES

Accumulations of these toxins can occur in the human body in response to occupational exposures or to environmental exposures from toxic release in air, soil, or industrial waste streams. Metal refining, alloying, plating and parts manufacture in the aerospace and machine tool industries, fabrication of nuclear reactor fuel assemblies, and especially electronics and computer manufacture are possible sources of exposure. According to the EPA, the U.S. has the largest electronics (including computer) workforce in the world. Exposures to the measured elements can occur in other occupations as well: military or police service (with weapons use), all types of welding and metal shaping, plumbing, handling and disposal of wastes, oil refining, petrochemical production, and manufacture of pigments and coatings.

Evidence suggests that chronic toxic element exposure can adversely affect respiratory, renal, cardiac, and immune functions, compromise cognitive and emotional health, debilitate energy levels, impair neurologic development and function, trigger reproductive dysfunction, and increase the risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions. Moreover, as time elapses, researchers are discovering detrimental health effects of toxic heavy metals at lower and lower exposure levels, raising the issue of whether any toxic element in the body is safe.

Walkes MP, Fox DA, States JC, Patierno SR, McCabe MJ Jr. Metals and disorders of cell accumulation: modulation of apoptosis and cell proliferation. Toxicol Sci 2000;56(2):255-61.

Inorganic Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute at National Institute of Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.

The review of the "remarkably adverse effects [of toxic metals], including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity", describes the processes by which toxic exposure and burden can damage the body at the cellular level. Toxic exposure can both activate the processes involved in apoptotic cell death and trigger proliferative disease such as cancer by interfering with normal apotosis. Many interfere with normal expression and function the tumor suppressor gene, p53. Although the causes of aberrant apoptosis induced by metals vary widely and there is likely no unifying mechanism by which different metals produce this result, knowledge of the mechanisms can lead to important advances in prevention and treatment. In the course of their discussion of these processes, the researchers delineate as well the relationships between toxic metals and specific nutrients.

Barceloux DG. Cobalt. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999;37(2):201-6.

American Academy of Clinical Toxicology

More Examples: Cobalt is a relatively rare magnetic element with properties similar to iron and nickel. The two valance states are cobaltous (II) and cobaltic (III) and the former is the most common valance used in the chemical industry. Cobalt occurs in nature primarily as arsenides, oxides, and sulfides. Most of the production of cobalt involves the metallic form used in the formation of cobalt superalloys. The term "hard metal" refers to compounds containing tungsten carbide (80-95%) combined with matrices formed from cobalt (5-20%) and nickel (0-5%). For the general population, the diet is the main source of exposure to cobalt. In the occupational settings, exposure to cobalt alone occurs primarily during the production of cobalt powders. In other industrial exposures (e.g., hard metal, diamond polishing), additional agents (tungsten) modulate the toxicity of cobalt. Cobalt is an essential element necessary for the formation of vitamin B12 (hydroxocobalamin); however, excessive administration of this trace element produces goiter and reduced thyroid activity. In 1966, the syndrome "beer drinker’s cardiomyopathy" appeared in Quebec City, Canada, and was characterized by pericardial effusion, elevated hemoglobin concentrations, and congestive heart failure. An interstitial pulmonary fibrosis has been associated with industrial exposure to hard metal dust (tunsten and cobalt), but not to cobalt alone. Exposures to cobalt alone produce an allergic contact dermatitis and occupational asthma. Treatment of cobalt toxicity is primarily supportive.Moore D, House I, Dixon A. Thallium poisoning. Diagnosis may be elusive but alpaca is the clue BMJ 1993;306(6891):1527-9.Poison Unit, Guy’s Hospital, London.

Thallium is a heavy metal whose salts are used in some rodent poisons and in the manufacturing of optical lenses, semiconductors, scintillation counters, low temperature thermometers, and switching devices, green colored fireworks, and imitation jewelry, and as chemical catalysts. In clinical practice thallium isotopes are used in cardiac scanning.

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All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by your own physician or health care provider. You should not use any information contained in our site to self-diagnose or personally treat any medical condition or disease or prescribe any medication. If you have or suspect you have a medical condition you are urged to contact your personal health care provider immediately. All health supplements or products purchased in this site contain clearly labeled product packaging, which must be read to ensure proper use. All information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It has not been conclusively established that oral chelation is an effective treatment or cure for any disease or condition or that it actually prevents or mitigates such harm. However, Extended Health, Inc. believes that the use of its products is a responsible precautionary stop for those people who are informed and concerned about such matters.

The National Institute of Health recently began a five-year double blind study on the effects of intravenous chelation. Since qualified doctors have offered their patients chelation treatments for over thirty years, we all look forward to these results. Extended Health has a doctor's label featuring the exact oral chelation formula that we sell directly to the public. We've sold this to doctors for over four years!

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