The Impact of Heavy Metal Toxicity on Health

The Definition of Heavy Metal Toxicity

Heavy metals (HMs) are dense elements that become poisonous in certain forms and doses. They can affect living beings, especially young children and the elderly.

Exposure can occur from the air, water and products we use or the food we eat. This can be acute or chronic. Treatment usually involves medications that bind to the toxic metals, which are then flushed out of the body.

Definition

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have a high density compared to water. Although the body needs a small amount of these elements to keep its organs functioning, some metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury) can be toxic if too many accumulate within the body. They are systemic poisons that cause adverse health effects depending on the dose and the route of exposure. They are known to induce cardiovascular diseases, developmental and behavioral abnormalities, neurological disorders, diabetes, hematologic disorders and cancer. They are found in the environment from natural sources and also as byproducts of industrial, agricultural, medical and domestic applications.

Exposure is usually gradual and results in accumulation over time. Screening for heavy metal toxicity requires obtaining occupational, dietary and recreational history to identify potential sources of exposure. A heavy metal blood test can be performed to measure the levels of these metals in the body. A chelation challenge may be needed to help establish diagnosis in cases of suspected chronic exposure.

Symptoms

While the human body needs small amounts of certain metals to function properly, heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury are harmful when ingested at high levels. You can get exposed to these metals by drinking contaminated water, eating food from crops that have been grown in soil that is high in metal, handling products made of or coated with metal and more.

When toxic metals accumulate in the body, they disrupt cellular functions and cause a variety of symptoms including cognitive dysfunction, neurodegeneration, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal issues and mood changes. The most common symptom is joint pain.

Symptoms of toxicity vary by the type of metal and can be difficult to diagnose. Blood and hair tests only indicate the metals that have been excreted into the bloodstream, not those stored at a cellular level. A chelation challenge test (with the medicine DMPS or caEDTA) can help determine whether you have an accumulation of heavy metals in your body.

Diagnosis

Heavy metal poisoning is a serious problem, but it can be difficult to diagnose. This is because the symptoms of metal toxicity look like those of many other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases, depression and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD).

Metals are found in many different substances that humans use, including food, water and air pollution, lead-based paint, medicines and industrial exposure. The soft tissues of your body can absorb these substances in high concentrations, causing toxic metal poisoning.

Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include stomach pain, fatigue and brain fog. Blood tests are often used to detect the presence of heavy metals, but these do not always indicate what is stored at a cellular level and may miss some forms of toxic metals. Hair and skin test results can also be used to assess for heavy metals, but these are not as reliable as a blood test. A functional medicine practitioner can help you decide if testing is appropriate for your symptoms.

Treatment

Heavy metal toxicity can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are often vague. They can include joint and muscle pain, gastrointestinal issues, brain fog, fatigue, and depression. In addition, they can overlap with many other health conditions like nutrient deficiencies, gut imbalances, food sensitivities, and hormone imbalances.

Unlike acute poisoning, chronic exposure to heavy metals occurs slowly over time. Hair, saliva and nail tests are used to measure metal levels, but are not accurate measurements at the cellular level. Blood and urine tests are also used, but are not able to determine whether the levels are transiently elevated (from eating seafood) or if they have reached toxic levels (from living in an older home with lead water pipes and flaking paint).

To identify heavy metal toxicity, clinicians must have a high index of suspicion, take a thorough history, examine the skin for rashes, and order appropriate laboratory testing. For those with severe toxicity, intravenously administered chelating agents such as DMPS or caEDTA can be helpful to speed up the elimination of accumulated metals.

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