Metal Poisoning and Health

What is Metal Poisoning

Metal toxicity or metal poisoning is the toxic effect of certain metals in certain forms and doses on life. 
Some metals are toxic when they form poisonous soluble compounds. Certain metals have no biological role, nor essential   minerals, or toxic when in a certain form. In the case of lead, any measurable amount may have negative health effects.

The most common metals that human body can absorb in toxic amount are:

1.  Mercury - Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury. 
Symptoms - depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure. 
Which include; muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, skin rashes, anxiety, memory problems, trouble speaking, trouble hearing, or trouble seeing. High-level exposure to methyl mercury is known as Minamata disease.

Prevention - decreasing use of mercury/ low mercury diet.
2. Lead - A build-up of lead in the body, usually over months or years.
Lead-based paint and its dust, usually found in older buildings, are common sources of exposure. Young children are especially at risk. Occupational exposure, such as welding, is a more common cause for adults.
Symptoms - which Requires a medical diagnosis, include; developmental delays, abdominal pain, neurological changes and irritability. At very high levels, it can be fatal.

Solutions -

3. Cadmium - Cadmium is a naturally occurring toxic metal with common exposure in industrial workplaces, plant soils, and from smoking. Due to its low permissible exposure in humans, overexposure may occur even in situations where trace quantities of cadmium are found. 
Cadmium is used extensively in electroplating, although the nature of the operation does not generally lead to overexposure. Cadmium is also found in some industrial paints and may represent a hazard when sprayed.

Symptoms - Acute exposure to cadmium fumes may cause flu-like symptoms including chills, fever, and muscle ache sometimes referred to as "the cadmium blues." Symptoms may resolve after a week if there is no respiratory damage. More severe exposures can cause tracheo-bronchitis, pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain.

Inhaling cadmium-laden dust quickly leads to respiratory tract and kidney problems which can be fatal (often from renal failure). Ingestion of any significant amount of cadmium causes immediate poisoning and damage to the liver and the kidneys. Compounds containing cadmium are also carcinogenic.

Treatment: For a single exposure by ingestion, gastric decontamination by emesis or gastric lavage may be beneficial soon after exposure. Administration of activated charcoal has not been proven effective. Chelation therapies to remove cadmium are not effective, so the most important action is to prevent additional exposure.

4. Arsenic - Arsenic is a natural metalloid chemical that may be present in ground water. Ingestion only poses health problems if a dangerous amount of arsenic enters the body. Then, it can lead to cancer, liver disease, coma, and death.
Treatment - Treatment involves bowel irrigation, medication, and chelation therapy. 
It is rare to find dangerous amounts of arsenic in the natural environment. Areas with dangerous arsenic levels are usually well-known and provisions exist to prevent and handle the risk of poisoning. Anyone who suspects there may be high arsenic levels in their local environment should contact their local authorities for more information.

The world health care system is in crisis precisely because we systematically neglect wellness and prevention.

-Tom Harkin

"Don't learn through the hard way, prevention they say is better than cure. Take your health serious".

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