Toxic heavy metals can cause the following health problems:
- long term exposure to cadmium is associated with renal dysfunction. Cadmium is biopersistent and once absorbed remains resident for many years. High exposure can lead to obstructive lung diseases and has been linked to lung cancer. Cadmium may also cause bone defects in humans and animals. The average daily intake for humans is estimated as 0.15µg from air and 1µg from water;
- low exposure to chromium can irritage the skin and cause ulceration. Long term exposure can cause kidney and liver damage. It can also cause damage to circulatory and nerve tissues;
- high doses of copper can cause anemia, liver and kidney damage, and stomach and intestinal irritation. People with Wilson’s disease are at greater risk for health effects from overexposure to copper;
- exposure to lead can lead to a wide range of biological defects in human depending on duration and level of exposure. The developing feotus and infants are far more sensitive than adults. High exposure can cause problems in the synthesis of haemoglobins, damage to the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, joints, reproductive system and the nervous system. Studies have suggested that exposure to lead can cause up to a loss of 2 IQ points;
- inorganic mercury poisoning is associated with tremours, gingivitis and/or minor pyschological changes together with spontaneous abortion and congenital malformation. Monomethylmercury causes damage to the brain and the central nervous system while fetal and post-natal exposure have given rise to abortion, congenital malformation and development changes in young children;
- excessive amounts of nickel can be mildly toxic. Long term exposure can cause decreased body weight, heart and liver damage andskin irritation;
- exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death. All types of arsenic exposure can cause kidney and liver damage and in the most severe exposure there is erythrocyte hemolysis;
- manganese is known to block calcium channels and with chronic exposure results in CNS dopamine depletion. This duplicates almost all of the symptomology of Parkinson’s Disease.
- aluminium toxicity is associated with the development of bone disorders including fractures, osteopenia and osteomalacia
The more commonly encountered toxic heavy metals are Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Iron, Aluminium
Heavy metal toxicity represents an uncommon, yet clinically significant, medical condition. If unrecognized or inappropriately treated, heavy metal toxicity can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The most common heavy metals implicated in acute and/or chronic conditions include lead, arsenic, and mercury.
The Heavy Metals Test kits come in two options:
- a General kit to test the presence of a range of heavy metals such as COPPER, ZINC, CADMIUM, MERCURY, LEAD, NICKEL, MANGANESE, COBALT;
- a Specific kit to test the presence of a range of heavy metals individually such as ALUMINIUM, ARSENIC, CADMIUM, CHROMIUM, COBALT, CHLORINE, COPPER, IRON, LEAD, MERCURY, MANGANESE, MOLYBDENUM, SILVER, TIN
Recent Comments