Metal toxicity

Metal toxicity is a condition categorized by an excess of metals in the bloodstream or tissue. The condition can be caused by a variety of circumstances, all involving the exposure and accumulation of metals in the body. Individuals suffering from metal toxicity may ingest extra heavy metals, inhale metal dust, eat animals contaminated with excess metals, or work in an unsafe industrial environment.

Individuals suffering from metal toxicity may experience confusion, numbness, loss of consciousness, vomiting, headaches, weakness, and constipation. Depending on the source of the toxicity, symptoms may occur suddenly or slowly over time. Doctors commonly diagnose metal toxicity through the use of blood and urine tests. The condition is usually treated by reducing patients’ exposure to metals. It may also be treated through a process called chelation therapy, which introduces medicine into the bloodstream where it binds to the toxic metals and removes them. However, doctors are sometimes reluctant to utilize chelation therapy because of its negative side effects.

Background

Metals are one of three primary groups of elements on the periodic table. They are known for having a specific atomic structure that easily loses electrons, thereby forming positive ions. Metals also tend to be good conductors of electricity, malleable, lustrous, and ductile.

Heavy metals are a category of metals that have a high atomic number and exhibit a relatively high density. Some, such as iron, zinc, and copper are naturally found in the human body and are necessary for the body to function properly. Others, such as mercury, arsenic, and lead are toxic and can lead to serious illness and death. Toxic metals were sometimes used in construction projects and are often present in some cities and other human-made environments. Even some beneficial metals can cause health issues if they accumulate in the body in high enough amounts.

Individuals can contract metal toxicity in a number of ways. In some cases, people are exposed to toxic metals unknowingly. For example, in the water crisis that impacted Flint, Michigan, in the mid-2010s, people ingested lead and other heavy metals through a contaminated water supply. Lead from the Flint’s old pipe system was leeching into the city’s supply of drinking water. This drastically increased the amount of metal present in the water, making it unsafe to drink. Individuals who drank the water without filtering it suffered from metal toxicity.

Some individuals who work in factories that make use of heavy metals are also at risk for metal toxicity. Other risk factors include eating fish from a body of water with unusually high levels of metals and using herbal medicines made with metals. In some cases, even breathing lead paint dust from old homes can cause metal toxicity. Improperly taken medicine, air pollution, and utilizing improperly sealed metal food containers, plates, and cookware can also expose people to unsafe levels of metals.

Overview

Metal toxicity can cause a variety of symptoms. In many cases, the symptoms depend on the type of poisoning. Acute metal poisoning occurs when an individual is suddenly exposed to large doses of metal. This can happen when children swallow metal toys. Symptoms of acute metal poisoning include confusion, numbness, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, the victim may even fall into a coma.

Chronic metal poisoning happens when people are exposed to increased levels of metal over long periods of time. This typically exhibits different symptoms than acute metal poisoning. These include muscle pain, muscle weakness, joint pain, exhaustion, chronic headaches, and constipation.

Doctors do not routinely test for heavy metal poisoning, meaning that it is sometimes difficult to diagnose. In most cases, doctors only test for metal toxicity only if external circumstances give them reason to suspect metal poisoning. In order to determine the possibility, doctors may begin by asking about a patient’s job, lifestyle, hobbies, and diet.

If a patient’s answers suggest that their symptoms might be the result of metal toxicity, doctors may order a number of tests to check for the presence of excess metals. Common testing methods include urine tests, blood tests, and X-rays.

Doctors typically advise patients who test positive for excess metals to avoid further exposure to the problem. They may work with patients to find the source if the patient is unsure of the reason for their exposure. If the poisoning is acute, doctors may order a stomach pump to remove as much of the metal as possible.

If the metal toxicity is particularly severe, doctors may order that patients undergo chelation therapy. During this process, patients are fitted with an intravenous (IV) tube, which delivers medicine directly to the bloodstream. The medicine delivered through the tube quickly binds to metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic. Unlike the metals, the medicine is naturally removed from the body during urination. This quickly reduces the levels of metal in the bloodstream, reducing toxicity and easing symptoms.

Chelation therapy is only effective with mercury, lead, or arsenic and does not help if patients have unsafe levels of other metals in their bloodstream. Additionally, some doctors are reluctant to prescribe chelation therapy because of its potential negative side effects.

Some people who undergo chelation therapy suffer from burning sensations, headaches, fever, nausea, and vomiting. After chelation therapy, many patients suffer from deficiencies in calcium, zinc, and copper. In rare cases, chelation therapy can cause kidney damage.

Doctors advise patients to only attempt to treat metal toxicity after they have been thoroughly examined and diagnosed by a doctor. Some websites and media outlets have fraudulently blamed common symptoms like exhaustion on the presence of excess metals in the body. However, genuine cases of metal toxicity are usually rare. For this reason, doctors warn that testing and treatment for metal toxicity carried out by anyone other than a doctor might be unreliable or dangerous.

Bibliography

Cassata, Cathy. “What Is Heavy Metal Poisoning?” Everyday Health, 28 Oct. 2015, www.everydayhealth.com/heavy-metal-poisoning/guide/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

“Flint’s Water Crisis Started 5 Years Ago. It’s Not Over.” New York Times, 25 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/flint-water-crisis.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

“Heavy Metals.” Dartmouth, 1998, www.dartmouth.edu/~rpsmith/Heavy‗Metals.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “What Is a Metal in Chemistry?” ThoughtCo., 23 Sept. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-metal-604570. Accessed 5 Mar. 2020.

Miller, Alan. “The Impacts of Heavy Metal Toxicity.” Thorne, 14 Jan. 2018, www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/the-impacts-of-heavy-metal-toxicity. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

Trowbridge, John Parks. “Tragedy of the Flint Michigan Contamination.” Dr. Johnathan Collin, www.drjonathancollin.com/contents/patient-info/flint-water. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

“What Is Chelation Therapy?” WebMD, 22 Mar. 2019, www.webmd.com/balance/guide/what-is-chelation-therapy#1. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

“What Is Heavy Metal Poisoning?” WebMD, 26 Jan. 2020, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-heavy-metal-poisoning#1-4. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.