Heavy Metal Exposure
Heavy Metal Toxicity & Glyconutrients
There are many heavy metals that can affect our health, but lead and
mercury are, perhaps, the most dangerous. Lead has long been known to
be a harmful environmental pollutant. The Secretary of the Depatment of
Health & Human Services in late 1991 called lead “…number one
environmental threat to the health of children.”
Who’s at Risk For Lead?
By and large, children show a greater sensitivity to lead’s effects
than adults do. The incomplete development of the blood-brain barrier
in very young children (up to 36 months of age) increases the risk of
the lead’s entry into the developing nervous system, which can result
in prolonged neurobehavioral disorders. Children absorb and retain more
lead in proportion to their weight than do adults. Young children also
show a greater prevalence of iron deficiency, a condition that can
increase gastrointestinal absorption of lead.
Three to four million children in the United States (approximately
17%) are at increased risk of lead poisoning. A breakdown according to
socioeconomic and demographic strata shows that no economic or racial
subgroup of children is free from the risk of having blood lead levels
high enough to cause adverse health effects. Sizable num- bers of
children from families with incomes well above the poverty line have
been reported to have elevated blood lead levels. The prevalence of
elevated levels, nevertheless, remains highest among inner-city,
underprivileged children who live in deteriorating pre-1970s housing
containing leaded-paint surfaces.
Since lead readily crosses the placenta, the fetus is at great risk.
Fetal exposure can cause potentially adverse neurologic effects in
utero and during postnatal development. According to the Public Health<
Service, in 1984, more than 400,000 fetuses were exposed to lead
through maternal blood lead concentrations associated with early
developmental effects.
More than 1 million workers in over 100 different occupations may be
exposed to lead. In lead-related industries, workers not only may
inhale lead dust and lead oxide fumes, but may eat, drink, and smoke in
or near contaminated areas, increasing the probability of lead
ingestion. If showers and changes of clothing are not provided, workers
can bring lead dust home on their skin, shoes, and clothing, thus
inadvertently exposing family members.
In summary, the following are most at risk for lead exposure and problems.
- Young children have a great potential for lead exposure and are susceptible to its toxic effects
- Since blood lead readily crosses the placenta, lead poses a substantial threat to the developing fetus
- Workers may bring lead dust home on skin and clothes and unknowingly expose family members
Symptoms of Lead Exposure/Toxicity
Mild Toxicity
- Myalgia (muscle pain) or parathesia (numbness)
- Mild fatigue
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Occasional abdominal discomfort
Moderate Toxicity
- Arthralgia (joint pain)
- General fatigue
- Difficult concentrating
- Muscular exhaustibility
- Tremor
- Headache
- Diffuse abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Constipation
Severe Toxicity
- Paresis or paralysis
- Encephalopathy (may abruptly lead to seizures, changes in consciousness, coma or death)
- Lead line (blue-black) on gingival tissue in mouth
- Colic
Sources of Lead Exposure
Occupational
- Plumbers, Pipe Fitters
- Lead Miners
- Auto Repairers
- Glass Manufacturers
- Shipbuilders
- Printers
- Plastic Manufacturers
- Lead Smelters & Refiners
- Policemen
- Steel Workers or Cutters
- Construction Workers
- Rubber Product Manufacturers
- Gas Staion Attendants
- Battery Manufacturers
- Bridge Reconstruction Workers
Environmental
- Lead-containing paint
- Soil/Dust near lead industries, roadways, lead-painted houses
- Plumbing leachate
- Ceramicware
- Leaded gasoline
Hobbies & Related Activities
- Glazed Pottery making
- Target shooting at firing ranges
- Lead soldering
- Painting
- Prepared lead shot, fishing sinkers
- Stained Glass making
- Car or Boat repair
- Home remodeling
Substance Use
- Folk Remedies
- “Health Foods”
- Cosmetics
- Moonshine whiskey
- Gasoline “huffing”
Who’s at Risk for Mercury?
The “silver” fillings in your teeth (dental amalgams) are still widely used by the dental profession in most parts of the world. The “amalgam” consists of a mix of metals (generally 50% Mercury, 35% Silver, 15% Tin and other metals). But is it safe to put so much Mercury, the most toxic non-radioactive metal known to man, into the mouth of a person? There is now a growing mountain of evidence that it is NOT safe to do so. Some countries, like Sweden, Canada and Germany, have either banned or imposed serious limitations on amalgam usage. There is now compelling evidence from reputable scientific bodies such as the World Health Organization that, despite claims from pro-amalgam bodies such as the American and British Dental Associations (ADA/BDA), mercury is NOT “locked” safely in the metal bonds in the teeth, but can leak slowly into the body, often causing severe illnesses.
Is Dental Amalgam Safe?
Mercury’s extreme cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity is a major factor in the neurological conditions, along with its inhibition of basic enzymatic cellular processes and effects on essential minerals and nutrients in cells. Mercury is also documented to cause imbalances in neurotransmitters related to mood disorders. A direct mechanism involving mercury’s inhibition of cellular enzymatic processes by binding with the hydroxyl radical(SH) in amino acids appears to be a major part of the connection to allergic/immune reactive conditions such as autism, schizophrenia, lupus, eczema and psoriasis, scleroderma, and allergies. Immune reactivity to mercury has been documented by immune reactivity tests to be a major factor in many of the autoimmune conditions. more Detoxification is a normal body process kidneys, lungs, lymph and skin.
There are 3 kinds of mercury: metallic mercury, mercury salts and organic mercury. In an amalgam filling, there is often 500 mg mercury. Basically in 2 fillings there is enough mercury to kill a person. But mercury leaves the fillings very slowly, and so the body has time to distribute it all. Bacteria in mouth and gut change it to methyl mercury. It is that methyl mercury, which is carried from the mother to the child during pregnancy. If then additionally the child is vaccinated, sometimes the burden is too big after the 3rd or 4th vaccination, it is enough. In the USA, a child of 5 years has gotten 33 vaccinations. In former times, mercury chrome was a source, which has meanwhile been taken from the market. Now mercury is available in drops for ears and eyes, in thermostats, in liquids for contact lenses. As soon as the blood brain barrier is damaged by mercury, all other
poisons can pass into the brain unhindered. If the body is filled up
with all those good things, which the body needs, then there will be a
competition – mercury is released out of the compound.
According to the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology,
“We are currently in the advanced stages of the third amalgam war. The argument was reopened in the late 1970’s, as modern methods of detecting the presence of trace amounts of mercury were introduced, including mass spectrophotometry and the Jerome mercury vapor detector. We have accumulated a formidable body of evidence establishing the chain of toxic events: 1) amalgam releases significant amounts of mercury; 2) the mercury distributes to tissues around the body, and is the biggest source of mercury body burden; 3) the mercury
rom amalgam crosses the placenta and into breast milk, resulting in significant pre- and post-partum exposures for infants; and 4) adverse physiological changes occur from that exposure on the immune, renal, reproductive and central nervous systems, as well as the oral and intestinal flora.”
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Excessive levels of heavy metals may also be common in autoimmune
diseases. One doctor who tested all his patients found that over 80% of
them with an autoimmune disease had excessive mercury levels. They are
difficult to get rid of, and are especially harmful as they disrupt cell metabolism. Heavy metals slowly collect in your body, irritate cells and literally can wipe out the immune system. For some people, this could be a major cause of their fatigue. By utilizing proper Glyconutritional support, the heavy metals in our bodies can be removed.
Key Immune Health Benefits of “immune system support”
These claims have been evaluated by the FDA and are allowed without objection:
- A strong immune system removes toxins and damaged cell material.
“immune system support” supports the body’s ability to do cellular
“house cleaning.” It helps your body to:- Remove harmful heavy metals.
- Remove daily toxins.
- Remove damaged cellular materials.
- The specialized nutrients in “immune system support” can immediately react with mucous membranes in your mouth and esophagus to energize your immune system.
- Strengthens the mucosal immune system–your first-line of defense.
- Supports a cascade of immune responses that begin in the mouth and proceeds throughout the body.
- Supplies and enhances natural antibodies (Immunoglobulins).
- Optimizes response of natural killer cells, B-cells and T-cells, which seek out and destroy foreign substances.
- “immune system support” features a targeted array of nutrients for building and nurturing immune system health.
- The specialized nutrients in “immune system support” provide daily support for strong immune systems.
- Helps regulate the number and activities of circulating immune cells.
- Initiates communication in the immune system, which releases chemical messengers to keep your immune system strong.
- They bind to specific receptor sites that send signals directly to
your lymphatic system–the roadway for your trillion circulating white blood cells. - Components in “immune system support” help trigger a cascade of immune signaling mechanisms.
- “immune system support” features peptides, amino acids and
glycoproteins that engage your body’s natural ability to heal and
repair itself. - The combination of “immune system support” and “glyconutritional”
complex provides a synergistic array of proteins, peptides,
polypeptides and glycoproteins– nutrients that can help you achieve optimal health through an appropriately immunomodulated immune system.