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Behavioral Abnormalities Associated with Various
Heavy Metal Toxins
Human beings have been exposed to heavy metal toxins for an immeasurable amount of time. The industrialization of the world has dramatically increased the overall environmental 'load' of heavy metal toxins to the point that our societies are dependent upon them for proper functioning.
Industry and commercial processes have actively mined refined manufactured burned and manipulated heavy metal compounds for a number of reasons. Today heavy metals are abundant in our drinking water air and soil due to our increased use of these compounds. They are present in virtually every area of modern consumerism from construction materials to cosmetics medicines to processed foods fuel sources to agents of destruction appliances to personal care products.
It is very difficult for anyone to avoid exposure to any of the many harmful heavy metals that are so prevalent in our environment. While it does not appear that we are going to neutralize the threat of heavy metal toxicity in our communities nor decrease our utilization of the many commercial goods that they help produce we can take steps to understand this threat and put into action policies of prevention and treatment that may help to lessen the negative impact that these agents have on human health.
Heavy metal toxins contribute to a variety of adverse health effects. There exist over 20 different heavy metal toxins that can impact human health and each toxin will produce different behavioral physiological and cognitive changes in an exposed individual. The degree to which a system organ tissue or cell is affected by a heavy metal toxin depends on the toxin itself and the individual's degree of exposure to the toxin.
Review the list below to see if you currently experience any of the symptoms associated with heavy metal poisoning, it is not as rare as you might think it is. If you do, then you might want to consider Oral Chelation Therapy to relieve those symptoms.
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Psychiatric Disturbances |
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Social Deficits, Social withdrawal
Mercury |
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Repetitive, preseverative, stereotyped behaviors;
OCD-typical behaviors
Mercury |
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Depression, mood swings, flat affect; impaired facial recognition
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury |
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Schizoid tendencies; hallucinations; delirium
Mercury |
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Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums
Lead, Mercury |
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Suicidal Behaviors
Copper, Mercury |
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Sleep difficulties/ disturbances
Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
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Chronic fatigue (CFS); weakness, malaise
Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
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Anorexia; symptoms reflecting eating disorders; loss of appetite/weight
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
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Anxiety; nervous tendencies
Thallium |
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Attention problems (ADHD), lacks eye contact, impaired visual fixation
Lead, Mercury |
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Speech and Language Deficits |
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Speech disorders
Aluminum, Mercury |
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Loss of speech, developmental problems with language
Mercury |
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Speech comprehension deficits
Mercury |
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Dysarthria articulation problems slurred speech, unintelligible speech
Mercury |
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Cognitive Impairments |
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Mental retardation, borderline intelligence
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
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Uneven performance on IQ scores, low IQ scores
Copper, Lead |
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Poor concentration, attention deficits (ADHD), response inhibition
Aluminum, Lead |
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Poor memory (short term, verbal and auditory)
Aluminum, Lead |
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Dementia; pre-senile and senile dementia
Aluminum |
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Stupor
Aluminum, Arsenic |
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Impaired reaction time; lower performance on timed tests
Lead |
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Sensory Abnormalities |
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Abnormal Sensations in the mouth and extremities
Arsenic |
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Hearing loss, difficulty hearing
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
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Abnormal touch sensations; diminished touch sensations, aversion to touch
Arsenic |
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Blurred vision; sensitivity to light
Arsenic, Mercury |
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Motor Disorders |
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Choreiform movements, myoclonal jerks, unusual postures
Copper, Mercury |
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Difficulty walking, swallowing talking
Copper, Mercury |
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Flapping, circling, rocking, toe walking
Mercury |
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Problems with intentional movements or imitation
Mercury |
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Abnormal gait/posture; incoordination, loss of balance;
problems sitting, lying, crawling, and walking
Mercury |
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Decreased locomotor activity
Aluminum, Arsenic |
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Convulsions; seizure
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
Structural and Functional Abnormalities associated
with various heavy metal toxins
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Physiological Impairment |
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Brain and Central Nervous System |
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Neurofibrillary tangles
Aluminum |
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Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis; neuropathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Thallium |
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Encephalopathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium |
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Alterations in nerve conduction velocity
Lead |
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Alterations in the spinal chord
Thallium |
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Accumulates in CNS structures
Aluminum, Mercury |
Abnormal EEGs
Arsenic, Lead |
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Autonomic disturbances
Copper, Lead,Mercury, Thallium |
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Peripheral Nervous System |
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Peripheral neuropathy
Arsenic, Mercury |
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Alterations in peripheral nerves
Arsenic |
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Loss of feeling/ numbness in the extremities
paresthesia
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium |
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Gastrointestinal Tract |
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Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite
Arsenic, Copper, Mercury, Thallium |
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Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning of the throat and mouth
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
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Esophagitis; gastroenteritis; colitis
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium |
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Cancers (colon, pancreatic, stomach, or rectal)
Arsenic |
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Renal and Hepatic Impairment |
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Hepatotoxicity; Liver; dysfunction damage
Arsenic, Copper, Thallium |
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Cirrhosis of the liver hepatitis
Copper |
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Kidney disease; kidney failure
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
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Renal toxicity; tubular proteinosis
Arsenic, Copper, Lead |
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Kidney Damage, histological alterations
Arsenic, Lead |
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Cardiovascular System |
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Blood vessel damage
Arsenic |
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Anemia decreased red blood cell count
Arsenic, Copper, Lead |
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Hypertension increased heart rate (tachycardia)
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium |
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Electrocardiac disorders |
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Peripheral vascular disease cardiovascular disease vascular collapse
Arsenic, Lead |
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Respiratory System |
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Pulmonary Fibrosis
Aluminum, Arsenic |
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Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis
Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury |
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Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconiosis
Arsenic, Aluminum |
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Respiratory tract cancers
Arsenic |
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Immune System |
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Immuno suppression
Lead |
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Decreased white blood cell count
Arsenic, Thallium |
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Reproductive System |
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Genital abnormalities
Aluminum, Thallium |
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Disturbances in menstrual cycle menstrual pains
Copper, Mercury |
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Birth defects premature births Spontaneous abortion
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
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Reproductive dysfunction
Arsenic, Aluminum, Cadmium, Lead |
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Other Physical Disturbances |
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Rashes, contact dermatitis, eczema, itchy/irritating skin
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury |
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Muscle pain; headache; acrodynia; colic
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium |
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Alopecia (hair loss)
Thallium |
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