Behavioral, Structural, Functional Abnormalities Associated with Heavy Metals

Published in the August issue of Alternative & Complimentary Therapies (a magazine for doctors) and Published in Townsend Letter for Doctor's and Patients

TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF HEAVY METAL TOXICITY

Psychiatric Disturbances:
* Social Deficits, Social withdrawal
(Mercury)

* Repetitive, perseverative, stereotyped behaviors; OCDtypical behaviors
(Mercury)

* Depression, mood swings, flat affect; impaired facial recognition
(Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury)

* Schizoid tendencies; hallucinations; delirium
(Mercury)

* Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums
(Lead, Mercury)

* Suicidal Behaviors
(Copper, Mercury)

* Sleep difficulties/disturbances
(Lead, Mercury, Thallium)

* Chronic fatigue (CFS); weakness, malaise
(Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium)

* Anorexia; symptoms reflecting eating disorders, loss of appetite/weight
(Arsenic, Lead, Mercury)

* Anxiety; nervous tendencies
(Thallium)

* Attentional problems (ADHD), lacks eye contact, impaired visual fixation
(Lead, Mercury)

Speech and Language Deficits:
* Speech disorders
(Aluminum, Mercury)

* Loss of speech, developmental problems with language
(Mercury)

* Speech comprehension deficits
(Mercury)

* Dysarthria; articulation problems; slurred speech, unintelligible speech
(Mercury)

Cognitive Impairments:
* Mental retardation, borderline intelligence
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury

* Uneven performance on IQ scores, low IQ scores
(Copper, Lead)

* Poor concentration, attention deficits (ADHD, response inhibition
(Aluminum, Lead)

* Poor memory (short term, verbal, and auditory)
(Aluminum, Lead)

* Difficulties understanding abstract ideas; difficulty carrying out complex commands
(All metals)

* Dementia; pre-senile and senile dementia
(Aluminum)

* Stupor
(Aluminum, Arsenic)

* Impaired reaction time; lower performance on timed tests
(Lead)

Sensory Abnormalities:
* Abnormal Sensations in the mouth and extremities
(Arsenic)

* Hearing loss, difficulty hearing
(Arsenic, Lead, Mercury)

* Abnormal touch sensations; diminished touch sensations, aversion to touch
(Arsenic)

* Blurred vision; sensitivity to light
(Arsenic, Mercury)

Motor Disorders:
* Choreiform movements, myoclonal jerks, unusual postures
(Copper, Mercury)

* Difficulty walking, swallowing, talking
(Copper, Mercury)

* Flapping, circling, rocking, toe walking
(Mercury)

* Problems with intentional movements or imitation (Mercury)

* Abnormal, gait/posture; incoordination, loss of balance; problems sitting, lying, crawling and walking (Mercury)

* Decreased locomotor activity
(Aluminum, Arsenic)

* Convulsions; seizures
(Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium)

Peripheral Nervous System:
* Peripheral neuropathy
(Arsenic, Mercury)

* Alterations in peripheral nerves
(Arsenic)

* Loss of feeling/numbness in the extremities; paresthesia
(Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium)

Physiological Impairment, Brain and Central Nervous System:

* Neurofibrillary tangles
(Aluminum)

* Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis; neuropathy
(Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium)

* Encephalopathy
(Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium)

* Cerebrovascular disease
(All metals)

* Alterations in nerve conduction velocity
(Lead)

* Alterations in the spinal cord
(Thallium)

* Accumulates in CNS structures
(Aluminum, Mercury)

* Abnormal EEG
(Arsenic, Lead)

* Autonomic disturbances
(Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium)

Gastrointestinal Tract:
* Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite
(Arsenic, Mercury)

* Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning of the throat of the mouth
(Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium)

* Esophagitis; gastroenteritis; colitis
(Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium)

* Cancers (colon, pancreatic, stomach, or rectal)
(Arsenic)

Renal and Hepatic Impairment:
Hepatotoxicity; Liver dysfunction, damage
(Arsenic, Copper, Thallium)

* Cirrhosis of the liver; hepatitis
(Copper)

* Kidney disease; kidney failure
(Arsenic, Lead, Mercury)

* Renal toxicity; tubular proteinosis
(Arsenic, Copper, Lead)

* Kidney Damage, histological alterations
(Arsenic, Lead)

Cardiovascular System:
* Blood vessel damage
(Arsenic)

* Anemia; decreased red blood cell count
(Arsenic, Copper)

* Hypertension; increased heart rate (tachycardia)
(Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium)

* Electrocardiac disorders, Peripheral vascular disease; cardiovascular disease, vascular collapse
(Arsenic, Lead)

Respiratory System:
* Pulmonary Fibrosis
(Aluminum, Arsenic)

* Pulmonary edema
(All metals)

* Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis
(Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury)

* Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconiosis
(Arsenic, Aluminum)

* Nasal ulcers, perforation of the nasal septum
(All metals)

Immune System:
* Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, & allergies
(All metals)

* Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes
(All metals)

* Immunosuppression
(Lead)

* Decreased white blood cell count
(Arsenic, Thallium)

Reproductive System:
* Genital abnormalities
(Aluminum, Thallium)

* Disturbances in menstrual cycle; menstrual pains
(Copper, Mercury)

* Birth defects; premature births; Spontaneous abortion
(Arsenic, Lead, Mercury)

* Reproductive dysfunction
(Arsenic, Aluminum)

Other Physical Disturbances:
* Hypotonia or hypertonia; decreased muscular strength
(All metals)

* Rashes, contact dermatitis; eczema, itchy/irritating skin
(Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury)

* Muscle pain; headache; acrodynia; colic
(Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium)

* Alopecia (hair loss)
(Thallium)