The dangers of lead exposure are all too clear. But did you know there are other hazardous heavy metals, like mercury and arsenic, you should also avoid?
Mercury
You may know mercury as the liquid metal found in old thermometers. But mercury also occurs in other forms, like powders, crystals, compounds and vapors.
Your risk of being exposed to mercury is higher in certain occupations, like construction. Mercury is also a risk in these everyday situations:
- Eating fish or shellfish. Organic mercury can build up in shellfish or in older predatory fish like swordfish, shark, albacore tuna, pike, walleye and bass.
- Disposing of mercury-containing items. Household items like old thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury. Properly dispose of these items, and take special steps to clean up a break or spill. To avoid inhaling vapors, don't vacuum up a spill or breakage.
- Using skin lighteners. Illegally imported skin-lightening creams can contain very high levels of mercury.
And what about dental fillings? Questions have long been raised about the metal in dental fillings, which contain 50 percent elemental mercury.
The concern is understandable, since mercury at the surface of a filling may enter the air as a vapor or dissolve in your saliva. And those metal fillings do increase mercury levels in your body. But these amounts and levels are below what's considered safe.
However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that certain people are at a higher risk of health effects even from small amounts of mercury exposure. So the FDA recommends that the following people avoid getting new dental amalgam fillings:
- People who are nursing, pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
- Children under the age of 6.
- People who have an allergy or sensitivity to mercury.
- People with brain or kidney conditions.
In those cases, ask your dentist if there are other treatment options for your cavities.
Arsenic
If you're a classic movie buff, you're probably familiar with "Arsenic and Old Lace," and its two spinster aunts who use arsenic to poison wine. Those two conniving women must've been using inorganic arsenic.
Inorganic arsenic compounds are highly toxic. Two ways you may be exposed to inorganic arsenic are through:
- Soil and rock. Some areas of the U.S. have naturally high levels of inorganic arsenic in rock. The soil in former industrial or agricultural fields where inorganic arsenic was once heavily used could also contain high arsenic levels.
- Pressure-treated lumber. Arsenic-treated lumber was phased out in 2003 in the U.S. However, sawing, sanding or burning treated lumber that's older than that could result in significant arsenic exposure.
The other form of arsenic — organic compounds — is less harmful. This type of arsenic may be found in seafood. In fact, if you have an elevated arsenic level, it's likely from eating fresh fish containing organic arsenic. Relatively low levels aren't a reason for concern, but your doctor may recommend that you eat less fresh fish.
How do you know if you've been exposed?
Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity vary depending on exposure.
- Low exposure. Frequent, lower level exposures over time may cause high blood pressure, reproductive problems, kidney problems, cataracts, warts, and an increased risk of cancer. These signs and symptoms may occur gradually or subtly.
- High exposure. Very high exposure may cause stomach pain, headache, coughing, chest pain, skin irritation, mouth abnormalities, hearing loss, joint pain, irritability, personality changes, impaired concentration, and more signs and symptoms. Acute mercury or arsenic toxicity can be deadly.
Can heavy metal toxicity be treated?
Treatment for heavy metal toxicity may involve:
- Supportive care. This involves managing your symptoms as your body gradually rids itself of the toxic metal. An essential part of supportive care is finding the cause of exposure and reducing or eliminating it.
- Chelation. For high levels of toxicity, your doctor may recommend chelation. This involves taking drugs that bind to the heavy metals so that they're passed in your urine.