Heavy Metal Toxicity Checklist


Arsenichttp://www.doctorjackson.org/health/poisoning.htm
Arsenic
Common sources of exposure to higher-than-average levels of arsenic include near or in hazardous waste sites and areas with high levels naturally occurring in soil, rocks, and water. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death.
BerylliumBeryllium
Elemental beryllium has a wide variety of applications. Occupational exposure most often occurs in mining, extraction, and in the processing of alloy metals containing beryllium. Beryllium causes lung and skin disease in 2 to 10 percent of exposed workers.
Cadmium
Cadmium
Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal commonly found in industrial workplaces, particularly where any ore is being processed or smelted. Several deaths from acute exposure have occurred among welders who have unsuspectingly welded on cadmium-containing alloys or working with silver solders.
Hexavalent ChromiumHexavalent Chromium
Calcium chromate, chromium trioxide, lead chromate, strontium chromate, and zinc chromate are known human carcinogens. An increase in the incidence of lung cancer has been observed among workers in industries that produce chromate and manufacture pigments containing chromate.
LeadLead (click here to read the article)
Also read this research article Lead Contamination in Cocoa and Cocoa Products: Isotopic Evidence of Global Contamination (PDF) and Lead in Garden Soils (Link)
Dangerous element that can be harmful even in small amounts. Lead enters the human body in many ways. It can be inhaled in dust from Lead paints, or waste gases from leaded gasoline. It is found in trace amounts in various foods, notably fish, which are heavily subjected to industrial pollution. Some old homes may have Lead water pipes, which can easily contaminate drinking water. Most of the Lead we take in is removed from our bodies in urine; however, there is still risk of buildup, particularly in children. If Lead buildup occurs, health problems including damage to the nervous system, mental retardation, and even death, can ensue.
Signs and Symptoms
Lead poisoning may be hard to detect at first because children who appear healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. The accumulation of lead in the body usually is gradual, building up unnoticed until levels are dangerous.
The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children are nonspecific and may include: irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, sluggishness, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and anemia.
Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous to adults. The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in adults may include: pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities, muscular weakness, headache, abdominal pain, memory loss, reproductive impairment in men, constipation, and anemia
MercuryMercury (click here to read the article) 
Mercury is considered by many to be even more toxic than lead. Although mercury is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, mercury vapor is easily taken in through the lungs and readily passes into the brain. Once in the body, mercury also concentrates in the nerves, liver, and especially the kidneys. Mercury is a potent cellular toxin and is known to decrease neurotransmitter production, disrupt important processes within the nerve cells, and decrease important hormones such as thyroid and testosterone.
Signs and Symptoms
The primary symptoms of mercury-poisoning are short term memory deteriorates. You may find it difficult to concentrate on tasks which require attention and thinking. It is easier to execute tasks that are well known rather than to learn something new. You avoid social contacts which demand that you get out of your introvert behavior. You loose your temper easily and switch between different moods for no particular reason.
Gradually a more physical kind of exhaustion is added to the condition. More effort is required to initiate activities and sometimes break things due to inability to co-ordinate your movements with your visual impressions (ataxia). Occasional headaches, minor involuntary muscle spasms or ticks within groups of muscles can also appear. Hands and feet become easily cold, attacks of dizziness or vertigo can occur, and periodically you may find it difficult to focus your eyes and to see clearly. Joint and muscle pains, stiffness, lumbago and similar symptoms often appear at an early stage. They can be caused or increased by low availability of the trace element selenium. Nervous heart, sometimes accompanied by a week pulse, sometimes by a hard pulse, creates a feeling of anxiety. You don't sleep well, you wake up stiff and never feel thoroughly rested. As a whole you need more sleep than before, and you are constantly tired. Some individuals develop pronounced intestinal and stomach disturbances. Bloating is common and diarrhea can alternate with constipation.
From 50 to 200 micrograms mercury from amalgam daily passes the gastrointestinal tract. There is usually irritation where mercury first interacts with tissues. The upper respiratory tract easily becomes chronically inflamed and symptoms in mouth appear. The gums bleed when you brush your teeth, red and white irritations (lichen, leukoplakia) araise, blisters and sensitivity to certain nutritives develop, ypur teeth ache, the whole jaw can become more or less inflamed, and some persons develop sinusitis. Metal taste in your mouth is a direct sign of metal-poisoning (mercury, copper).
The more poisoned you are, the more serious and chronic your problems become. The piruitary gland will be affected which often leads to frequent urination. When the thyroid gland is affected secondary effects on metabolism can appear. Both glands accumulate mercury. neurological symptoms such as numbness, hypersensitivity and paralysis exacerbate. It is often hard to determine if the cause is in the nervous or circulatory systems
Ask Dr. Jackson To Learn How To Detoxify Your Body
Dr. Robert Jackson
Behavioral Structural Functional Abnormalities associated with various Heavy Metal Toxins
Psychiatric Disturbances
Social Deficits, Social withdrawal
Mercury
Repetitive perseverative stereotyped behaviors, OCD-typical 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
Attention 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
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, uncoordination loss of balance, problems sitting lying crawling and walking
Mercury
Decreased locomotor activity
Aluminum, Arsenic
Convulsions, seizure
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
 
Structural and Functional Abnormalities associated with various heavy metal toxins
Physiological Impairment
Brain and Central Nervous System
Neurofibrillary tangles
Aluminum
Neuritis retrobulbar neuritis
neuropathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Thallium
Encephalopathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium
Alterations in nerve conduction velocity
Lead
Alterations in the spinal chord
Thallium
Accumulates in CNS structures
Aluminum, Mercury
Abnormal EEGs
Arsenic, Lead
Autonomic disturbances
Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Peripheral Nervous System
Peripheral neuropathy
Arsenic, Mercury
Alterations in peripheral nerves
Arsenic
Loss of feeling/ numbness in the extremities, parasthesia
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium
Gastrointestinal Tract
Nausea vomiting diarrhea
loss of appetite
Arsenic, Copper, Mercury, Thallium
Abdominal pain stomach cramps
burning of the throat and 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, Lead
Hypertension, increased heart rate (tachycardia)
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium
Electrocardiac disorders
Peripheral vascular disease,
cardiovascular disease, vascular collapse
Arsenic, Lead
Respiratory System
Pulmonary FibrosisAluminum, Arsenic
Pneumonia laryngitis pharyngitis bronchitisAluminum, Arsenic, Mercury
Restrictive airway disorders asthmatic conditions pneumoconisisArsenic, Aluminum
Respiratory tract cancersArsenic
Immune System
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, Cadmium, Lead
Other Physical Disturbances
Rashes contact dermatitis eczema itchy/irritating skin
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury
Muscle pain, headache, acrodynia, colic
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium
Alopecia (hair loss)
Thallium