Toxic Metals
After the industrial revolution, metal exposures have increased with increasing environmental pollution, long shelf life food consumption and the introduction of metal items into our lives. These metals can be toxic to the human body, especially by accumulating in fatty tissues (mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminum, beryllium, arsenic, etc.) and can lead to various chronic inflammatory diseases. Toxic metals can damage cellular metabolic processes, mainly through inflammation, oxidation, nitrosative stress, suppression of minerals. Toxic metals can also cause allergies and autoimmune disorders with immunological effects.
How Do They Affect Us?
Heavy metal poisoning is the accumulation of toxic amounts of heavy metals in the soft tissues of the body. Symptoms and physical signs of heavy metal poisoning vary according to the metal deposited. Most heavy metals such as zinc, copper, chromium, iron and manganese are required for bodily function in very small amounts. However, if these metals accumulate in the body in concentrations that cause poisoning, serious damage can occur. The heavy metals most commonly associated with human poisoning are lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. Heavy metal poisoning can occur as a result of industrial exposure, air or water pollution, foods, drugs, improperly coated food containers, or ingestion of lead-based paints.