Heavy metals are not new to civilization. Their existence dates back thousands of years to the Stone Age. To this day, studies show their presence throughout history. As an example, archaeologists recently found mercury pollution underneath the soil where ancient Mayan civilizations lived — it was so concentrated that it may still have health implications today.
This is not surprising when you consider that metallic elements like lead, mercury, and arsenic are non-degradable and can remain in the ground for long periods. While certain heavy metals, such as copper, iron, and zinc, are essential micronutrients that we need in trace amounts, many others have no known biological function and are toxic even at very low concentrations.
What Are Heavy Metals?
Heavy metals are a category of metallic elements characterized by their relatively high atomic weights and densities, typically 5 times greater than water. They accumulate in the food chain and the human body (including bone and soft tissue) over time, causing serious health problems. Conditions linked to heavy metals include neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, reproductive issues, and cancer.
Heavy metals enter the environment from both natural sources (like volcanic eruptions and weathering of rocks) and human activities (such as mining, industrial processes, and the use of leaded fuels and paints). For now, I’d like to give you an overview of a few heavy metals that could be adding to your body’s toxic load.
Mercury
Far more ubiquitous than you might imagine, mercury (Hg) occurs in three forms: elemental mercury, organic, and inorganic.
Elemental mercury is released into the air by natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions. It is also present in dental amalgam fillings, electric switches, thermometers, fluorescent lights, and some batteries. Mercury is absorbed through the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and as vapor through the lungs. It accumulates in your body over time.
Inorganic mercury is oxidized and it combines with other elements to create salts. It is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract (eating contaminated food), the lungs (breathing contaminated air), and the skin (via topical creams, skin-lightening products, face serums, and more).
You will also find inorganic mercury in a long list of other things: preserving solutions, chemistry labs, photographic processing and metal etching solutions, mining operations and coal burning (as mentioned above), paper production, and waste incineration. Mercury was added to paint until 1990, when it was banned. It is dispersed into the air and returned to the earth in rainfall, which runs into rivers and lakes and contaminates fish.
Inhalation is still the most common cause of exposure to mercury and, unfortunately, there is little we can do about that except protect
ourselves from toxicity with appropriate lifestyle changes and natural chelators and binders.
Organic mercury comes in two forms, ethyl and methyl mercury, both of which can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. Most fish and seafood contain methylmercury, considered the more toxic of the two. Ethyl mercury is primarily found in thimerosal, a medical preservative with antibacterial and fungicidal properties. While it is no longer used in children’s vaccines, you can still find it in some flu vaccines.
Mercury affects your immune system, alters genetic and enzyme systems in your body, and damages your nervous system by impairing your motor coordination and your senses of touch, taste, and sight. Methyl mercury is especially harmful to developing embryos, which are five to 10 times more sensitive to mercury than adults.
Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth’s crust. While lead is no longer used in paint or gasoline, it can still present a problem. The most common sources include homes built before 1978 (when lead-based paint was banned), contaminated soil, and contaminated drinking water. Lead can leach into drinking water from lead pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures. (Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes and fixtures.)
Other sources include some toys, jewelry, imported foods, and medicines. Certain candies, spices, and traditional medicines from other countries may contain lead. Jobs and hobbies like construction work and antique refinishing also expose people to lead.
Symptoms of lead exposure include abdominal pain, headaches, numbness, fatigue, dizziness, hypertension, kidney dysfunction, loss of appetite, fatigue, infertility, and insomnia. Chronic low-level exposure can lead to birth defects, mental retardation, autism, psychosis, allergies, dyslexia, hyperactivity, weight loss, shaky hands, muscular weakness, and paralysis (starting in the forearms).
Children are especially sensitive to lead and absorb up to 50% of lead contained in food. And because lead can cross the placenta to the fetus and accumulate, it can cause mental retardation, brain damage, cerebral palsy, blindness, seizures and inability to speak in young children exposed in the uterus. Some research shows that high levels of lead in childhood have been linked to criminal behavior in adulthood.
Cadmium
Cadmium is a bluish white metal found in nickel-cadmium batteries, PVC plastics, paint pigments, agricultural chemicals like fertilizers, cigarettes, dental alloys, motor oil, and exhaust fumes. It is mostly absorbed into the lungs through inhalation, but it can also be ingested and taken up by the digestive tract. Cadmium affects the liver, the kidneys, lungs, brain and bones, and passes through the placenta.
Arsenic
Exposure to arsenic occurs mostly in the workplace, near hazardous waste sites, or in certain areas of the world. Arsenic can also leach into groundwater from natural sources like bedrock or soil. Industrial runoff can contaminate water sources. Private well water may not be routinely tested, so it’s important to check for arsenic and other contaminants.
Some areas, particularly in the United States (like the Southwest, Northwest, Northeast, Alaska, and areas near geothermal activity), have naturally higher arsenic levels in groundwater, according to the CDC.
Foods with elevated levels of arsenic include rice, shellfish, poultry, apple juice, root vegetables, and leafy greens. The FDA monitors arsenic levels in foods and regulates them to protect public health, particularly focusing on foods consumed by young children.
Other sources include industrial processes, such as smelting, mining, and wood treatment, which can contribute to arsenic contamination. Also, improper disposal of hazardous waste containing arsenic can contaminate soil and water.
Chronic low levels of arsenic exposure can lead to progressive peripheral and central nervous changes, numbness and tingling, muscle tenderness, needles and pins in the hands and feet. Neuropathy (inflammation and wasting of the nerves) can occur gradually over time. People with arsenic toxicity may also have a darkening of skin that is not exposed to sunlight, and thick skin in the palms and soles. It can also cause birth defects, liver damage, and increased risk of certain cancers.
Reducing Your Heavy Metal Exposure
As I mentioned above, we cannot control all our exposure to heavy metals. But there are a few things we can do to lessen our exposure to them and their impact on our bodies.
For starters, investing in a high-quality water filtration system can effectively remove heavy metals from drinking water. If you live in an urban area with poor air quality, wildfire smoke, etc., use air purifiers in your home and spend time outdoors in less polluted environments.
Engage in activities that induce sweat, such as exercise, sauna sessions, and hot yoga, which aid in the elimination of heavy metals through the skin. Avoid secondhand smoke when you can (and if you smoke, quit) — cigarette smoke contains numerous harmful chemicals, including heavy metals like cadmium and lead.
Know which foods are more likely to contain heavy metals, including:
- High-mercury fish: The biggest source of heavy metals (most notably mercury) in the diet is fish. This includes tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, shark, tilefish, and marlin. Mercury bioaccumulates up the food chain, passing from smaller prey animals into larger predator animals — and it grows even more toxic in the process. That’s why eating larger fish like tuna poses the greatest risk to your health.
- Rice and rice-based products like rice milk: Because of how rice grows, it can accumulate 10 times more arsenic than other grains. Experts believe that Americans get more arsenic in their diets from rice than tap water and other common sources of contamination.
- Bone broth and collagen powder: Lead tends to hide in bone and cartilage (a source of collagen) in both humans and animals.
- Leafy greens: Cadmium often accumulates in the leaves and foliage of plants (versus the root, flower, or other parts). That’s why produce items like spinach, lettuce, and other leafy green vegetables — especially non-organic versions — have the highest levels of this highly toxic metal.
Organic farming practices reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides that may contain heavy metals. And supporting local farmers ensures a shorter supply chain, reducing the chances of contamination during transportation and storage. Having said that, heavy metals are still present in the soil and can be absorbed by plants regardless of the farming method.
Be sure to support your gut function with probiotics and probiotic-rich foods like kefir and kimchi — a balanced gut plays a crucial role in eliminating heavy metals from the body. Also, consume cilantro, chlorella, and sulfur-rich garlic — these are known for their ability to bind to heavy metals and aid in their elimination.
Certain supplements can help as well: My top two choices for heavy metal detoxification are modified citrus pectin (MCP) and alginates purified from kelp. Unlike regular citrus pectin, the pectin in MCP is reduced to a tiny size that allows it to enter the circulation. Once there, MCP binds to heavy metals and removes them from the body — without depleting essential minerals.
Alginates work in the GI tract to bind and remove toxins and prevent them from entering the body through the gut barrier. Together, MCP and alginates make a powerful pair: In one trial, a product containing MCP and alginates purified from kelp was shown to remove heavy metals including lead, mercury, and arsenic, by an average of 74% over 3–6 months — without causing side effects or disruption in daily life.
From ancient civilizations unknowingly ingesting these hazardous substances to the modern-day challenges we face, the dangers of heavy metal exposure have become more apparent. However, by learning the common sources of exposure and the top health risks associated with heavy metals, you can take proactive steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. The natural solutions mentioned in this blog can help empower you to support your body’s natural detoxification processes on a daily basis.
References:
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