TOXIC METALS & MERCURY

Every week, in patient evaluations for chronic illness, we find elevations of toxic metals; they are very prevalent in our environment. Contamination from metals has led to concerns about eating fish from ponds and waterways. Lead contaminants persist as a concern in the San Francisco Bay. This reflects the use of lead in gasoline and run off from mines as far away as the Sierra Nevada. City governments are paying people to turn in mercury thermometers. When metals get into the body, they are rapidly absorbed out of the blood stream and into tissues. Hair analysis, a simple tissue to biopsy, will often, but not always, reflect past exposures. Sometimes the only way to determine the presence of toxic metals such as mercury is to use a challenge infusion with a metal chelator and measure the excretion of the metal.

Once in the system, the metals cause problems by depleting antioxidants and displacing normal minerals. The metals also rapidly deplete the levels of glutathione in the body (Stohs, 1995). This can result in dysfunction of the energy producing units in the cell called mitochondria. Mitochondria are the sites where energy is made and many biochemicals and pollutants are detoxified prior to removal. Metals like mercury and lead have effects on the neurologic system, as well as other organs. Decreased levels of glutathione have been found in Parkinson's Disease (Schulz, 2000). The combination of decreased glutathione and diminished mitochondrial function can leave the system susceptible to accumulation of additional environmental toxins. It is no wonder then, that with significant elevation of toxic metals, these people complain of fatigue, muscle aches and mood swings. Research has demonstrated that metals can trigger autoimmune diseases (Powell, 1999). The effects of abnormal and normal metals may also be exaggerated in disease states such as diabetes (Okunade, 1999). We now have the sensitive technology to identify the presence of toxic metals. Whether we are seeing an increase in toxic metals these days, or just seeing metals thanks to better technology, there is now an improved understanding of how to reduce the load of these toxins. Chelators such as EDTA are effective for most of the toxic metals. DMSA and DMPS are useful for lessening the mercury burden (Crinnion, 2000). Restoring the levels of antioxidants, minerals and other nutrients can be helpful.