Behavioral, Structural and Functional Abnormalities
Associated with Various Heavy Metals
Source : Townsend Letter For Doctors & Patients - April 2001
Psychiatric Disturbances Related Heavy Metal
Anorexia ; symptoms reflecting eating
disorders, loss of appetite / weight Arsenic, Lead, Mercury
Anxiety ; nervous tendencies Thallium
Attentional problems (ADHD), lacks eye
contact, impaired visual fixation Lead, Mercury
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) ;
weakness, malaise Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Depression, mood swings, flat
affect ; impaired facial recognition Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury
Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums Lead, Mercury
Repetitive, perseverative, stereotyped
behaviors ; OCD-typical behaviors Mercury
Schizoid tendencies ; hallucinations ; delirium ; Mercury, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
sleep difficulties / disturbances
Social deficits, social withdrawal Mercury
Suicidal behaviors Copper, Mercury
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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
Difficulties understanding abstract ideas ;
difficulty carrying out complex commands Multiple metals
Dementia ; pre-senile and senile dementia Aluminum
Stupor Aluminum, Arsenic
Impaired reaction time ; lower
performance on timed tests Lead
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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 ; incoordination, loss of balance ; Mercury
problems sitting, lying, crawling, and walking
Decreased locomotor activity Aluminum, Arsenic
Convulsions ; seizure Lead, Mercury, Thallium
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Physiological Impairments Related Heavy Metals
Brain and Central Nervous System
Neurofibrillary tangles Aluminum
Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis; neuropathy Aluminum, Arsenic, Thallium
Encephalopathy Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium
Cerebrovascular disease Multiple metals
Alterations in nerve conduction velocity Lead
Alterations in the spinal cord Thallium
Accumulates in CNS structures Aluminum, Mercury
Abnormal EEG's 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; paresthesia Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium
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Gastrointestinal Tract
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite Arsenic, Copper, Mercury, Thallium
Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning
of the throat and mount 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 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
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Cardiovascular System
Blood vessel damage Arsenic
Anemia; decreased red blood cell count Arsenic, Copper, Lead
Hypertension; increased heart rate (tachycardia) Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium
Peripheral vascular disease; cardiovascular
disease; vascular collapse Arsenic, Lead
Respiratory System
Pulmonary fibrosis Aluminum, Arsenic
Pulmonary edema Several metals
Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury
Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic
conditions, pneumoconiasis Arsenic, Aluminum
Respiratory tract cancers Arsenic
Nasal users, perforation of the nasal septum Multiple metals
Immune System
Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like
symptoms and allergies Multiple metals
Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Immunosuppression Lead
Decreased white blood cell count Arsenic, Thallium
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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
Hypotonia or hypertonia ; decreased muscular strength Multiple metals
Rashes, contact dermatitis, edema,
itchy / irritating skin Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury
Muscle pain ; headache ; acrodynia ; colic Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium
Alopecia (hair loss) Thallium
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