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 (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, persevarative, 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
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 x metals
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 visions; 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 Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead,
Mercury, Thallium
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 x 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
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 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
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, pneumoconisis Arsenic, Aluminum
Respiratory tract cancers Arsenic
Nasal users, perforation of the nasal septum x metals
Immune System
Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms and allergies X metals
Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes Lead, Mercury, Thallium
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
Hypotonia or hypertonia; decreased muscular strength X 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
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 (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, persevarative, 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
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 x metals
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 visions; 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 Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead,
Mercury, Thallium
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 x 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
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 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
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, pneumoconisis Arsenic, Aluminum
Respiratory tract cancers Arsenic
Nasal users, perforation of the nasal septum x metals
Immune System
Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms and allergies X metals
Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes Lead, Mercury, Thallium
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
Hypotonia or hypertonia; decreased muscular strength X 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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