Heavy Metal Testing
Heavy metals are the metallic elements of relatively high density like lead, mercury, arsenic etc. Although these heavy metals are present naturally in rocks and soil but the alarming rise in their levels can be appropriately attributed to unchecked & indiscriminate use of these metals in various commodities like paints, fertilizers, various chemical products like building materials, silver dental fillings, mercury preservatives in vaccines, nasal sprays etc. Thanks to the industrial revolution – heavy metal concentration in air, soil and water has increased tremendously and so has increased the risk of metal borne disorders! So dear fish-lovers, fish is not just a good source of proteins, it may also supplement you with life taking metals like mercury and arsenic!
These metals are relatively quite abundant across the globe and traces of such metals can be easily found in soil, water and air. These heavy metals frequently enter our food chain, and thus our bodies, either by inhalation or ingestion or lesser frequently, by skin absorption. Upon entering, these metals may keep on circulating in body fluids or may get deposited into the tissues. When these levels increase and reach the threatening levels, they may lead to significant developmental and neurological damage, including autistic symptoms which may be characterized by signs like depression, increased irritability, anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, memory loss, and aggression. They may further initiate various downstream signaling/metabolic cascades leading to diverse array of disorders.
Heavy metals show their toxic effects when they become active by forming complexes with various organic compounds, as a result of which, the compound loses its biological activity and at times, results in the death of the infected cells. Some of the highly toxic heavy metals are – mercury, nickel, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, platinum, copper alloys. The list is anything but complete! All the heavy metals have their own permitted limits in the environment and in the body.
There are several advanced laboratory tests that can diagnose & quantitatively determine the presence of various heavy metals deposited in body tissues & fluids. Various types of samples can be used for heavy metal testing purposes. These include urine, hair, blood serum etc. The basic principles of urine test, hair test and blood tests can be applied to evaluate the levels of heavy metals in the body in order to identify any potential toxicity. The easiest screening process is the hair analysis. Additional testing may involve the use of chelating drugs along with a 24-hour urine collection to determine levels of different types of heavy metals. Treatment usually involves the use of metal-specific chelating drugs.
Heavy-metal poisoning is a major cause of hormonal imbalances, cancer, thyroid problems, neurological disturbances, depression, food allergies and many other diseases. With proper & timely identification of onset of such diseases, various precautionary measures can be taken to avoid elevated levels of such heavy metals. So periodic testing for blood/tissue heavy metal levels is highly recommended for all age groups.
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