The Good Life presents the other side of midnight so to speak, with the by-products of technology and growing affluence of society. Heavy metal toxicity is occurring far more than we would ever expect, and we pick up the toxic metals principally from those that we produce and throw into the environment.
Heavy metal poisoning therefore, comes from pollution, cooking utensils, deodorants, pesticides, and many more. Toxic metals have a devastating effect on the human body.
Toxic metals sometimes imitate the action of an essential element in the body, interfering with the metabolic process to cause illness. Many metals, particularly heavy metals are toxic, but some heavy metals are essential, such as iron (Fe), the absence of which - even if only a trace amount of it is needed - would disrupt normal physiologic function. Bismuth (the heaviest nonradioactive element) is non-toxic.
Most often the toxic metals being referred to are Lead, Mercury and Cadmium, and radioactive elements principally Uranium.
Number one in the list is Mercury (Hg) which can be obtained from amalgam tooth filling, the absorption of which into the body is increased with smoking of cigarettes, drinking of hot liquids, gum chewing, acidic saliva or the grinding of teeth at night. Hg affects the brain, heart, kidneys, and endocrine glands, and because it is cumulative in the brain and neurons, causes depression, memory loss, tremors, anemia and heart attacks. It is very difficult to get rid of.
Lead (Pb) is most common of the toxic metals. It is everywhere in modern living - in paints, plastics, cosmetics, batteries, gasoline, insecticides, pottery glaze, and soldered metals. It can be picked up from plants that absorb the element such as kangkong. Pb accumulates in the brain, spleen, liver, kidneys, and bones. Scientists found out that even only an appreciable amount of lead may cause the decline in the IQ, especially among children.
The use of Cadmium has greatly increased lately. One can pick up this toxin metal from discarded cadmium batteries, soft drinks, cigarette smoke, seafood, rubber, motor oil, pesticides, and plastics. Cd can cause chronic fatigue syndrome, hair loss, high blood pressure, arthritis, kidney stones and impotence.
Uranium is a radioactive element that disintegrates eventually into lead, after hundreds of years. Its source as contaminant is from nuclear explosions (Nagasaki and Hiroshima) and experimental and accidental detonations (Chernobyl and Three Mile Island nuclear accidents). Various forms of cancer and birth defects are traced to Uranium.
Aluminum can be found in old cast aluminum pots and pans, cans and foils. Certain amounts can be picked up from drinking water, antiperspirants, baking powders, feminine hygiene products, milk, and the like, accumulating in the skin, bones, brain, and kidneys - which can lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Others:
Barium is found in soaps, ceramics, paper, plastics, textiles, dyes, fuel additives, rubber, paint and pesticides, and the administration of Barium enema to patients.
Although in insignificant amounts, Nickel can be picked up from stainless steel kitchen wares, coins, dental fillings and batteries. But these can accumulate in the bones, kidneys, liver, lungs, immune system and the brain, and may cause genetic damage and cancer.
Arsenic is obtained from cigarette smoke, laundry detergents, beer, seafood and drinking water. It can cause headaches, confusion and sleepiness. At large amount Arsenic can damage the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Arsenic is classified semi-metallic, like selenium.
Beryllium has a wide variety of applications in mining, extraction, and in the processing of alloy metals containing beryllium. Beryllium can cause sensitization, lung and skin disease, especially among exposed workers.
Chromiun: Calcium chromate, chromium trioxide, lead chromate, strontium chromate, and zinc chromate are carcinogens. An increase in the incidence of lung cancer has been observed among workers in industries that produce chromate and manufacture pigments containing chromate.~
Home, Sweet Home with Nature, AVR
No comments:
Post a Comment