Sources of Heavy Metals

Element

Sources

Symptoms

Aluminum (Al)

Beverage cans; pots and pans; foil; metal alloys; water treatment; furnace linings; antacids; antiperspirants; astringents; buffered aspirin; food additives; injectable  medicines; dialysis; cosmetics; colloidal mineral products

Pulmonary Disease; Osteomalacia; Neurotoxicity; Suspected cause or contributing factor to Alzheimer’s Disease

Antimony (Sb)

Smelters; coal fired power plants; refuse incinerators; tobacco smoke; antihelminthic / antiprotozoal agents; automobile batteries; solder; sheet metal; pipes; bearings; castings; ammunition; cable sheathing; pewter; semiconductors; aluminum; gallium; infrared detectors; thermoelectric devices; Trioxide: flame retardants; plastics; textiles; rubber, adhesives; paper; pigments; paint; ceramics; pesticides; fireworks

Topical / Respiratory irritant; Dizzyness; Headache; insomnia; Anosmia; Hypertension; Spontaneous Abortion; Menstrual Disturbances; EKG Abnormalities

Arsenic (As)

Lime manufacturing; automobile batteries; asphalt; asphalt felts and coatings; lead and copper refining (smelters); wood preservative; pesticides (primarily cotton); insecticides; herbicides; algicides; growth stimulants for plants and animals; lead oxide; glass electronics; semiconductors; metallurgy; pigments; electroplating; well water; seafood and shellfish; smog; rodenticides; fungicides

Respiratory / GI irritant; Lymphocytopenia; Anemia; Birth Defects: Anxiety: Carcinogenic (skin, lung, etc); Cardiac Arrythmias; Neurotoxicity; Depression; Garlic Breath; Headache; Hyperpigmentation of skin; Keratosis; Neuralgia / Neuropathy; PVC’s; Spontaneous Abortion; Nephritis

Bromine (Br)

Kelp / Seaweed, nuts, citrus flavored soft drinks, water purification, pesticides, fumigants, photographic film, dyes, leaded fuel additive, brominated flam retardants used in:  carpet, upholstery, electronics, mattresses; bromocriptine (hyperprolactinemia), OTC antitussives

GI inflammation, Asthma, Thyroid Dysfunction, Goiter, Headache, Nephritis, Hypotension, Pharyngitis,

Cadmium (Cd)

Asphalt; asphalt felts and coatings; lime manufacturing, batteries, metal plating, pigments, plastics, paints, metal soldering and welding, electroplating, semiconductors, metallurgy, photography, printing, textiles, food-shellfish, liver and kidney meat, cigarette smoke, fertilizer, drinking water, fungicides, rubber, photoconductors

Respiratory / GI irritant, Nephrotoxicity, Anemia, Behavioral Changes, Cancer (lung, prostate…); Emphysema; Headache, Hypertension, Osteomalacia; Autoimmune Disorders; Immunosuppression; Neurotoxicity; Birth Defects; Infertility

Flourine (F)

Toothpaste, floruidated drinking water, infant formula, processed cereals, non-organic grape juices, wine, beer, soda, tea (higher in decaf), class etching, Freaon / refrigerants, cockroach insecticide, flouridated salt, non-stick coatings
Rx:  Anesthetics: (Enflurane, Isoflurane & Sevoflurane); fluconazole; fluoroquinolone antibiotics, and linezolid antibiotics, Prozac / fluoxetine, efavirenz, fluorouracil, flurbiprofen, fenfluramie, cerivastatin, paxil, fluvoxamine, astemizole (allergy), cisapride, fluvastatin, fluocinonide & flunisolide; fluocinolone acetonide (intravitreal implant); fludarabine (antiviral), fludrocortisone; antimalarial drugs

Hypocalcemia, Ligament Calcification (ribs, pelvis); Osteomalacia; Arrythmias; Headache; Neuropathy; Vertigo; Anemia; Respiratory Irritant; Male Reproductive Toxin

Lead (Pb)

Lead crystal, pesticides, batteries, sheet lead, solder, pipes, roofing materials, caulking, buckles, petroleum refining, radiation protection, pigments, paints, plastics, ceramics, electrical devices; ballast; TV glass, brass, bronze, gasoline, ammunition, mining, electrical wire insulation, drinking water, fertilizer, candle wicks

GI symptoms, Colic, Anemia, Neurotoxicity, Neuropathy, Hepatotoxicity, P-450 Enzyme inhibition, EKG abnormalities, Infertility, Gingival lead lines, Ototoxicity; Growth Retardation; Developmental Delay, Psychomotor impairment; Fatigue, Anxiety, Headache, Immunotoxicity, Cancer

Mercury (Hg)

Coal fired power plants (40% of env. Mercury), Dental Amalgams, Fish, Thermometers, batteries, Pigments, bactericides, antiseptic creams, skin lightening creams, fireworks, pesticides, asphalt, agricultural chemicals, photography, taxidermy, electrical equipment; electroplating, felt making, textiles, interior paint before 1990, hemorrhoidal preparations, hospital wastes, waste incineration, paper industry, explosives, fungicides

Fatigue, Neurotoxicity, Emotional Disturbances, Neuropathy, Altered Libido, Birth Defects, Spontaneous Abortion, Excessive Salivation, Tremors, Irritability, Menstrual Disorders, Autoimmune Disease, Nephritis

Nickel (Ni)

Jewelry, coins, stainless-steel, ceramics, pigments, cast iron, batteries, electroplating, metal alloys, electrical circuits, dyes, pesticides, lime manufacturing, asphalt, tobacco smoke, volcanoes, power plants, waste incinerators, diesel exhaust, cocoa, hydrogenated oils

Dermatitis, Respiratory irritation, Respiratory Cancer, Emphysema, Colic, Excessive Salivation, Fatigue, Headache, Muscle pain, Vertigo, Hepato/ Nephrotoxicity, Male Infertility

Tin (Sn)

Antihelminthic drugs, bactericides, brass, bronze, coated wire, colored glass, dental materials, dyes, electronics, fabrics, fencing, fingernail polish, flooring, food canning, fungicide, glass, leather, mining, nuclear reactors, paints, paper, perfumes, pesticides, pewter, pharmaceuticals, pipes, polyurethane foams, rodent repellants, ropes, silicone, silverware, soaps, soft plastics, soldering material, wood preservative, food additives, toothpaste (past), plastics, flame retardants, cosmetics, bleaching agents, rodenticides

Topical / Respiratory / GI irritant / Cancer; Pneumoconiosis; Neurotoxicity; Immunosuppresion; Photophobia, Headache, Impaired Memory, Hepato / Nephrotoxicity, Behavioral changes, Vertigo, Anemia, Birth defects

Tungsten (W)

Light bulbs, carbide tools, ammunition, fishing sinkers, golf clubs, ceramic pigments, textile dyes / waterproofing / flame retardants

Topical / Respiratory Irritant, Pneumoconiosis, Lung Cancer, Antagonism of Molybdenum