When "Heavy Metal" Means Something Other than Music

28 ottobre 2025

3 min di lettura

Everyone has heard of “heavy metals.” Many people know about their toxicity, but few understand much more than that. What heavy metals do we encounter daily, and what are the consequences?

Punti chiave

Everyone has heard of “heavy metals.” Many people know about their toxicity, but few understand much more than that.
Necessary but dangerous
Aluminum

Per chi è

Chi esplora Healthy lifestyle attraverso food poisoning, toxins.

Perché è importante

Questo articolo ti aiuta a orientarti rapidamente, per poi passare a una raccolta o serie se vuoi continuare.

Autore dell'articolo

Dr. Helga

general practitioner

Necessary but dangerous

Heavy metals are chemical elements in the environment, food, and the body. Some of them, such as zinc, chromium, cobalt, and copper, are necessary for health, but excess can harm health. Most often, heavy metal poisoning is diagnosed in workers of specific industries, but other people can be at risk as well under various circumstances.

Aluminum

This is one of the most common metals in the home. It makes dishes, foil, window frames, and beer cans. It is also used to filter water and is even added to some vaccines. Aluminum is found in tea, processed cheese, lentils, and food leavening agents, but a person cannot get a dose dangerous to health from food and domestic products.

Lead

Lead and its alloys are used to manufacture sliding bearings, batteries, and electronic parts. They are also found in food, especially canned food and predatory fish. Lead can also be vaporized from old buildings once painted with lead paint. Too much lead in the body leads to anemia and damage to the hematopoietic system, kidneys, and brain.

Cadmium

Cadmium is used in jewelry alloys and batteries, such as those for pacemakers. But most often, poisoning by this very toxic metal is observed in smokers, as one cigarette contains 1-2 mcg of cadmium, and the maximum is absorbed through the lungs.

Cobalt

Cobalt is part of vitamin B12 and is found in many foods, including shellfish, fish, meat, eggs, leafy greens, and milk. It is necessary to synthesize DNA, hematopoiesis processes, and the nervous system. Excess cobalt can cause a violation of iodine metabolism. Cobalt poisoning is usually caused by taking vitamin B12 in large doses or destroying orthopedic implants, which often contain this metal.

Copper

Copper is a component of many vital proteins and enzymes in forming hemoglobin, connective tissue, and the nervous system; however, it is toxic in large quantities. The most common way to ingest too much copper is to use copper cookware with a damaged coating frequently.

Nickel

Nickel is the most allergenic metal, causing contact dermatitis. It is also found almost everywhere: accessories, jewelry, smartphones, eyeglass frames, and cutlery. Nickel is also found in cashew nuts, cocoa powder, soy products, and peas.

Mercury

Once in the body, mercury takes several months to be excreted. Excessive amounts harm the nervous system and brain. Mercury often enters the seas from industrial waste. Bacteria convert it into the highly toxic methylmercury that shellfish and fish ingest, especially sharks, bluefin tuna, and mackerel.

Mercury itself is not as poisonous as its vapor. A broken mercury thermometer should not be thrown in the trash. Call emergency services for disposal and ventilate the area.

Disturbing symptoms

Heavy metal poisoning has both general and specific symptoms. General symptoms include digestive disorders, abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting, pale skin, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Chronic poisoning may cause hair loss, brittle nails, stomatitis, central nervous system disorders, and kidney and liver damage.

Mercury poisoning can also cause swelling and bleeding gums, a metallic taste in the mouth, diarrhea with blood, and breathing problems.

Lead intoxication causes bluish-gray streaks at the edges of the gums, pale and gray skin, decreased blood pressure, slower heart rate, and impaired coordination of movements.

Cadmium poisoning can damage the nasopharyngeal mucosa and cause weakness, shortness of breath, pain when breathing, coughing, fever, cyanosis, pneumonia, and other lung diseases.

If you suspect heavy metal poisoning, it is worth getting tested. Heavy metals can be detected in a blood sample, urine, hair, or nails.

Continua a leggere

Healthy lifestyle#healthy lifestyle

Microwave Ovens: Are There Real Health Dangers?

People have been using microwave ovens for decades, but the debate about their effects on the body is ongoing. Are concerns about the health effects of using microwave ovens founded? Or are concerns overblown?

Dr. Inese28 ott 2025

Healthy lifestyle#headache

6 of the Rarest Medical Specialties

With the development of medicine, narrowly specialized specialists have appeared, whose task is to solve problems beyond the competence of general practitioners. Read on to find out if you need one of them.

Helen10 dic 2025

Men's health#man's health

Checkup for Men: What To Check at Every Age

Men dislike going to the doctor, especially when nothing hurts. It is not surprising that after age 40, health problems begin appearing seemingly "out of nowhere" and become an unpleasant surprise. To avoid this, it is recommended to undergo a checkup once a year.

Dr. Helga28 ott 2025

Gastrointestinal tract#food poisoning

The Best Way To Cook and Store Food To Avoid Health Problems

Will anything bad happen if you eat yesterday's salad with egg and mayonnaise? Will eating the vegan sushi leftovers do any harm? Of course they will! Not properly cooking and storing foods can cause health problems.

Dr. Andrew28 ott 2025

Installa Ornament non solo per leggere questi articoli, ma anche per monitorare la tua salute, archiviare i risultati degli esami e accedere ad altre funzioni utili

Installa Ornament