heavy metal toxicity Archives - Amazing Health Advances

MRI Drugs Leave Toxic Heavy Metal Residue in the Brain

The AHA! Team — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:49:18 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – MRIs help doctors see inside your body, but new findings have raised red flags. Medical experts want more research on health risks – especially how these metal-based contrast agents might build up in your body long after the scan. Many MRI procedures involve getting a contrast injection to improve the clarity of the images. The problem is that some patients with multiple MRIs report thinking problems afterward. These symptoms increasingly point to gadolinium, a metal used in contrast agents that may be more dangerous than we thought. New research shows it can stay in your body for years, even with healthy kidneys. What’s particularly concerning is that gadolinium might damage your cells and even your DNA. Scientific studies raise serious brain health concerns A study showed a correlation between intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agents and deposits of gadolinium found in neural tissues. Results were published online in Radiology, with lead author Robert McDonald, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, noting that some of the administered doses of contrast agent deposited in neural tissues were surprising. Patients who have undergone routine MRIs, such as Marcie Jacobs, later reported a loss of cognitive abilities. After having memory and other brain function issues following several years of routine MRIs for breast cancer detection, Ms. Jacobs ended up on disability. Also in the journal Radiology, Dr. Emanuel Kanal, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, along with Michael Tweedle at Ohio State University, wrote that current studies “called into question” the “safety of at least some” of the agents. While the two did not call for an end to the use of these agents, they did call for increased caution in using these drugs. Are you being offered these MRI drugs? About a third of all MRIs in America still use gadolinium-based contrast agents, even as questions linger about their long-term safety. The FDA has tightened regulations rather than banning the most problematic agents outright – taking a different approach than European regulators who pulled Omniscan and Magnevist from their markets back in 2018. This safety debate isn’t new. Back in 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first required warnings after research linked certain agents to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a serious condition causing tissue hardening, particularly in kidney patients who struggle to clear the metal from their bodies. Despite two FDA reviewers pushing for an outright ban on high-risk agents, the agency opted for stronger warnings instead. By 2010, they recommended against using Omniscan, Magnevist, and Optimark for patients with kidney problems. In 2018, warnings expanded to include gadolinium retention risks even for people with healthy kidneys. These days, doctors typically reach for newer macrocyclic agents, which hold their gadolinium more securely and seem less likely to release it into body tissues. However, the debate continues about whether these regulatory steps go far enough to protect patients. Gadolinium brain deposits spark ongoing safety debate Brain scans after certain contrast-enhanced MRIs show gadolinium sticking around – a discovery that’s raised eyebrows across medicine even without clear proof of harm. The findings haven’t definitively shown these metal deposits cause problems, but they’ve certainly got doctors thinking twice. GE Healthcare insists its research shows no evidence of harm from these brain deposits. Bayer has been working with outside researchers to get to the bottom of things. Both companies have settled their share of lawsuits, including some involving deaths. Back in 2010, Bayer reached a settlement with a California man who claimed Bayer’s product Magnevist gave him nephrogenic systemic fibrosis – a rare but serious condition. The health dangers continue to be a hot topic of debate. Research points in different directions – some studies raise red flags while others find no smoking gun. Doctors now find themselves weighing benefits against possible risks, especially when their patients already have kidney problems. The risk to MRI patients continues Doctors now check kidney function before giving patients contrast agents, but that might not solve the problem. We’re seeing gadolinium deposits showing up even in people with healthy kidneys, sometimes months or years after their MRIs. Researchers are worried about finding these metal traces in brain tissue at much higher levels than anyone thought possible. We don’t know yet how this might affect someone’s brain function or overall health over the long haul. The data simply isn’t there. This puts radiologists in a tough spot. These contrast agents help spot tumors, inflammation, and blood vessel problems that might otherwise go undetected. That’s incredibly valuable – but at what risk? Some hospitals have started switching to newer gadolinium compounds like the macrocyclic agents, which seem to hold onto their gadolinium better than older ones like Omniscan and Magnevist. Others are cutting doses to the bare minimum or skipping contrast altogether when possible. For patients needing multiple MRIs throughout their lives, the risk increases with each scan. Many are now asking for contrast-free procedures or looking for facilities that use the newer, possibly safer agents. Until we know more, the smart move seems to use the least risky contrast agents only when absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, researchers keep studying what happens to these metal deposits in the body over time. One thing’s for sure – we haven’t heard the last word on gadolinium safety. Editor’s note: Find out more about how to keep your kidney health strong, own the Fatty Liver Docu-Class package created by NaturalHealth365 Programs, that includes the Kidney Health Docu-Class. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov FDA.gov FDA.gov Current.com Auntminnie.com Propublica.org To read the original article click here.

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Stop Disease-Causing Inflammation in One Hour!

The AHA! Team — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 06:21:18 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – There is an invisible cause of disease-causing inflammation most people never think about… And it affects almost every patient I see at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging. Let me tell you about one of them. By the time he came to see me, my patient was feeling extreme fatigue. He couldn’t focus at work. He had no appetite and was suffering from stomach upset. He described an overall sense of weakness and exhaustion. He’d already seen a doctor who sent him for standard blood work. But the results didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. His second doctor told him he had high blood pressure and prescribed one of Big Pharma’s beta blockers. But he didn’t feel any better… I told him that we were going to stop the medication and test for a suspicion I had. So I measured his heavy metals and found that his cadmium was 6 times the upper limit of normal. None of his previous physicians thought of testing for this. But I don’t blame them. It’s not something you typically learn in medical school.1 Another thing most traditionally trained doctors don’t know is that even so-called “acceptable” amounts of heavy metals trigger an inflammatory response. According to a 2022 study published in the European Journal of Inflammation, heavy metal toxins – including cadmium, lead, and mercury – have directly and indirectly been linked to an increased risk of: 2,3 Neurodegenerative diseases Heart disease Type 2 diabetes Autoimmune disorders Multiple sclerosis Kidney issues Osteoporosis Cancer And despite what the EPA tells us, there are no safe levels of heavy metal exposure. You see, exposure to heavy metals activates immune cells and stimulates the release of pro-inflammatory molecules, such as cytokines and chemokines. In turn, this leads to the development of oxidative stress. As blood levels of lead and other metals increase, this oxidative stress results in apoptosis – or cell death.4,5 My Patient Is Not an Isolated Case Unfortunately, heavy metal poisoning sneaks up on you over time, so symptoms are often overlooked or chalked up to other causes. I don’t know how my patient got so much cadmium (he isn’t a smoker), but it’s not hard to guess. Common sources are things you encounter every day… burning waste, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, coffee, some processed and refined foods like hydrogenated oils – even shellfish and tap water. My patient is not an isolated case. I’ve treated hundreds of patients for heavy metal toxicity. Chances are you have some level of exposure to heavy metals. You can have some level of toxicity from: Eating foods that contain metals – especially predatory fish, wheat cereals, certain root vegetables Inhaling it through the air Drinking water from tainted supply systems Taking medications or supplements containing high amounts of metallic elements Dental work that used “silver” amalgams Smoking But the biggest contamination comes from manufacturing. These poisons are used in producing things like pesticides, glass, wood preservatives, fertilizers, paint, batteries, plumbing, hobby paints, and ink. Personal care products are also a known source.6 Protect Yourself from Heavy Metal-Associated Inflammation with IV Chelation I recommended that my patient have chelation. At his next appointment, he told me, “I feel young again instead of tired and weak.” His blood pressure was also back to normal. At Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, I routinely test patients for lead exposure and other heavy metal toxicity. My patients are always shocked by the results. At my clinic, I’ve been helping patients use chelation for years to rid their bodies of heavy metals and other toxins. It’s a safe, easy, and fast solution, with a very low risk of side effects. IV chelation delivers calcium disodium EDTA directly into your bloodstream.7 In just about an hour, this “claw” binds to the heavy metals and toxins in your bloodstream and those that have accumulated in the fat in your tissues, like your liver, and pulls them out. EDTA is an effective procedure to remove toxic metals from human organs, tissue, and blood. Help to Detox Heavy Metals at Home While chelation therapy is the most effective way to purge heavy metals from your body, I understand not everyone can do it. There are ways to detox easily at home. Here’s what I’ve found works well: First, detox with dandelion. Greens from the plant stimulate the liver and act as a diuretic for excess water. Use 5 to 10 grams of dried leaves. Then flush toxins with chlorella. This edible alga binds to toxins and pulls them out of your body. Take 1 gram with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can increase the dose to up to 3 grams three times a day. Finally, add in milk thistle. This is still my go-to detoxifier. I have been able to document its capacity to heal damaged livers by measuring serum liver enzymes. Milk thistle is the plant Silybum marianum. I recommend 200 mg in capsule form twice a day. Look for dried extract with 80% silymarin. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: ACAM Integrative Medicine Blog. “IV Chelation therapy: finding a doctor who will test for and treat heavy metal toxicity.” 2017. https://www.acam.org/blogpost/1092863/268860/IV-Chelation-Therapy-Finding-a-Doctor-Who-Will-Test-for-and-Treat-Heavy-Metal-Toxicity. Accessed on September 15, 2024. Ferrero M. “Neuron protection by EDTA may explain the successful outcomes of toxic metal chelation therapy in neurodegenerative diseases.” Biomedicines. 2022 Oct; 10(10): 2476. Anka A, et al. “Potential mechanisms of some selected heavy metals in the induction of inflammation and autoimmunity.” Eur J Inflam. 2022:20. Hossein-Khannazer N, et al. “The effects of cadmium exposure in the induction of inflammation.” Immunopharmicol Immunotoxical. 2020; 42:1:1-8. Haidar Z, et al. “Disease-associated metabolic pathways affected by heavy metals and metalloid.” Toxicol Rep. 2023; 10: 554–570. US Food and Drug Administration. “FDA’s testing of cosmetics for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, and nickel content.” www.fda.gov. Accessed on September 29, 2024. Ferrero M. “Rationale for the successful management of EDTA chelation therapy in human burden by toxic metals.” Biomed Res Int. 2016; 2016:8274504 To read the original article click here.

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Are You Aware That You’re Inhaling Toxic Chemicals When You Wear a Face Mask?

The AHA! Team — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:55:30 +0000

Olivia Cook via Natural News – Wearing face masks has become a global norm following the onset of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with many governments around the world often mandating these coverings for people in public. But recent research reveals concerning findings about their safety. Masks, especially surgical and reusable FFF types have been found to emit potentially harmful chemical compounds. A study published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety in April 2024 highlighted that masks could release up to almost 5,400 microplastic particles in 24 hours, with surgical masks emitting more than 3,150 microfibers in under an hour. Masks could release up to almost 5,400 microplastic particles in 24 hours Researchers from Germany and Switzerland reviewed 24 studies, involving more than 630 masks, including cloth, N95 and surgical varieties. They discovered that 63 percent of the masks released alarming amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics, organophosphate esters and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compared to other mask types. (Related: N95 masks expose wearers to dangerous levels of toxic cancer- and seizure-causing compounds, study finds.) Meanwhile, surgical masks were linked to higher emissions of heavy metals, phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) similar to textile masks. Some of the detected substances, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and VOCs, were found to exceed safe exposure limits. A 2022 study published in Nature also raised concerns about TiO2, a potential carcinogen, urging stricter regulations. Study finds plasticizers, heavy metals, PFAS and VOCs in face masks A recent study published in Environment International examined four types of face masks to identify the presence of 31 plasticizers and to assess how much of these compounds could be inhaled during use. Plasticizers are plastic-derived substances added to materials during the manufacturing process to make them softer and more flexible. Although all mask types had similar overall plasticizer levels, the study found that surgical and FFF2 masks commonly used in Europe have the highest plasticizer release rates at almost four percent and nearly five percent, respectively. The Environmental and Water Chemistry for Human Health group conducted the research at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research in Barcelona, Spain. The researchers highlighted that most face masks are made from synthetic materials, like polypropylene, polystyrene terephthalate and polyester, with plasticizers added to enhance fire resistance, flexibility and softness. Heavy metals, PFAS and VOCs were found in others. To simulate real-life mask use, the researchers conducted inhalation experiments using paper mache dummy heads. Higher temperatures – resembling human breath – led to increased release of plastic additives. Release rates varied significantly, ranging from 0.1 percent to 95 percent, depending on the compound and mask type. Notably, organophosphate esters and phthalates showed average release rates of 1.0 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. Surgical and FFF2 masks had the highest overall release rates, while reusable masks showed the lowest at 0.6 percent. N95 masks had a 1.2 percent release rate. One concerning finding was a surgical mask that released 95 percent of a compound called acetyl tributyl citrate, a potential endocrine disruptor. Surgical and FFF2 masks had the highest overall release rates While the released plasticizer levels remained below established safety thresholds, the researchers emphasized that face masks represent an additional exposure pathway. The study warns that even at low levels, exposure to plasticizers poses genotoxic (DNA damage), immunotoxic (affects the immune system) and teratogenic (causes birth defects) risks, especially for vulnerable groups, such as children and pregnant women. Additionally, plasticizers have been linked to declining sperm counts and potential fertility issues, raising concerns about their impact on future generations. Watch the following video showing how disposable surgical face masks are made of synthetic fibers that can enter the body. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ScienceDirect.com 1 Nature.com ScienceDirect.com 2 ScienceDirect.com 3 Brighteon.com To read the original article, click here: https://www.naturalnews.com/2024-08-15-dangerous-chemicals-inhaling-when-wearing-face-masks.html

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The Chronic Effects of Low-Dose Mercury Exposure

The AHA! Team — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:12:24 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Although mercury can enter the body through contaminated seafood, vaccines, and emissions from factories and coal power plants, the main source of exposure is dental amalgams. Natural health experts are sounding the alarm on chronic (low-level) mercury exposure, calling it a “biochemical train wreck” and an “under-recognized epidemic.” Mercury, a known neurotoxin, binds to molecules, tissues, and cells in the body and sets the stage for a host of serious chronic diseases – although both the American Dental Association and the FDA continue to minimize and deny its toxic effects. Yet, there are millions and millions of people suffering from mercury poisoning, and neurodevelopmental disorders have surged by over 30 percent in the last decade. What you need to know about mercury exposure Although mercury can enter the body through contaminated seafood, vaccines, and emissions from factories and coal power plants, the main source of exposure is dental amalgams. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the typical absorbed dose from amalgams is 100 micrograms a day. One of the most disturbing facts about mercury exposure is its association with neurological disorders, behavioral problems, autism spectrum disorder, and mental illness. Many experts point to the soaring rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in this country as a testament to the toxic effects of mercury. Mercury, which can destroy the protective myelin sheath that covers the nerves, is highly damaging to the neurological system. In fact, researchers report that autism is often accompanied by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased inflammation – all of which are consistent with mercury poisoning. In addition, mercury exposure can cause deficiencies and imbalances of essential minerals such as zinc and copper, a condition associated with ADHD. Mercury exposure also interferes with the production and function of various neurotransmitters, including the “calming” body chemical GABA – thereby promoting the development of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Mercury interferes with antioxidant defenses Chronic mercury exposure also depletes nutrients in the body, promoting oxidative stress and interfering with antioxidant defenses. Mercury’s ability to bind to sulfur and selenium severely limits the beneficial oxidation-fighting and cancer-fighting effects of these antioxidant minerals. This interferes with the immune system’s ability to identify cancerous cells and causes it to attack normal, healthy cells, triggering the development of autoimmune disease and cancer. Mercury also binds to glutathione, the body’s premier antioxidant, which is designed to detoxify mercury and other heavy metals. In addition, mercury attacks the disulfide bonds in collagen, triggering arthritis and connective tissue disorders while also damaging the cell mitochondria that synthesize energy. Mercury exposure promotes cardiovascular and digestive diseases Mercury exposure contributes to heart disease by causing the oxidation of blood vessels and creating endothelial dysfunction. In one study of patients with heart failure, mercury levels in the myocardium, or middle layer of the heart wall, were found to be 22,000 times higher than normal. Mercury alters intestinal flora, increasing the presence of undesirable bacteria and pathogens such as candida. Digestion is impaired because of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mercury also increases the risk of food sensitivities, especially gluten and casein, and contributes to a “leaky gut.” As if this weren’t damaging enough, chronic exposure to mercury is linked with insulin resistance, hypoglycemic symptoms, and metabolic syndrome – a constellation of unhealthy conditions that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and excess levels of LDL cholesterol. Susceptibility to mercury varies with the individual Vulnerability to mercury depends on a variety of factors, including exposure, nutrient status, lifestyle, and genetics. Over the last ten years, however, researchers have documented over a dozen common genetic variations that cause increased vulnerability to mercury toxicity – and many more are likely in existence. It can be difficult to diagnose mercury toxicity, as mercury can accumulate throughout the body without showing up in blood, urine, or hair. In addition, symptoms of mercury toxicity are common to many other illnesses and may appear long after exposure. Following a nutrient-dense diet and taking supplements advised by a knowledgeable holistic physician can help modulate the effects of mercury exposure. But, the bottom line is: if you have mercury-based, “silver” fillings in your mouth … get them removed (as soon as possible) by a qualified (holistic) dentist and begin the process of mercury detoxification – slowly and consistently. You can search for a holistic dentist at this web site: IAOMT.org. In addition, in terms of good food, high-quality fats, organ meats such as liver, organic olive oil, and bone broth can help replace depleted minerals and amino acids, while probiotic foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestine. Foods high in vitamin C can provide antioxidant benefits and rebuild damaged collagen, with Brazil nut, sesame, and pine nuts helping to replace magnesium, zinc, and selenium. Obviously, if you’ve been poisoned with mercury, the process of detoxification will take some time and effort. But, remember, your future health depends on you taking action today. Editor’s note: Discover the best ways to remove toxic mercury from the mouth and correct other dental problems, own the Holistic Oral Health Summit created by NaturalHealth365 Programs. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Townsendletter.com To read the original article click here.

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Heavy Metal Detox Diet

AHA Publisher — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 07:00:44 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – What dietary change can simultaneously help detoxify mercury, lead, and cadmium from the body? I’ve previously explored the issue of lead contamination in calcium supplements, such as bonemeal, but bone meal isn’t all that can be contaminated. “Substantial quantities of lead have been reported in some over-the-counter calcium supplement preparations,” and testing has revealed continued public health concern over bonemeal. Thankfully, bonemeal isn’t as popular these days, so most of us aren’t likely to get exposed directly to the lead in bonemeal anymore. We may, however, get exposed indirectly through the animals we eat, as I show at 0:31 in my video How to Lower Heavy Metals with Diet. In the United States, five billion pounds of meat and bonemeal are produced annually as slaughterhouse by-products. What do we do with these millions of tons every year? We feed it back to farm animals, particularly chickens. Now, most of the lead in the bonemeal passes right through the animals into their waste, but we take that waste—that cow, pig, and chicken feces—and feed it right back to the animals once again. So, you can see how the levels of contaminants might build up in their bodies. You may remember that I’ve talked before about what all this might mean for making something like chicken soup, but the original concern about these kinds of feeding practices, such as feeding cows to pigs, chickens, and even other cows, was about spreading prion diseases, like mad cow. This kind of recycling not only magnifies prions, however; it also magnifies other toxic substances, including lead. So, a more plant-based diet may be able to lower lead exposure, and an even more plant-based diet could theoretically lower exposure even more. What happens when you put it to the test? Should we really expect to find a benefit? As you can see at 1:42 in my video, even though lead is one of the toxins found in meat, half of our dietary exposure probably comes from plant foods. In fact, dietary modeling studies in Europe suggest that vegetarians would be exposed to about the same amount of lead compared to the general population, with the exception of those who eat a lot of wild game, which can have a thousand times more lead than most other foods, as you can see at 2:02 in my video. A vegetarian diet may even be higher in lead. It’s not what you eat, though; it’s what you absorb. As I’ve discussed previously, researchers found that the uptake of toxic heavy metals from “animal food sources” into human intestinal lining cells may be higher than from vegetable sources. This is why you can have a vegetarian with some of the lowest concentrations of lead and cadmium in their blood, despite having higher concentrations in their diet. As you can see at 2:41 in my video, there seems to be a tendency towards higher fecal elimination of lead following a change to a vegetarian diet. Researchers found that nine subjects, on average, tripled their elimination of lead, three were unaffected, and four saw their levels drop by about half. The study only lasted a few months, though, and the difference wasn’t statistically significant. So, what would happen in a year? Subjects made the shift to a diet “characterized by large amounts of raw vegetables, fruits, unrefined foods, and whole-meal products [whole grains] and the exclusion of meat, poultry, fish, and eggs” (though it did include fermented dairy, like a type of soured milk). They also cut back on processed foods and junk. Researchers took clippings of their hair before and after the dietary shift and got significant reductions in heavy metals, including cutting their lead level nearly in half. As you can see at 3:28 in my video, within three months of the dietary shift, the mercury, cadmium, and lead that had been oozing from their body into their hair went down and stayed down. How do we know the reduction in toxic heavy metal levels wasn’t just a coincidence? A few years after the study was over, after the participants had gone back to more of their regular diet, their mercury, cadmium, and lead levels shot back up to where they were before. Researchers found the same with a different group of subjects after two years on a vegetarian diet. The drop in mercury is easy to explain, as it’s presumably due to the drastic drop in fish consumption, and the drop in alcoholic beverages may have contributed to the drop in lead. There also could have been a cadmium-like effect, where the decrease in hair lead content could be due to the dietary shift that resulted in less absorption of lead into the body in the first place. I have a 16-part series on lead, starting with How the Lead Paint Industry Got Away with It. The series includes videos with specific food recommendations. For example, check out Best Food for Lead Poisoning: Garlic and Yellow Bell Peppers for Male Infertility and Lead Poisoning? KEY TAKEAWAYS Substantial quantities of lead have been found in some over-the-counter calcium supplements, and there is continued public health concerns over bonemeal. Although bonemeal is not as popular today, we may be getting exposed to lead indirectly through the animals we eat. Millions of tons of meat and bonemeal are produced each year in the United States as slaughterhouse by-products and may be fed back to farm animals, particularly chickens. Most of the lead in the bonemeal passes through them into their, but that cow, pig, and chicken feces may then be fed back once again to farm animals. In this way, levels of contaminants may build up in their bodies. These kinds of recycled feeding practices, such as feeding cows to pigs, chickens, and even other cows, facilitate the spread of prion diseases, like mad cow, but they also magnify other toxic substances, including lead. Lead is a toxin found in meat, but half of our dietary exposure likely comes from plant foods. (Notably, wild game can have a thousand times more lead than most other foods.) It’s not what we eat, though; it’s what we absorb, and researchers have found that the uptake of toxic heavy metals from “animal food sources” into our intestinal lining cells may be higher than from vegetable sources, explaining why vegetarians can have some of the lowest concentrations of lead and cadmium in their blood, despite having higher concentrations in their diet. After changing to a vegetarian diet, there seems to be a tendency towards higher fecal elimination of lead. Indeed, researchers took clippings of study participants’ hair before and after the dietary shift and found significant reductions in heavy metals, including cutting their lead level nearly in half and lowering the mercury and cadmium in their bodies. A few years after the study concluded and the subjects had gone back to more of their regular diet, their mercury, cadmium, and lead levels elevated back up. To read the original article click here.

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Exposure to Metals May Disrupt a Woman’s Hormones During Pregnancy

AHA Publisher — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 08:00:44 +0000

Rutgers University via News-Medical Net – Exposure to metals such as nickel, arsenic, cobalt and lead may disrupt a woman’s hormones during pregnancy, according to a Rutgers study. The study appears in the journal Environment International. Exposure to metals has been associated with problems at birth such as preterm birth and low birth weight in babies, and preeclampsia in women. However, little is known about how metals exposure can lead to such problems. This new research shows that some metals may disrupt the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating our body’s hormones. These disruptions may contribute to children’s later health and disease risk. A delicate hormonal balance orchestrates pregnancy from conception to delivery and perturbations of this balance may negatively impact both mother and fetus,” Zorimar Rivera-Núnez, Study Lead Author and Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health The researchers analyzed blood and urine samples from 815 women enrolled in the Puerto Rico Test site for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) study. Initiated in 2010, PROTECT is an ongoing prospective birth cohort studying environmental exposures in pregnant women and their children around the northern karst zone, which include urban and mountainous rural areas of Puerto Rico. They found that metals can act as endocrine disruptors by altering prenatal hormone concentrations during pregnancy. This disruption may depend on when in the pregnancy the mother was exposed. Prenatal exposure to metals can have enormous consequences even beyond health at birth. Alterations in sex-steroid hormones during pregnancy have been associated with inadequate fetal growth, which leads to low birthweight. Birth size is strongly associated with a child’s growth and risk of chronic diseases, including obesity and breast cancer. “Puerto Rico has one of the highest rates of Superfund sites of any of the U.S. jurisdictions with 18 active sites, which can contribute to the higher rates of exposure to toxic metals,” said Rivera-Núnez. Among pregnant women, metal exposure is higher in those living in Puerto Rico than in those in the continental United States. “This is important because, compared to the U.S. overall, women in Puerto Rico have significantly higher rates of preterm birth [nearly 12 percent] and other adverse birth outcomes. Additionally, exposure to environmental pollution is exacerbated by extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts and flooding, which may result in elevated exposures to Superfund sites,” she added. According to the study authors, future research should investigate how changes in markers of endocrine function affect birth and other health outcomes. Future studies also should look at essential metals in relation to maternal and fetal health, and metals as mixtures in relation to markers of endocrine function. To read the original article click here.

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