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Content: essential metals w/ potential for toxicity
3. metals related to medical therapy
4. minor toxic metals
major toxic metals w/ multiple effects
arsenic, berylium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, nickel
essential metals w/ potential for toxicity
copper, zinc, iron
metals related to medical therapy
aluminum, bismuth, gold, lithium
define heavy metals
high atomic weight with a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of water by 5 or more times at 4 C (39F)
bioaccumulation
toxic substance such as heavy metals become more concentrated and potentially more harmful as they move up the food chain. 2 effects of heavy metal exposures
acute (short term/high dose)
and chronic (long term/low levels)
acute toxic metal poisoning symptoms
1. rapid onset - few minutes to 1 hour. 2. GI effects(N/V), neuro effects (HA, SOB, convulsions)
long term exposure to heavy metals at lower levels
reduced cognitive, mimicking of chronic disease symptoms
contact w/ high concentrations of toxic metals most likely to occur in
occupational setting (workers)
contact w/ lower level exposures to toxic metals occur
ambient environment, children eat paint, etc
fetus', infants, and children's exposure to heavy metals
serious hazards include impairment of physical and mental development, damage to organs, and nervous system, CA, mortality
children's exposure to heavy metals
nervous system - memory impairment, difficulty learning, hyperactivity, aggressive (behavior)
Children vs Adults exposure to heavy metals
children are smaller and consume more food in proportion to their body weight and consequently receive higher doses of heavy metals that may be present in their food. fetal exposure effects of heavy metals
lead and mercury have the capacity to cross the placental barrier, causing potential fetal brain damage
major toxic metals w/ multiple effects
arsenic, berylium, mercury, chromium, cadmium, nickel, lead
arsenic is a byproduct of
refining gold
arsenic is used
primarily in pesticides, also in wood preservatives
exposure to arsenic can come from
inhale (air), ingestion (field, water)
standards for arsenic
2001 - EPA announced std of 10ug of arsenic per liter of drinking water, 2006 - compliance date. standard was lowered from
50ug per liter of water
arsenic exposure health effects
skin, bladder, kidney, and liver CA when ingested, Lung CA when inhaled, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, adverse pregnancies
beryllium widely used in
industry because it is lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel
who is most likely to be exposed to beryllium
employees in metal processing industry
most common method of exposure to beryllium
inhalation
beryllium is a probable
human carcinogen
Erin Brokovich
advocated for residents of Hinkley, CA against an electric power company accused of contaminating the towns water with chromium. occupational exposures to cadmium
1.