Toxic Metals: Sources and Symptoms Activity

All the toxic metals can be passed from mother to child via the placenta.

Highlight or circle ANY of the sources that you may be exposed to currently or have been exposed to in the past. Please eliminate any current exposure to as many of these toxins as possible.

ALUMINUM:

Sources:

Table Salt

Cosmetics – (with aluminum as a base)

Antacids – (such as Rolaids, Maalox and Mylanta)

Antiperspirants, inc. natural crystals and deodorant stones

Prepared foods made with tap water

Peppermint, spearmint and wintergreen – (naturally high in aluminum)

Tap water

Uncoated aluminum cookware

Dry animal feeds are often contaminated with aluminum

Cocoa

Foods cooked or stored in aluminum foil

Baking Powder

Foods from aluminum cans

Early symptoms: flatulence, headaches, dryness of skin and

mucous membranes, tendencies for burning pain in head

relieved by food, loss of memory and mental confusion, some

dementias, reduced sweating.

Later symptoms: Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias,

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anemia, colitis, dental cavities,

kidney and liver dysfunction, neuromuscular disorders,

Parkinson’s disease.

ARSENIC:

Sources:

Pesticide residues

Paints

Insecticides

Drinking water

Pigments

Glassmaking

Some fish

Cosmetics

Rat Poison

Beer

Fungicides

Tanning leather/Wood Preservative

Table Salt

Pesticides

Symptoms: anorexia, weakness, diarrhea, edema, keratosis, impaired

healing, dermatitis, hair loss, sore throat, kidney damage,

goiter, headache, vertigo, muscle spasms, stupor, fever, pallor,

jaundice, abdominal pain, herpes.

CADMIUM:

Sources:

Cigarette and marijuana smoke

Instant Coffee

Occupational Exposure:

Battery Manufacture

Tap Water

Processed meats

Semiconductors

Food grown in cadmium contaminated soils

Air Pollution

Dental Materials

Refined or processed foods

Incineration of Rubber tires

Cola Drinks

Plastic and paints

Large fish such as tuna, haddock and cod

Symptoms: tends to harden and inflame the arteries leading to

arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, impaired circulation,

hypertension, heart failure, cancer, hypoglycemia, diabetes,

mental illness, bone pain, osteoporosis, tendon problems,

damages all body organs, loss of sense of taste, wound healing

delayed, migraine headaches, psoriasis, kidney failure.

 COPPER:

Sources:

Vegetarian Diets

Wheat germ and bran

Liver and/or Kidneys

Chocolate

Copper water pipes

Birth control Pills

Avocado

Copper sulfate added to drinking water

Copper intrauterine devices

Some Nuts

Compounds added to swimming pools

Stress (weakened adrenal glands)

Mineral Supplements (esp. Prenatal vitamins)

Copper cookware (when cooking on exposed surface)

Physical symptoms: acne, adrenal insufficiency, allergies,

alopecia, anemia, anorexia, arthritis, autism, connective tissue

problems of all kinds, hair and nail conditions, epilepsy or

seizures, elevated cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, estrogen

imbalance, fatigue, migraine headaches, hyperthyroidism,

infections, inflammation, insomnia, multiple sclerosis,

myocardial infarction, nausea, premenstrual tension, scoliosis,

all skin conditions, tooth decay, urinary tract infections.

Mental emotional symptoms: copper is often involved in most

cases of anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, fears, mind

racing, mood swings, panic attacks, schizophrenia, spaciness.

FLUORIDE:

Sources:

Fluoridated Drinking Water

Toothpaste

Fluoride treatments done in a dental office

Nursery Water

Fruit Juices

Mouth Wash

Foods processed with tap water

Symptoms: hypothyroidism, hip and other fractures, brown discoloration

and brittleness of teeth, birth defects, lowered IQ, cancer,

neuromuscular conditions, bone diseases

 IRON:

Sources:

Red Meat (in excess)

Irish Moss

Kelp – (kelp will often be recommended on the program and a good source of kelp is not a problem)

White flour products

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements (esp. Prenatal vitamins)

Green Vegetables – (Do not eliminate as iron is not utilized well from vegetables)

Organ Meats - (in excess)

Symptoms of deficiency: fatigue, weakness, brittle or ridged

nails, decreased resistance, slow oxidation, pallor, low blood

pressure, anemia, dizziness.

Symptoms of excess: Anger, liver disease, cancer, iron deposits in organs, diabetes, arthritis, cirrhosis of the liver, schizophrenia, emotional problems, high blood pressure, myasthenia gravis, hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis.

 LEAD:

Sources:

Lead arsenate and pesticides

Some lipsticks

Mine smelting industries

Tap Water – (esp. from wells with lead soldered pipes or contamination)

Leaded glazes on ceramic plates from other nations

Cigarette smoke

Some hair dyes

Manufacture of batteries

Food cans soldered with lead

Lead based paints

Colored Inks

Symptoms: Lead has over 100 symptoms. Abnormal brain function,

blindness, convulsions, deafness, dyslexia, encephalitis,

epilepsy, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy,

Parkinson’s disease, vertigo, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis,

colic, constipation, weight loss, spontaneous abortions,

infertility, hypothyroidism, cancer, diabetes, hypoglycemia, anxiety, poor concentration, mood swings, nightmares, psychotic behavior, alopecia.

MERCURY:

Sources:

All Fish

Preparation H

Occupational Exposures:

Dental amalgams

Many contact lens solutions

Felt

Medications

Adhesives

Diuretics

Some Fabric Softeners

Manufactures of paper

Symptoms:  affects many organs and system of the body. Neuromuscular diseases such as multiple sclerosis, most mental illness, hair loss, ataxia, birth defects, depression, dizziness, hearing loss, insomnia, migraine headaches, mood swings, nervousness, numbness and tingling in arms and legs, pain in limbs, rashes, tremors, vision loss, muscle weakness.

NICKEL:

Sources: 

All teas (esp. Rooibos or Red)

Margarines

Manufacture of steel

Metallic dental braces (very important)

Imitation whipped cream

Manufacture of wire and electrical parts

Hydrogenated vegetable oils

Commercial peanut butter

Manufacture of batteries

Contaminated alcoholic beverages

Nickel-plated jewelry

Manufacture of machine parts

Herring

Cigarette smoke

Nickel plating on metallic objects

Kelp – (if contaminated)

Oysters

Lifting Steel weight or handling anything made of steel

Unrefined grains and cereals

Sunscreens

Symptoms:  Many symptoms are related to nickel toxicity including kidney dysfunction, heart attack, cancer (oral, intestinal and lung), skin problems, nausea, vomiting, hemorrhages, malaise, low blood pressure, muscle tremors, tetany and paralysis.

MANGANESE:

Sources: 

Water – Drinking but also water used for bathing

Gasoline fumes

Exposure to welding

Symptoms: Anorexia, neurological symptoms, ataxia, schizophrenia (often unemotional type behavior, unlike copper-based schizophrenia), criminal behavior, iron deficiency and Parkinson’s-like symptoms.

To find health and beauty products that are rated based on their toxicity visit the site below. If you open this on your PC, you can click on the hyperlink. Otherwise cut and paste the link into your search engine. When you arrive at the site, click on “skin deep” and you can choose what types of products you are looking for to determine their safety.