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Behavioral & Functional Abnormalities Associated with Heavy Metal Toxicity |
Brain and Central Nervous System |
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Neuro-fibrillary tangles |
Aluminum |
Neuritis, retro-bulbar neuritis; neuropathy |
Aluminum, Arsenic, Thallium |
Encephalopathy |
Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium |
Cerebro vascular disease |
X metals |
Alterations in nerve conduction velocity |
Lead |
Alterations in the spinal cord |
Thallium |
Assumulates in CNS structures |
Aluminum, Mercury |
Abnormal EEGs |
Arsenic, Lead |
Autonomic disturbances |
Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
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Gastrointestinal Tract |
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Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite |
Arsenic, Copper, Mercury, Thallium |
Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning of the throat and mouth |
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
Esophagitis; gastroenteritis; colitis |
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium |
Cancers (colon, pancreatic, stomach, or rectal) |
Arsenic |
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Peripheral Nervous System |
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Peripheral neuropathy |
Arsenic, Mercury |
Alterations in peripheral nerves |
Arsenic |
Loss of feeling/numbness in the extremities; paresthesia |
Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium |
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Renal and Hepatic Impairment |
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Hepato-toxicity; liver dysfunction, damage |
Arsenic, Copper, Thallium |
Cirrhosis of the liver; hepatitis |
Copper |
Kidney disease; kidney failure |
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
Renal toxicity; tubular proteinosis |
Arsenic, Copper, Lead |
Kidney damage, histological alterations |
Arsenic, Lead |
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Cardiovascular System |
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Blood vessel damage |
Arsenic |
Anemia; decreased red blood cell count |
Arsenic, Copper |
Lead Hypertension; increased heart rate (tachycardia) |
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium |
Peripheral vascular disease; cardiovascular disease, vascular collapse |
Arsenic, Lead |
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Respiratory System |
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Pulmonary fibrosis |
Aluminum, Arsenic |
Pulmonary endema |
X metals |
Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis |
Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury |
Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconisis |
Arsenic, Aluminum |
Respiratory tract disorders |
Arsenic |
Nasal ulcers, perofraction of the nasal septum |
X metals |
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Immune System |
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Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, & allergies |
X metals |
Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes |
X metals |
Immuno-suppression |
Lead |
Decreased white blood cell count |
Arsenic, Thallium |
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Reproductive System |
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Genital abnormalities |
Aluminum, Thallium |
Disturbances in menstrual cycle; menstrual pains |
Copper, Mercury |
Birth defects; premature births; spontaneous abortion |
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
Reproductive dysfunction |
Arsenic, Aluminum, Cadmium, Lead |
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Psychiatric Disturbances |
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Social Deficits, Social Withdrawal |
Mercury |
Repetitive, perseverative, stereotyped behaviors, OCD-typical behaviors |
Mercury |
Depression, mood swings, flat affect; impaired facial recognition |
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury |
Scizoid tendencies; hallucinations; delirium |
Mercury |
Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums |
Lead, Mercury |
Suicidal behavior |
Copper, Mercury |
Sleep difficulties/disturbances |
Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); weakness, malaise |
Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
Anorexia; symptoms reflecting eating disorders, loss of appetite/weight |
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
Anxiety; nervous tendencies |
Thallium |
Attention problems (ADHD), lacks eye contact, impaired visual fixation |
Lead, Mercury |
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Speech and Language Deficits |
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Speech Disorders |
Aluminum, Mercury |
Loss of Speech, developmental problems with language |
Mercury |
Speech comprehension deficits |
Mercury |
Dysarthria; articulation problems; slurred speech, unintelligible speech |
Mercury |
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Cognitive Impairments |
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Mental retardation, borderline intelligence |
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
Uneven performance on IQ scores, low IQ scores |
Copper, Lead |
Poor concentration, attention deficits (ADHD), response inhibition |
Aluminum, Lead |
Poor memory (short term, verbal and auditory) |
Aluminum, Lead |
Difficulties understanding abstract ideas; difficulty carrying out complex commands |
X metals |
Dementia; pre-senile and senile dementia |
Aluminum |
Stupor |
Aluminum |
Impaired reaction time; lower performance on timed tests |
Lead |
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Sensory Abnormalities |
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Abnormal sensations in the mouth and extremities |
Arsenic |
Hearing loss, difficulty hearing |
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury |
Abnormal touch sensations; diminished touch sensations, aversion to touch |
Arsenic |
Blurred vision, sensitivity to light |
Arsenic, Mercury |
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Motor Disorders |
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Choreiform movements, myoclonal jerks, unusual postures |
Copper, Mercury |
Difficulty walking, swallowing, talking, flapping, circuling, rocking, toe walking |
Copper, Mercury |
Problems with intentional movements or imitation |
Mercury |
Abnormal gait/posture; in co-ordination, loss of balance; problems sitting, lying, crawling, and walking |
Mercury |
Decreased loco-motor activity |
Aluminum, Arsenic |
Convulsions; seizure |
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium |
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Other Physical Disturbances |
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Hypotonia or hypertonia; decreased muscular strength |
X metals |
Rashes, contact dermatitis, eczema, itchy/irritating skin |
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury |
Muscle pain; headache; acrodynia; colic |
Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium |
Alopecia (hair loss) |
Thallium |
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