Behavioral, structural and functional abnormalities associated with various heavy metal toxins:


Psychiatric Disturbances:

Antisocial behavior, social deficit, social withdrawal: Mercury
Repetitive, stereotyped behaviors; OCD-typical behaviors: Mercury
Depression, mood swings, flat affect; impaired facial recognition: Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury
Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Mercury, Lead
Schizoid tendencies; hallucinations; delirium: Mercury
Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums: Lead, Mercury
Suicidal Behaviors: Copper, Mercury
Sleep difficulties / disturbances: Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Chronic fatigue (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
Speech and Language Deficits:

Speech disorders: Aluminum, Mercury
Loss of speech, developmental problems with language: Mercury
Speech comprehension deficits: Mercury
Dysarthria; articulation problems; slurred speech, unintelligible speech: Mercury
Cognitive Impairments:

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, Arsenic
Impaired reaction time; lower performance on timed tests: Lead


Sensory Abnormalities:

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


Motor Disorders:

Choreiform movements, myoclonal jerks, unusual postures: Copper, Mercury
Difficulty walking, swallowing, talking: Copper, Mercury
Flapping, circling, rocking, toe walking: Mercury
Problems with intentional movements or imitation: Mercury
Abnormal, gait/posture; incoordination, loss of balance; problems sitting, lying, crawling and walking: Mercury
Decreased locomotor activity: Aluminum, Arsenic
Convulsion; seizure: Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium


Physiological Impairment, Brain and Central Nervous System:

Neurofibrillary tangles: Aluminum
Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis; neuropathy: Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium
Encephalopathy: Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium
Cerebrovascular disease: X metals
Alterations in nerve conduction velocity: Lead
Alterations in the spinal cord: Thallium
Accumulates in CNS structures: Aluminum, Mercury
Abnormal EEGs: Arsenic, Lead
Autonomic disturbances: Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium


Peripheral Nervous System:

Peripheral neuropathy: Arsenic, Mercury
Alterations in peripheral nerves: Arsenic
Loss of feeling/ numbness in the extremities; paresthesia: Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium


Gastrointestinal Tract:

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite: Arsenic, Mercury
Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning of the throat of the mouth: Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Esophagitis; gastroenteritis; colitis: Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium
Cancers (colon, pancreatic, stomach, or rectal): Arsenic


Renal and Hepatic Impairment:

Hepatotoxicity; 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


Cardiovascular System:

Blood vessel damage: Arsenic
Anemia; decreased red blood cell count: Arsenic, Copper
Hypertension; increased heart rate (tachycardia): Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium
Electrocardiac disorders, Peripheral vascular disease; cardiovascular disease, vascular collapse: Arsenic, Lead


Respiratory System:

Pulmonary Fibrosis: Aluminum, Arsenic
Pulmonary edema: X metals
Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis: Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury
Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconiosis: Arsenic, Aluminum
Nasal ulcers, perforation of the nasal septum: X metals


Immune System:

Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, & allergies: X metals
Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes X metals
Immunosuppression: Lead
Decreased white blood cell count: Arsenic, Thallium


Reproductive System:

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


Other Physical Disturbances:

Hypotonia or hypertonia; decreased muscular strength: X metal
Rashes, contact dermatitis; eczema, itchy/irritating skin: Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury
Muscle pain; headache; acrodynia; colic: Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium
Alopecia (hair loss) - Thallium
Reference: Published in the August issue of Alternative & Complimentary Therapies (a magazine for doctors) and Published in Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients.