Environmental Contamination by Heavy Metals

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If you are trying to lower your body burden of heavy metal, or an over-high level of an essential mineral, it is important to try trace the source of the contamination, and correct this, as well as to take steps to lower the level in the body.

The Foresight clinicians like to see a lead level of below 1.4ppm, mercury level below .14ppm, cadmium level of below .12ppm and aluminium level of below 2ppm in a preconceptual parent, a pregnant woman or a small child, although the general population may mange the levels a little above this.

Sources of Over High Copper

Copper is an essential mineral and must be kept within the reference range (15-25ppm). However, too heavy contamination or hormonal manipulation which causes copper to be retrieved by the body, can cause levels to rise above the normal range. The contraceptive pill and the copper coil can both cause levels to rise, as can other hormonal drugs.

Significant levels of copper may be present in the drinking water in areas where the water is soft and acid, or unusually hard, or fluoridated. There will also be some contamination for up to two years with new copper water pipes. Lead containing alloys for the joints may leach copper as well as lead into the water. This practice is now illegal but house still exist where this was done in the past. This is the most usual source of contamination by both metals.

When a boots water filter has been used for four weeks, cut the top off the filter with a knife. If the white contents have changed to a bluish green then the water is high in copper. Another way to tell is if a dripping tap leaves a mark which turns bluish-green if left. People will accumulate copper where there are levels of .2ppm in the water. The water can be tested at the Foresight Laboratory.

Other sources are copper kettles and pans and possible Indian brass jewelry. Swimming pool water treated with copper-containing algaecides may contaminate and most certainly cause external contamination of the hair, which may confuse the analysis. Some henna dyes can also confuse the analysis. It is helpful to cease contamination for 8 weeks and then send a freshly grown sample.

Checklist for avoidance of copper:

To eliminate use of the Pill and coil we recommend Natural Family Planning (fertility awareness) This has now become a very sophisticated contraceptive technique. Much progress has been made since the old days of the unreliable Rhythm Method.
Once learnt the method can be used with abstention during the fertile period or with barrier methods during these crucial few crucial days.
Fill your kettle and pans from the Boots water filter or with bottled water. Use copper kettles and pans for decoration only!
If you have a swimming pool avoid copper-containing algaecides. Avoid dyeing the hair with dyes containing henna.
To have tap water tested send directly to the Foresight Laboratory, Unit 6, Brocklands Farm, West Meon, Hants, GU52 1JN. Tel 01730 829861.

Sources of Aluminium

Aluminum may come from cookware particularly in foods such as leaf vegetables, rhubarb and apples cooked in aluminium pans, as the acid content will take layer of metal off the pan. New pans are more susceptible than old ones, and fluoride in the water leaches extra metal from the pan. Pressure cookers are particularly likely to impart metal to the food.

Kettles and teapots in particular will contaminate. There is a substance in tea that will remove aluminum from the pot. Cake and pie pans, roasting pans etc will impart some into the food, particularly where the food is either acid or greasy.

Foil saucers for pies etc tend to give off metal in the food, especially pastry and /or fruit – for example blackcurrant pies, Cornish pasties etc. Foil wrapped around joints, poultry etc for cooking can also have this effect.

Coffee-Mate and complement the milk substitutes have added silico-aluminate to stop caking as do some makes of salt, baking powder etc (Check additives with our booklet Find-Out). Antacids such as Gelusil have 500mg per tablet.

Another source is antiperspirants.

Checklist for avoidance of alluminium:

Change aluminium cookware for glass, enamel, stainless steel, plastic (kettles) earthenware etc. Avoid using foil or buying food in foil containers.
Check labels re anticaking agents, other additives and check dyspepsia medications.
Filter water. Avoid drink in aluminium cans. Check antiperspirants.

Sources of Cadmium

The sources of cadmium are cigarette smoke- self inflicted or passive smoking- and some plumbing alloys. The ratio of cadmium to beneficial minerals is also increased in refined grains.

It is also present in some paints, usually red or yellow ones.

Checklist for avoidance of cadmium:

Avoid smoking and avoid smoky areas where possible.
The Ecos paints are only for house-painting. If you are an artist check your sources. Do not lick your brushes!!

Sources of Mercury

High mercury is not a frequent problem, but some people are quite sensitive to quite low levels.

Mercury may come from fresh or tinned tuna fish or other contaminated by ocean effluent. There may be mercury in drinking water from agricultural contamination. Seed wheat is dusted with mercury (Pregnant farmers should avoid contact with seed wheat). Some weed killers also contain mercury.

The most usual source is dental amalgams. Patients are known to void significant amounts of mercury in urine for up to eight days after dental repairs. Dentists and dental nurses are known to be particularly at risk. Unless levels are unusually high and persist high we would not necessarily recommend removal of existing fillings but be sure any further dental repair work is done with white materials. If you do decide to get fillings replaced, use a dentist with experience in this process.

Checklist for avoidance of mercury:

Do not eat tuna fish very often and it is probably better to avoid it preconceptually, during pregnancy and nursing.
Avoid contact with seed wheat and weed killers.
Mercury containing amalgams should be avoided at all times. This will also help your dentist and his assistant.
If you decide to get your amalgams removed, contact Association for Mercury-Free Dentist.

Sources of Lead

Lead comes from flaking paint or dust from this. Unlined seams of food cans may leach into the food, but most cans now have sealed seams. It may also come from polluted water that has coursed through lead piping or old lead-glazed earthenware water mains where the glaze is breaking down. Copper piping that has been joined with lead containing solder may also release lead (and copper) into the water. Where the domestic pluming is copper it is as well to find out if the connecting pipes outside the property are lead. Lead soldered joins are a very common source of corrosion of the pipes leading to lead and copper levels both being raised.

Drinking water can be tested by the Foresight Laboratory (Unit 6) Brocklands Farm, West Meon, Hants. GU32 1JN). Please ring 01730 829861 for further information on how to do this.

If your water has over 0.01ppm of lead, use a Boots water filter or something similar. It is necessary to remember the lead will not discolour the filter but it must be changed as frequently as recommended by the manufacturers as a saturated filter can make the levels even worse. It is recommended that the filter is kept in the fridge.

Other sources can be very old paint (pre 1965) which can still be present under renovations!

Checklist for avoidance of lead:

Use a Boots water filter for cooking and drinking water and change the carbon once a month. Some children who suffer from eczema have been found to benefit from their bath water being filtered.
It is possible to obtain a whole-house filter which will significantly reduce the lead and copper levels in bath and washing water.
If you are repainting do check the paint is lead free. All English paints for indoor use are lead free by law but some imported paints are not.
If you are stripping down old paint that may contain lead wear protective clothing, wear a wet cloth over the mouth and nose and cover your hair. Wet down the area you are working on frequently.

Sources of Over-High Selenium

Selenium is an essential mineral. It is particularly important in pregnancy as in-vitro studies in the US have shown chromosome damage identical to that found in Down’s syndrome, in cells deprived of selenium. You are more likely to be deficient and to need a supplement.

Over-high levels of selenium can be toxic and very occasionally these are seen in people who use selenium-containing shampoos too frequently or who use them in the bath. The makers advise against using these shampoos more than six times in a year and advise rinsing the scalp and washing the hands very thoroughly after use. They are not suitable for use in the bath and we would advise against their use preconceptually or during pregnancy.

We have been told that selenium contamination can occur from the use of copying machines and would welcome more information on this.

Checklist for avoidance of selenium:

Do not use selenium shampoos. Check the labels.

Dietary Methods for Cleansing of Toxic Metals

Peas, bananas, lentils, onions and garlic are said to contain a substance which helps the body to cleanse the toxic metals.

Useful nutrients are Vitamin C, vitamin B1, Vitamin B12 and nicotinamide (B3)) and the essential minerals, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium and cobalt (contained in B12). You will be given a programme including these.

Saunas are said to be helpful and we have been told that a hot bath containing 2 cups of apple cider will help the body sweat out the toxins. This should be done at the beginning of the preconceptual programme and not later than 116 days before the intended conception as spermatogenisis takes 116 days and hot baths are not good for sperm health. This also applies to the ova.

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