We tend to turn a blind eye to things that cause us toxicity like people and work because we think it’s only a waste of time. However, there is one kind that we should not ignore—toxic metals.

When we think of chronic diseases, we easily come up with the most rampant fatal illnesses in the country like cardiovascular problems, cancer, and diabetes. Very few pay attention to environmental toxins but the truth is, these toxins are everywhere—at your home, your work, or on your plate. They can be found in industrial and mining workplaces, agricultural chemical compounds, plastics, dental amalgams, and personal products we use daily. They could also be acquired from seafood, liver and kidney meats, canned goods, and contaminated water.

These harmful toxins, or trace elements, are silent killers we need to be aware of. Their effects during the early stages may not be easy to discern without clinical intervention, but they may progress to various health complications, and even death, when accumulated in excessive levels in the long run.

In sufficient amounts, some trace metals are necessary to support life. However, toxic levels are dangerous, even life-threatening. Common symptoms of heavy metal poisoning include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rapid heart rate that may worsen to chronic diseases. Below are common toxic metals, its sources, and the frightening risks they carry:

Arsenic
Diseases: neurological illnesses, peripheral vascular disease, skin lesions, skin cancer, hearing loss, reproductive toxicity, GI-damage, and hematologic diseases
Sources: contaminated water, pesticides, herbicides, and industrial jobs

Lead
Diseases: cancers, neurological diseases, kidney damage, hypertension, impaired intellectual ability, and behavioral problems in children
Sources: batteries, makeup, lead paints, ceramics, water from lead pipes, and automobile exhaust

Cadmium
Diseases: cancers, kidney diseases, lung damage, bone and joint damages, bronchiolitis, COPD, and emphysema
Sources: tobacco products and smoke, plastics, furniture with fire retardants, and mining jobs

Mercury
Diseases: lung damage, short-term memory loss, vision and hearing complications, impaired intellectual ability and behavioral problems, eczema, oral lichen, and neurological diseases
Sources: plastic, scientific instruments, dental amalgams, thermometer, and saltwater fish.

Toxic metals are almost impossible to avoid, but toxicity is possible to prevent. The best thing you can do to avoid heavy metal buildup in your body is to practice mindful consumption and avoid pollution. If working in mining and industrial sectors, be sure to always wear protective gear. To know if you are at risk of developing diseases due to environmental toxins, consult your doctor about toxic metals testing. It’s always better to stay vigilant about your health than regret in the end.