According to an article written by Rachael Rettner, senior writer for Live Science, heavy metals may pose another health risk, such as heart disease. Arsenic and lead are known too be toxic in high doses and increase the risk of cancer. This new analysis shows that there is a risk of heart disease when exposed to heavy metals. The arsenic, lead, copper or cadmium was found to be tied to an increased risk of heart disease even at low levels.
The problem of heavy metal exposure can occur through the environment or even in certain jobs, and affects people in low and middle-income countries. According to researchers, it can also affect those in high-income countries as well. The meta-analysis was published in the journal The BMJ. There is also a possible link between exposures to heavy metals and a risk of conditions, such as heart disease, according to statements by lead study author Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, associate professor in global health at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He believes that this should send a message to policy makers that we need to take action in reducing this exposure even though there is no immediate danger.
The metals occur naturally in our environment and can make their way into our drinking water and food. Arsenic and cadmium are known carcinogens that increase our risk of cancer.
The team analyzed information from 37 previous studies on heavy metal exposure that involved nearly 350,000 people in more than 12 countries. The heavy metals through various means were assessed. This included levels in drinking water, urine and blood samples as well toenail or hair clippings. Those with higher exposure levels to arsenic, lead, cadmium and copper were 30 to 80% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, compared with the lower exposures. They also found a linear relationship between the dose of heavy metal exposure and risk of heart disease. There was no clear threshold at which the link disappeared, so even the low dose poses some risk of heart disease.
Since the study found only an association between heavy metal exposure and heart disease risk, it cannot prove heavy metal exposure actually causes heart disease. In the U.S. some public health policies have helped to reduce exposure to certain heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium. This does not eliminate the exposure in heavy metal contamination in the soil, the presence of lead in paint and plumbing in the older homes, the continued use of heavy metals in plastics and batteries and the presence of these metals in tobacco and tobacco smoke.
It was also noted by Navas-Acien and colleagues that electronic cigarettes are also showing sources of heavy-metal exposure due to metallic heating coils found in the products.
Dr Fredda Branyon