Psychiatric Disturbances

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

Schizoid tendencies;
hallucinations;
delirium

Mercury

Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums

Lead, Mercury

Suicidal Behaviors

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 Deficit Hyperativity Disorder(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 Disorder(ADD), response inhibition

Aluminum, Lead

Poor memory (short term, verbal and auditory)

Aluminum, Lead

Dementia;
pre-senile and senile dementia

Aluminum

Stupor

Aluminum, Arsenic

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

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

Convulsions;
seizure

Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium

Physiological Impairment

Brain and Central Nervous System

Neurofibrillary tangles

Aluminum

Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis;
neuropathy

Aluminum, Arsenic, Thallium

Encephalopathy

Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium

Alterations in nerve conduction velocity

Lead

Alterations in the spinal chord

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, 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

Renal and Hepatic Impairment

Hepatotoxicity;
Liver; dysfunction damage

Arsenic, Copper, Thallium

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, Lead

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

Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis

Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury

Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconiosis

Arsenic, Aluminum

Respiratory tract cancers

Arsenic

Immune System

Immuno suppression

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, Cadmium, Lead

Rashes, contact dermatitis, eczema, itchy/irritating skin

Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Mercury

Muscle pain; headache;
acrodynia; colic