How to Prevent Exposure to Heavy Metals

Some heavy metals are found in industrial waste dumps.

Heavy metals are toxic metals and metal compounds that have adverse effects on people. Some of these metals are not dangerous in very small amounts but in larger amounts they can be deadly. Long term exposure to heavy metals, even in small amounts, can lead to serious health problems. Avoiding the sources of heavy metals is the best protection. Regulatory agencies have strict guidelines for consumer products containing heavy metals but industrial manufacturing companies are allowed to use these materials in their processes so the threat of exposure exists.

Instructions

1. Avoid areas near hazardous waste sites or mining sites where arsenic, mercury and beryllium could be present. Arsenic occurs naturally in soil, rocks and water and beryllium is found in mining and extraction activities. Mercury is also prevalent in the mining of gold and silver ores.

2. Avoid paint and paint chips that could contain lead. Many older homes contain lead-based paint. Sanding or stripping lead paint can expose you to lead.

3. Avoid long term exposure to alloy manufacturing. Cadmium is a very toxic metal found in metal ore smelting (melting and mixing) operations. Chromium is also found in many manufacturing environments such as pigments for paints.

4. Apply caution when using mercury thermometers. The silver bulb contains mercury and if broken it could lead to mercury exposure.

Tips & Warnings

• Common sense and a knowledge of where heavy metals exist is the key to preventing exposure to these toxic compounds.

References

• Heavy Metal Index: OSHA