Mental Disturbances Related To Metals

Abstract

Of the 90 naturally occurring elements, 69 are metals. Some exist in great quantities, such as aluminum and iron; some are quite rare, such as silver, gold, and the radioactive elements; the others occupy positions intermediate in their abundance. Metals are ubiquitous in our environment. Added to this are man's natural curiosity and drive to better his condition, leading to even greater contact with these elements because of their beauty and utility. With this extensive contact, certain consequences are inevitable. Many of these metals, being part of the environment, have become essential to most organisms including man, e.g., sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, and molybdenum (Tarjan and Morava, 1976). These authors note that nickel and tin have been found to be essential to various farm animals, but not as yet to man. Thirty-nine metals have been found to be important in various enzyme systems, but have not as yet been proven essential to man (Davies, 1972). Hence, there are 12 essential metals, and, if we don't break the usual rules of evolution, several others are likely to be demonstrated in man in the future. With essentiality, the first natural consequence of the ubiquitous presence of metals, come two natural subconsequences: (1) that deficiency syndromes will occur whether from insufficient intake, excessive loss, or acquired improper metabolism (acquired deficiency); and (2) inborn errqrs of metabolism resulting in both deficiency and excess syndromes will occur. The second major consequence of the omnipresence of metals is that toxic disorders due to simple excessive intake, or acquired lack of excretion of both essential and non-essential metals, will occur.KeywordsZinc DeficiencySerum MagnesiumCopper DeficiencyMagnesium DeficiencyOrganic Brain SyndromeThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.