Mercury and Autoimmune Disease
There has been much controversy over the last few decades in regards to environmental toxicity and its impact on human health. While it is almost impossible to completely avoid all forms of exposure to heavy metals and other toxic elements, more research is showing that even small amounts that linger in our cells for long periods of time may affect the functioning of our cells on a much larger scale than we anticipated. More recently, autoimmune diseases have been correlated with increased levels of certain toxins in the blood. While there are many chemicals and elements that we are exposed to that can have potential effects on our immune systems, we will specifically be talking about mercury today. (Stay tuned to our blog for additional information on other toxins and their relationships to autoimmunity!)
Mercury is one of the most researched environmental toxins. Almost all people have trace amounts of mercury in their body. While the acute effects of mercury toxicity are most commonly studied, it is the long-term low levels that are associated with chronic diseases. There are two main types of mercury that we are exposed to: methylmercury and elemental mercury. Mercury is emitted into the air by human activities, such as manufacturing or burning coal for fuel, and from natural environmental sources, such as volcanoes. Mercury can be inhaled or it can fall in the form of rain or snow into bodies of water and ingested or absorbed through the skin. Methylmercury is created by bacteria in the soils and sediments of lakes and oceans. It is then consumed by larger organisms over time. Because fish and other sea life cannot metabolize mercury, it concentrates in the tissue of these animals. This is why it is large fish or animals (usually predator fish or mammals) that contain the highest amounts of mercury. When we eat these animals, this becomes a major source of toxic exposure for us.
Mercury, especially elemental mercury, can be found in items we use every day, increasing our exposure. Mercury dental amalgams (or silver fillings) are one of the most common forms of elemental mercury exposure. Mercury in these types of fillings can leak out and become absorbed through our skin or ingested. Mercury is also found in many household and commercial consumer products, such as some fluorescent light bulbs, paint, skin-lightening creams, thermometers, and thermostats. Using these products regularly can increase our risk of daily mercury exposure.
So how does mercury affect our health and increase our risk of autoimmune diseases? Mercury in the body has many actions, but one of its main actions is as an endocrine disruptor and immune modulator. Mercury can disrupt several different pathways in both the body and brain. Studies have shown higher levels of mercury in the blood were correlated with increased levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) – the main type of antibody in lupus and other connective tissue autoimmune conditions. Inflammatory immune markers are often increased in those with mercury exposure. One study found that safely removing mercury amalgams in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis led to a significant decrease in anti-thyroid antibodies. Mercury exposure has also been connected to other autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis, lupus, psoriasis, atopic eczema, and IgA nephropathy.
There are many ways to test mercury exposure and load in the body. The most common ways include testing blood or urine; many tests are provoked, meaning a substance is given to stimulate cells’ release of mercury into the blood. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and/or have been exposed to mercury in your life time, it is a wise idea to work with a doctor who can help test you for high mercury levels and reduce the toxic load in your body. At Aria Integrative Medicine, we use specialized environmental toxicity testing to assess toxic load in our patients and natural methods for avoiding and removing built up toxins in the body. If you have questions about how environmental toxicity is playing a role in your health, call our office today for a complimentary 10-minute consultation.
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