Heavy metal toxicity is serious. and not just lead, but mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, etc. In different forms, they can be absorbed thru the skin, orally, and from vapor or from outgassing or disturbance of mercury amalgum "silver" dental fillings. It is also injected as common preservatives in drugs and vaccines ie thimerisol and aluminum salts. Many topical antiseptics or salves contain heavy metals including almost all contact lens solutions throughout the 80's and into the 90's as well as some "diaper rash" lotions. There is a decreased ability of the body to release some metals such as lead or aluminum when murcery levels are elevated. Toxic metals can cross the blood-brain barrier and placenta in some chemical forms. the body chemically converts these metals and they can become concentrated in the central nervous system, bone, or fat, as the body loses its ability to mobilize and release them.
Blood tests are not always a reliable assessment of heavy metal tox, nor is hair or tissue analysis by itself. diagnosis of a heavy metal illness can be very complicated and most physicians are uneducated in this area.
The "challenge" tests measuring urine excretion of heavy metals after injections of an agent (such as DMSA/LA) can verify a toxic load but can also be very dangerous.
There are different kinds of chelation therapy, some effective some times, some not at all, and some possibly detrimental.
The Betagard(tm) mentioned in a previous reply is simply a batch of synthetic vitamins sold by what appears to be a multi-level marketing company and is typical of many of the claims and products being sold everywhere. Buyer beware.
Heavy metal exposure is much more common, and detoxification and chelation therapy is much more complicated, than most people realize.
Threads like this should resurface frequently to raise the awareness of the good folks here and elsewhere in the shooting community. Take precautions whenever possible to limit exposure.
(sorry for the sermon- off the soapbox for now)
