Effects of Heavy Metals

OSHA standards about heavy metal toxicity levels in the workplace*:

"In very small amounts, many of these metals are necessary to support life. However, in larger amounts, they become toxic. They may build up in biological systems and become a significant health hazard."

Heavy metal residue on shop towels can get onto worker hands, and then into the mouth and be swallowed.

Here are some of the health effects associated with heavy metals that exceeded toxicity criteria in the study by Gradient.

• Beryllium can cause sensitization, lung and skin disease in a significant percentage of exposed workers.^***
• Cadmium and cadmium compounds are known to cause cancer as well as kidney, bone and lung cancer.^**
• Cobalt exposure at high levels can result in lung and heart effects, dermatitis and liver and kidney effects.^**
• Copper when orally ingested may cause nausea, vomiting/diarrhea, liver damage, kidney damage or death.^**
• Lead with long term (chronic) exposure, may result in severe damage to the blood-forming, nervous, urinary, and reproductive systems. Uncontrolled exposure to very high levels in the workplace has resulted in fatalities.^**

• * http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalsheavy/index.html
• ** http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/index.asp
• *** http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp33-c3.pdf