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Writer's pictureShaylee Meyer

Heavy Metal Contamination: Explained

Let’s make one thing clear: there are no “safe” amounts of heavy metal exposure. Any amount of lead, arsenic, cadmium, or mercury in the body is disadvantageous to your system.


That being said, it would be nearly impossible to rid everything you use and consume of heavy metals. Heavy metal contamination is everywhere for two reasons:


1. Natural Occurrence

  • Heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic naturally exist in the Earth's crust. Over time, geological processes such as weathering, volcanic activity, and erosion release these metals into the soil, water, and air, creating a baseline level of heavy metal presence in the environment.


2. Industrial Activities and Heavy Metal Contamination


  • Mining and smelting activities release arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury into nearby soils and waterways. Rainwater can leach toxic materials from waste products like tailings and slag, further spreading contamination.

  • The historical use of arsenic-based pesticides, such as lead arsenate, has left lasting contamination in soils, especially in former agricultural areas, with toxic residues leaching into groundwater.

  • Mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants and waste incinerators can travel globally through the atmosphere, depositing into waterways where they transform into highly toxic methylmercury, contaminating fish and aquatic systems.

  • Industrial wastewater from battery manufacturing and urban runoff from lead-based paints pollute waterways with persistent and bioaccumulative heavy metals like lead and cadmium.


    Understanding how heavy metal contamination occurs helps explain why it’s so difficult to avoid completely. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to reduce your exposure. In fact, it’s crucial to do so because heavy metals can accumulate in your body for years, compounding their toxic effects. Here are four heavy metals we test for, with a brief overview of their impact on the body: 1. Cadmium:

    • Cadmium exposure is linked to kidney damage, bone demineralization, and an increased risk of lung cancer. Women are particularly vulnerable due to cadmium’s ability to mimic estrogen, potentially disrupting hormonal balance and increasing the risk of breast cancer. It can also exacerbate osteoporosis, as cadmium interferes with calcium absorption, making it especially harmful for post-menopausal women.

      • Elimination: Very slow; primarily excreted through urine, but at rates too low to prevent accumulation with a half-life of 10-30 years.

    2. Lead:

    • Lead exposure negatively impacts almost every organ in the body, particularly the nervous system, leading to cognitive impairments, anemia, and kidney damage. In women, lead can disrupt menstrual cycles, reduce fertility, and pass through the placenta to harm fetal brain development during pregnancy. Chronic exposure can also deplete calcium stores, increasing the risk of osteoporosis, especially post-menopause.

      • Elimination: Extremely slow; the half-life in bone is approximately 20–30 years.

    3. Arsenic:

    • Arsenic is a potent carcinogen that can cause cancers of the skin, lungs, and bladder with prolonged exposure. It also damages the skin, leading to lesions, and disrupts cardiovascular and immune systems. For women, arsenic exposure can interfere with hormone regulation and increase the risk of pregnancy complications such as stillbirth or low birth weight. Chronic exposure through contaminated water or food is particularly concerning in regions with poor water quality.

      • Elimination: Most arsenic is eliminated through urine within 1–3 days, but chronic exposure can cause persistent damage to tissues.

    4. Mercury:

    • Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that primarily affects the nervous system, causing tremors, memory problems, and mood changes. Chronic exposure can also harm the kidneys and cardiovascular system. For women, mercury is especially dangerous during pregnancy as it can cross the placenta, leading to developmental delays, cognitive deficits, and birth defects in infants. Women who consume high-mercury seafood or work in industries involving mercury are at increased risk.

      • Elimination: Slow, mainly through urine and feces, with a biological half-life of about 50–70 days for methylmercury.


To give you an idea of how prevalent this issue is: a study published in the Journal of Toxicology in 2013 analyzed various off-the-shelf black, green, white, and oolong teas for toxic element contamination. The findings revealed that 73% of teas brewed for 3 minutes and 83% brewed for 15 minutes contained lead levels deemed unsafe for consumption during pregnancy and lactation. This issue persists across all supplement types and even cosmetics.


If you’re anything like me, this information might make you want to swear off supplements forever. But you’ve got to be asking yourself—why isn’t anyone checking on this? Are they really just slapping tea bags filled with lead on the shelves at Target? Well, in some respects, yes. But worry not!


This is where we take matters into our own hands.


Inanna Certifications was founded to ameliorate these critical issues by providing consumers with clear third-party verified information about the safety of products they use and consume. Recognizing that heavy metals can accumulate in the body over years, we believe it's essential to monitor the supplements and teas we consume to limit our exposure to these toxic substances. Consumers are often misled by marketing claims promising miraculous benefits, all the while selling products contaminated with harmful substances. Inanna Certifications serves as a tool for consumers to identify products and brands that are truly worth their time and money. As you're searching for your next tea, tincture, or supplement, look for the Inanna label. This signifies that the product has undergone rigorous third-party testing to ensure it is free from harmful contaminants and meets our stringent quality standards. If you have a supplement you already love, please share our information with them so we can collaborate to provide you with the safest, highest-quality products—because that's what you deserve.


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