JimO
Well-known member
Re: Undiagnosed illness - Viet Nam: Quang Ngai, ProMED RFI - environmental contamination suspected
Re: Undiagnosed illness - Viet Nam: Quang Ngai, ProMED RFI - environmental contamination suspected
The symptoms and high copper levels in blood samples do suggest some kind of heavy metal toxicity. Copper is often found with other more toxic metals (such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, cobalt, etc.) that are present at much lower concentratons. Some toxic metals accumulate in fat tissue, organs, or other parts of the body and are not found at high concentrations in blood. So, although copper has been detected, it might not be the primary causative agent.
On the other hand, copper is also a common component of many pesticides and herbicides, so earlier suggestion of toxic levels of pesticides is also a distinct possibility.
Toxicity from metals or pesticides causing the symptoms listed would suggest an acute exposure that would likely have occurred only since shortly before the first symptoms appeared. If the people showing symptoms live in communes, then it would help to note any changes over the past year that could have created an exposure pathway. The first would be the source of drinking water. Do they have new sources of water or a recently installed water system? Poorly manufactured copper piping can leach high concentrations of metals into the water. Next would be a food exposure - any new food sources where chemicals would have been used? There could be a direct skin exposure from soil, building materials, etc. Given the lesions on the hands and feet, a direct contact exposure seems very possible. Inhalation seems less likely based on the symptoms, but it should also be considered. Any recent burning of building materials or trash? Some poor communities have been known to melt recycleable metals from electronics in their cooking pots. Something like this would create multiple exposure pathways, including inhalation. It could also be a combination of two or more pathways from different causes.
Re: Undiagnosed illness - Viet Nam: Quang Ngai, ProMED RFI - environmental contamination suspected
The symptoms and high copper levels in blood samples do suggest some kind of heavy metal toxicity. Copper is often found with other more toxic metals (such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, cobalt, etc.) that are present at much lower concentratons. Some toxic metals accumulate in fat tissue, organs, or other parts of the body and are not found at high concentrations in blood. So, although copper has been detected, it might not be the primary causative agent.
On the other hand, copper is also a common component of many pesticides and herbicides, so earlier suggestion of toxic levels of pesticides is also a distinct possibility.
Toxicity from metals or pesticides causing the symptoms listed would suggest an acute exposure that would likely have occurred only since shortly before the first symptoms appeared. If the people showing symptoms live in communes, then it would help to note any changes over the past year that could have created an exposure pathway. The first would be the source of drinking water. Do they have new sources of water or a recently installed water system? Poorly manufactured copper piping can leach high concentrations of metals into the water. Next would be a food exposure - any new food sources where chemicals would have been used? There could be a direct skin exposure from soil, building materials, etc. Given the lesions on the hands and feet, a direct contact exposure seems very possible. Inhalation seems less likely based on the symptoms, but it should also be considered. Any recent burning of building materials or trash? Some poor communities have been known to melt recycleable metals from electronics in their cooking pots. Something like this would create multiple exposure pathways, including inhalation. It could also be a combination of two or more pathways from different causes.
