Hygiene Education

The harm of heavy metals to the human body is cumulative and often takes 10-20 years to appear. Therefore, reducing or preventing exposure to heavy metals in the living environment is an important method to prevent heavy metal poisoning. In other words, we must take control from the source of pollution to truly prevent heavy metal poisoning.

The EPA and the Department of Health and Welfare have established management or control measures based on possible sources of heavy metals, including the ban on the use of leaded petrol to reduce air pollution or exposure to public lead; and the incorporation of heavy metals into poison management to regulate their use, storage and transportation. Amend the decree to reduce the content of heavy metals in traditional Chinese medicine and so on. All of the above measures are important ways to prevent heavy metal poisoning.

Lead

The exposure of lead to Taiwan may come from the manufacture of paint pigments or coatings, glazes, the manufacture and recycling of lead batteries, the manufacture of plastic or plastic stabilizers, tin-lead casting, wire and cable, image tubes and fluorescent lamps. Electronic soldering and capacitor spraying, as well as air pollution.

In other words, we should be protective at work to be the best preventive measures. If you are exposed to lead at work, you should take a shower at the factory and change your clothes before going home, and wash your clothes separately from your family's clothes. You can avoid exposing your child to lead-contaminated environments without taking lead dust home.

For toys used by children, qualified products should be used, and children should not be allowed to put plastic toys in their mouths. Also, don't let children smoke second-hand smoke because cigarettes can cause lead and cadmium contamination. Also, don't use a crystal cup to hold an acidic drink to avoid lead dissolution. As long as you pay more attention, you can reduce the risk of lead poisoning.

Mercury

Mercury exposure is mainly caused by industrial pollution, dental patches, inferior Chinese herbal medicines and cosmetics that are produced in rivers and offshore waters. Mercury is also ubiquitous in the application of batteries, fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, thermometers and sphygmomanometers.

Therefore, in order to reduce human exposure to mercury, you should purchase seafood foods, Chinese herbal medicines and cosmetics that are clearly marked and qualified. Due to the toxicity of mercury, it has been implemented in the home to minimize or prohibit the use of mercury thermometers.

Mercury is liquid and vapor pressure, and its vapors are swelled indoors and inhaled by the respiratory tract. Therefore, if there is a broken fluorescent tube or a broken thermometer, it must be handled with care. The debris and scattered mercury particles should be cleaned immediately and packed in a plastic bag and then discarded. Otherwise, the mercury vapor will spread and is not good for health.

In addition to the above, large deep-sea fish (such as sharks, squids, squids, swordfish, etc.) are prone to accumulate mercury. If women eat too much contaminated fish during pregnancy or breastfeeding, the baby will indirectly absorb mercury and accumulate in the body. . Therefore, at this time, care should be taken to avoid contaminated fish.

Arsenic

Human exposure to arsenic is mainly through food and water. Arsenic and pesticides that may be contained in foods are often organic arsenic, which is relatively low in toxicity. The arsenic in drinking water is mainly inorganic, and the toxicity is very strong. The drinking water will be contaminated by arsenic, which may be a natural factor of stratum structure or industrial pollution.

There are arsenic residues in the geological environment in parts of Taiwan (such as the North Gate area of Tainan). Arsenic is easily deposited in groundwater causing pollution. Therefore, it is best not to drink groundwater in these areas, and clean water for people's livelihood should be used. Of course, reducing industrial environmental pollution is also the focus.

Cadmium

Even if it is a heavy metal, cadmium is still an essential component of some of the body's enzymes. In industry, cadmium is often used in the plastics processing industry or as a stabilizer. Smoking is also one of the main sources of cadmium exposure. What is more worrying is that some areas of Taiwan have produced toxic cadmium rice due to cadmium pollution. According to the statistics of the Environmental Protection Agency, agricultural land in 12 counties and cities in western Taiwan has been contaminated with cadmium. Therefore, the public must purchase the tested rice for consumption, which is an important principle to prevent cadmium exposure.

For high-risk groups, it is advisable to regularly measure the concentration of heavy metals in the blood. From the point of view of preventive medicine, since heavy metals are easily accumulated in the body, it is possible to know whether they are "safe" by regularly taking blood to measure the concentration of heavy metals in the blood.

If the concentration of heavy metals is detected by urine, it is possible to estimate the short-term exposure or contamination of the diet. Once the concentration of heavy metals is abnormal, the amount of heavy metals excreted in the urine can be detected by using a chelating agent, and the effect can be known. Based on daily preventive measures, coupled with timely intervention in medical treatment, you can truly protect you from the threat of heavy metals.