Metal Health

What if I told you that water purification doesn't necessarily provide you with pure water? And what if I also told you that drinking "pure" water could be a risk to your health?

If you're like me you probably place the health of your family and you at the top of your priority list. With the topic of environmental pollution appearing so often in the headlines its hard to ignore concerns about the quality of the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

There was a time when we poured ourselves a glass of water from our kitchen faucet and trusted that our local municipal water department was providing us with safe, potable water.

As we have all (including our municipalities) become more aware about environmental pollutants we realize that the conventional water purification method of adding chlorine and other chemicals to our water has some serious shortcomings.

Case in point, the Ralph Nader Research Institute reports that, "U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer." This information serves to illustrate the importance of knowing what is in our drinking water.

Chlorine has been the first choice as a water purifier because of its affordability and ready availability. And it does the job of purifying water. But along with removing impurities it also removes vital elements, such as Vitamin E and other indispensable fatty acids that are vital to our health.

If you have chlorinated water in your home you can probably attest to how dry your skin feels after bathing or showering. This is because chlorine strips the oils from your skin, leaving it dry and susceptible to premature aging.

Furthermore, as a water purifier, chlorine has been found to be ineffective in killing certain microorganisms, such as cryptosporidium and giardia.

Even more alarming is the fact that when the metal pipes in most home plumbing come in contact with chlorine, heavy metals can leech into the water that runs through the pipes.

The health effects of heavy metals on infants, children and pregnant women have become the focus of concern and research by the EPA and other governmental agencies. These studies are looking at high levels of lead and copper in drinking water and the potential adverse effects they can cause.

And lastly, chlorine has also been linked to asthma and other respiratory ailments.

It is evident that water purification is becoming an indispensable feature of every home. So it isn't surprising that some concerned consumers have turned to alternative water purifiers. One popular system that you're probably familiar with is reverse osmosis.

This water purification system does provide a clean, pleasant-tasting water. But, unfortunately, it strips out naturally-occurring minerals like potassium, magnesium and calcium, which are necessary for the body to work well and stay healthy. While this water is "pure," it contains little, if any, of the intended health benefits of drinking water.

Despite all this, the good news is that we are becoming smarter about acquiring clean, healthy drinking water. More and more consumers are educating themselves about water purifiers and are finding that they are very affordable, simple to install and easy to change and maintain.

And because these consumers are concerned with the health and well being of their families, they are taking the time to research and compare the benefits and drawbacks of various water purification systems.

If you decide to look into getting a water purifier, just keep in mind that no water purification method is 100% reliable and certain. That being said, however, some systems are better than others.

If you're not sure which water purifier is best for the needs of you and your family, just look for one that uses a multi-stage filtration. This will help protect against chlorine, lead and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals).

Doing your research will going a long way toward providing for the health and well-being of your family. Especially when you end up with the best water purifier you can get.

So take some time to compare water purification systems. You will find, like I did, that there are lots of second-rate products, some really good ones, and a small handful that blow the rest out of the water. (Sorry...I couldn't resist.)

We all use metal tools occasionally in our household works. And at the same time it is very common that they get rust when they are kept unused for a brief period. What happens next, you get annoyed with it and get out for some other less important jobs. And if you badly need that tool, you would have to clean them up.

It is not easy to keep those tools rust free and if you live in a moist area, it may seem almost impossible. And rust does not get you away from the job alone; it also harms longevity of your tools.

So, how to remove rust from metal tools?

People have different opinions and tips in this matter to share with you. Here are some ways that you may employ to make your metal tools rust free.

Properly clean up and dry all the tolls after every use. You should also apply some wax (butcher's wax) after certain period depending on your use of the tool and moisture of the location where they are kept, to keep them rust free. Do not even think about keeping the metal portion of the tool on the wet or moist ground. If you have no other option, cover the metal part properly with plastic wrapper so that it does not come in direct and constant contact with moist ground.

If the metal tool gets rust and you need to clean them up for use, sand it well and after the use, clean and wax it properly.

You can also create a mixture of motor oil and sand. When you have finished using the tool, simply shove them into the mixture. It would not simply clean the tools; you would also get an oil coating over it. In fact, this mixture also works to sharpen the tool a little bit. But, if you use a tool with mixed elements like metal and plastic or metal and rubber, it is better not to use this method. Sand can harm the longevity of elements like rubber or plastic. This process is perfect for simple tools like shovel or axe. And it is better to avoid using this process to clean up complex tools.

You can also try using lemon juice and Morton's salt to clean rust from a metal body. But you would need to rub the metal clean - sometimes it is too tough and hazardous to clean something in this way where you would need to depend on your rubbing strength a lot. To rub the metal body, you may use a piece of cotton, scrubber or metal wire wool (be careful while using wools).

If you are not happy with these home made solutions, you can find some rust remover for metal tools and other metal items. These often work wonders if you can find the right cleaner for the right metal. You can follow the recommendations provided in the container or user manual to find out if that rust remover is the perfect one for you or not.

If you are not sure about it or if you want to clean mixed tools (rubber, plastic, metal etc), try using non-toxic or organic rust cleaners as they will not harm the soft portions. At the same time these organic cleaners are also harmless for your health. There are some really good organic rust cleaners in the market that cleans the rust very well but does not harm the color of the metal body. To add to this, you do not need to scrub or wipe the metal body after cleaning.

Seems fun? Check out your local shop or search internet for organic rust removers.

With symbol K (from Latin kalium, "alkali") and atomic number 19, Potassium is a chemically reactive and extremely soft metallic elements placed in group 1 of the periodic table. The element's name comes from the English word potash, a potassium compound originally obtained by soaking wood ash in a pot of water and allowing the water to evaporate. Most potassium occurs in the Earth's crust as minerals, such as feldspars and clays. Potassium is leached from these by weathering, which explains why there is quite a lot of this element in the sea (0.75 g/liter). Minerals mined for their potassium are pinkish and sylvite, carnallite and alunite. The main mining area used to be Germany, which had a monopoly of potassium before the First World War. Today most potassium minerals come from Canada, USA and Chile. The world production of potassium ores is about 50 million tonnes, and reserves are vast.

 

The metal is silvery white and can be cut with a knife but oxidizes rapidly in air and tarnishes within minutes, so it is generally stored under oil or grease. It is light enough to float onto water with which it reacts instantly to release hydrogen that burns with a lilac flame. Potassium exists in three natural isotopic forms, with mass numbers 39, 40, and 41. Potassium-40 is radioactive and has a half-life of 1.26 billion years. The most abundant isotope is potassium-39. Several radioactive isotopes have been artificially prepared. Potassium melts at about 63°C (about 145°F), boils at about 760°C (about 1400°F), and has a specific gravity of 0.86; the atomic weight of potassium is 39.098.The chemistry of potassium is almost entirely that of its ion, K+.

 

Potassium metal is prepared by the electrolysis of fused potassium hydroxide or of a mixture of potassium chloride and potassium fluoride. The metal oxidizes as soon as it is exposed to air and reacts violently with water, yielding potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Potassium is found in nature in large quantities, ranking eighth in order of abundance of the elements in Earth's crust, in various minerals. Potassium is a constituent of all plant and animal tissue as well as a vital constituent of fertile soil.

Potassium forms many compounds resembling corresponding sodium compounds, based on a valence of 1. A few of the element's most important compounds are: Potassium bromide (KBr), a white solid formed by the reaction of potassium hydroxide and bromine; Potassium chromate (K2CrO4), a yellow crystalline solid, and potassium bichromate, or potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), a red crystalline solid, are powerful oxidizing agents used for many industrial purposes; Potassium iodide (KI), a white crystalline compound that is very soluble in water, is used in photography for preparing gelatin emulsions and in medicine for the treatment of rheumatism and over activity of the thyroid gland; Potassium nitrate (KNO3), a white solid prepared by fractional crystallization of sodium nitrate and potassium chloride solutions, is used in matches,  destructive materials, and fireworks, and in pickling meat(It occurs naturally as saltpeter); Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), a purple crystalline solid, is used as a disinfectant and germicide and as an oxidizing agent in many important chemical reactions; Potassium sulfate (K2SO4), a white crystalline solid, is an important potassium fertilizer and is also used in the preparation of potassium alum; and Potassium hydrogen tartrate (KHC4H4O6), commonly known as cream of tartar is a white solid used in baking powder and in medicine.

 

Most potassium goes into fertilizers (about 95 %) and the rest goes mainly into making potassium hydroxide (KOH), by the electrolysis of potassium chloride solution, and then converting this to potassium carbonate (K2CO3) which goes into glass manufacture, especially the glass used to make televisions. Potassium hydroxide is used to make liquid soaps and detergents. A little potassium chloride goes into pharmaceuticals, medical drips and saline injections. Other potassium salts are used in baking, photography and tanning leather, and to make iodize salts. In all cases it is the negative anion, not the potassium, which is the key to their use.

The term potash originally designated potassium carbonate, obtained by leaching wood ashes, but is now applied in general to a number of potassium compounds. Potassium carbonate (K2CO3), a white solid, also called potash or pearl ash, is obtained from the ash of wood or other burned plant materials, and by reacting potassium hydroxide with carbon dioxide. It is used in making glass and soft soap. Potassium chlorate (KClO3), called chlorate of potash, a white crystalline compound, is formed by the electrolysis of potassium chloride solution. It is a powerful oxidizing agent and is used in matches, fireworks, and explosives, as a disinfectant, and as a source of oxygen. Potassium chloride (KCl), a white crystalline compound commonly called chloride of potash or muriate of potash, is a common constituent of potassium salt minerals, from which it is obtained by volatilization. It is an important potassium fertilizer and is also used in making other potassium compounds. Potassium hydroxide (KOH), called caustic potash, a white solid that is dissolved by the moisture in the air, is prepared by the electrolysis of potassium chloride or by the reaction of potassium carbonate and calcium hydroxide; it is used in the manufacture of soap and is an important chemical reagent. It dissolves in less than its own weight of water, liberating heat and forming a strongly alkaline solution.

 

Potassium is a key plant element. Although it is soluble in water, little is lost from undisturbed soils because as it is released from dead plants and animal excrements, it quickly become strongly bound to clay particles, and it is retained ready to be readsorbed by the roots of other plants. Together with nitrogen and phosphorous, potassium is one of the essential macro minerals for plant survival.  Its presence is of great importance for soil health, plant growth and animal nutrition. Its primary function in the plant is its role in the maintenance of osmotic pressure and cell size, thereby influencing photosynthesis and energy production as well as stomatal opening and carbon dioxide supply, plant and translocation of nutrients. As such, the element is required in relatively large proportions by the growing plant. The consequences of low potassium levels are apparent in a variety of symptoms: restricted growth, reduced flowering, lower yields and lower quality produce. High water soluble levels of potassium cause damage to germinating seedlings inhibits the uptake of other minerals and reduces the quality of the crop.

 

Potassium can be found in vegetables, fruit, potatoes, meat, bread, milk and nuts. It plays an important role in the physical fluid system of humans and assists nerve functions. Potassium, as the ion K+, concentrate inside cells, and 95% of the body's potassium is so located. When our kidneys are somehow malfunctioning an accumulation of potassium will consist. This can lead to disturbing heartbeats. Potassium can affect us when breathed in. Inhalation of dust or mists can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, lungs with sneezing, coughing and sore throat. Higher exposures may cause a build up of fluid in the lungs, this can cause death. Skin and eye contact can cause severe burns leading to permanent damage.

This health claim is intentionally left as vague as possible. It implies that the tea has the ability to remove toxins from the human body but provides no details on the type of toxins involved, nor how the detox effect is achieved.

We are also told that the tea "gently rebalances", leaving it as a complete mystery as to what bodily system is rebalanced. Can a simple cup of tea really "rebalance" something so complicated as the human body? What does "rebalance" actually mean?

Toxins can be grouped into three types, bacterial/viral (such as the common cold and pneumonia), chemical (such as dioxins or pesticide residues) and heavy metal (lead, mercury etc) contamination.

The question then is, can drinking tea remove any or all of these toxins from the human body?

I searched for evidence that the compounds in tea can remove heavy metals or harmful chemicals from the human body, but found no long term study that demonstrated this. in fact, there are worries that, rather than removing heavy metals, some herbal teas may contain these poisons.

There is some evidence that certain teas may have a limited antibacterial effect and also may be a source of antioxidant compounds, but this seems to depend on the variety of the tea plant. However, the tea companies do not tell us if this is the "detox" property they promise.

Perhaps the best summing up of the current state of our understanding of the possible health benefits of tea is that provided by the Mayo Clinic.

"While numerous studies have found possible benefits, the actual benefits of drinking tea are not certain. Most research about tea's benefits is based on population (epidemiological) studies. Findings are limited because factors other than tea consumption could influence the results. Here's some of what's known about tea's potential benefits:

Cardiovascular: It's still uncertain if drinking tea over long periods might positively affect cholesterol levels, blood pressure and atherosclerosis. There's some early evidence that regularly drinking green tea may reduce heart attack risk or atherosclerosis. There's conflicting evidence on black tea consumption and heart attack risk reduction.

Cancer: It's still unknown whether regular black tea consumption influences cancer rates. Early lab tests with white tea indicate it may protect against colon cancer in particular. So far, well-designed studies haven't proven this.

Bone and joint health: Early laboratory research indicates green tea could be beneficial in reducing inflammation related to arthritis and slowing cartilage breakdown. Some early data indicate that regular tea consumption might improve bone mineral density in older women.

Memory: Studies are limited, but a recent one found that older adults in Japan who drank green tea daily showed less risk of memory difficulty, compared with those who didn't drink tea regularly."

So it seems that drinking tea may well have health benefits, but not in the way promised by the tea companies when they refer to "toxins" and "rebalance". Further trials are needed to confirm these potential benefits

We do know for certain however, that our bodies remove toxins using the liver, kidneys, skin, intestines and lungs and these that organs are perfectly capable of removing and excreting most toxins quickly and efficiently, without the need to consume "detox tea".

The claim that the detox tea "gently rebalances" is meaningless and impossible to investigate unless we are given more information on what specifically, is being rebalanced. There are many different factors involved in regulating the chemical balance of the human body. It is very unlikely that one cup of tea could alter or influence all of these factors.

The reason the claims are so vague is that the companies cannot take the risk of making a specific claim because then their claim can be tested, and most likely found to be false.

On the website of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland it states:

"Recently, a new European Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006) on nutrition and health claims made on foods marketed within the European Union, was introduced into law. The Regulation also covers claims made on food supplements, foods for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTS), natural mineral waters and water intended for human consumption.

This Regulation is wide in scope and will cover the use of all wording and symbols which imply that a food provides a particular nutritional or health benefit. It also applies to nutrition and health claims made in commercial communications whether in the labelling, presentation or advertising of foods to be delivered to the final consumer.

Over the past number of years, there has been a substantial increase in the number and type of nutrition and health claims appearing on food labels within the EU.

The main aim of this new Regulation is to allow consumers to make informed food choices, by ensuring that they receive accurate information and are not misled. Claims made on foods must be clear and understandable by the average consumer. Claims that exaggerate a food's expected health benefits and/or are not adequately substantiated by scientific evidence will no longer be permitted."

You can judge for yourself if "Detox Teas" comply with the spirit of this regulation.

Cadmium is a lustrous, silvery-white, ductile, very malleable metal. Its surface has a bluish tinge and the metal is soft enough to be cut with a knife, but it tarnishes in air. It is soluble in acids but not in alkalis. It is similar in many respects to zinc but it forms more complex compounds. About three-fourths of cadmium is used in Ni-Cd batteries, most of the remaining one-fourth is used mainly for pigments, coatings and plating, and as stabilizers for plastics. Cadmium has been used particularly to electroplate steel where a film of cadmium only 0.05 mm thick will provide complete protection against the sea. Cadmium has the ability to absorb neutrons, so it is used as a barrier to control nuclear fission.

Cadmium can mainly be found in the earth's crust. It always occurs in combination with some offensive metals and consists in the industries as their inevitable by-products. After being applied it enters the environment mainly through the ground, because it is found in manures and pesticides. Naturally a very large amount of cadmium is released into the environment. About half of this cadmium is released into rivers through weathering of rocks and some cadmium is released into air through forest fires and volcanoes. The rest of the cadmium is released through human activities, such as manufacturing. No cadmium ore is mined for the metal, because more than enough is produced as a byproduct of the smelting of zinc from its ore, sphalerite (ZnS), in which CdS is a significant impurity, making up as much as 3%. Consequently, the main mining areas are those associated with zinc.  

Cadmium waste streams from the industries mainly end up in soils. The causes of these waste streams are for instance zinc production, phosphate ore implication and bio industrial manure. Cadmium waste streams may also enter the air through (household) waste combustion and burning of fossil fuels. Because of regulations only little cadmium now enters the water through disposal of wastewater from households or industries.
Another important source of cadmium emission is the production of artificial phosphate fertilizers. Part of the cadmium ends up in the soil after the fertilizer is applied on farmland and the rest of the cadmium ends up in surface waters when waste from fertilizer productions is dumped by production companies. Cadmium can be transported over great distances when it is absorbed by sludge. This cadmium-rich sludge can pollute surface waters as well as soils.

Cadmium is strongly adsorbed to organic matter in soils. When cadmium is present in soils it can be extremely dangerous, as the uptake through food will increase. Soils that are acidified enhance the cadmium uptake by plants. This is a potential danger to the animals that are dependent upon the plants for survival. Cadmium can accumulate in their bodies, especially when they eat multiple plants. Cows may have large amounts of cadmium in their kidneys due to this. Earthworms and other essential soil organisms are extremely susceptive to cadmium poisoning. They can die at very low concentrations and this has consequences for the soil structure. When cadmium concentrations in soils are high they can influence soil processes of microorganisms and threat the whole soil ecosystem. In aquatic ecosystems cadmium can bio accumulate in mussels, oysters, shrimps, lobsters and fish. The susceptibility to cadmium can vary greatly between aquatic organisms. Salt-water organisms are known to be more resistant to cadmium poisoning than freshwater organisms. Animals eating or drinking cadmium sometimes get high blood-pressures, liver disease and nerve or brain damage.

 

Human uptake of cadmium takes place mainly through food. Foodstuffs that are rich in cadmium can greatly increase the cadmium concentration in human bodies. Examples are liver, mushrooms, shellfish, mussels, cocoa powder and dried seaweed. An exposure to significantly higher cadmium levels occurs when people smoke. Tobacco smoke transports cadmium into the lungs. Blood will transport it through the rest of the body where it can increase effects by potentiating cadmium that is already present from cadmium-rich food. Other high exposures can occur with people who live near hazardous waste sites or factories that release cadmium into the air and people that work in the metal refinery industry. When people breathe in cadmium it can severely damage the lungs. This may even cause death.

Cadmium is first transported to the liver through the blood. There, it is bond to proteins to form complexes that are transported to the kidneys. Cadmium accumulates in kidneys, where it damages filtering mechanisms. This causes the excretion of essential proteins and sugars from the body and further kidney damage. It takes a very long time before cadmium that has accumulated in kidneys is excreted from a human body. Other health effects that can be caused by cadmium are: diarrhoea, stomach pains and severe vomiting, bone fracture, reproductive failure and possibly even infertility, damage to the central nervous system, damage to the immune system, psychological disorders, and - Possibly DNA damage or cancer development.

 

Boron is a non metallic element and the only non-metal of the group 13 of the periodic table of the elements. It is electron-deficient, possessing a vacant p-orbital. It has several forms, the most common of which is amorphous boron, a dark powder, unreactive to oxygen, water, acids and alkalis. It reacts with metals to form borides. At standard temperatures boron is a poor electrical conductor but becomes a good conductor at high temperatures. The most economically important compound of boron is sodium tetraborate decahydrate Na2B4O7 · 10H2O, or borax, used for insulating fiberglass and sodium perborate bleach. Boric acid is an important compound used in textile products. Compounds of boron are used in organic synthesis, in the manufacture of a particular type of glasses, and as wood preservatives. Boron filaments are used for advanced aerospace structures, due to their high-strength and light weight. An early use of borax was to make perborate, the beaching agent once widely used in household detergents. Boron compound also came into the average home in the guise of food preservatives, especially for margarine and fish.

 Boron is not present in nature in elemental form. It is found combined in borax, boric acid, kernite, ulexite, colemanite and borates. Volcanic spring waters sometime contain boric acids. Boron is an element that occurs in the environment mainly through natural processes. Seawater contains approximately 4-5 ppm of this element. River water generally contains only 10 ppb. In seaweed 8-15 ppm and in mussels 4-5 ppm (dry mass) of boron was found. Boron dissolved in water occurs as B(OH)3 (aq) or B(OH)4- (aq). Under normal circumstances boron does not react with water. However, some boron compounds may do so. For example, the boron trifluoride ethyl ether complex reacts with water, forming diethyl ether- BF3, and releasing some highly flammable gases. A number of boron compounds, such as boron tri iodide, are hydrolysed in water. Boron salts are generally well water soluble. Boric acid has a water solubility of 57 g/L, borax of 25.2 g/L, and boron trioxide of 22 g/L. Boron trifluoride is the least water soluble boron compound, with a water solubility of 2.4 g/L. Some boron compounds, such as boron nitrite are completely water insoluble.

The most abundant minerals containing boron are kernite, borax, ulexite and colemanite. It can also be found in slate and in loam rich rock formations. Air-tight soil contains boron concentrations of between 5 and 80 ppm. Boron rich places, such as fumaroles, contain boric acid, borates and boron minerals. The degree of binding to clay minerals is mainly pH-dependent. Boron is released from rocks and soils through weathering, and subsequently ends up in water. In industry the pure element is rarely used, except for metal boride production, or to improve aluminum conductivity. Metal borides are processed to for instance turbines, rocket power, containers for high-temperature reactions, and electrodes. The hardness of steel is enhanced by adding boron.

Sodium perborate is applied as bleach in detergents. This eventually forms borate, which directly damages water plants. Borates are applied as water softeners. Other boron compounds are applied in glass, glass fibre, ceramic and email production. Glass is more solid and heat resistant when boron is added, and glass fibres are applied as insulation. Boron compounds may also be found in cleansing agents, batteries, illegal preservatives, and eye drops. The most important compounds in this respect are borax, boron oxide and boric acid. Boric acid and borax are added to fertilizers and pesticides in large amounts. The element is also present in impregnation and wood preservatives. It is applied as an abrasive as boron carbide and boron nitrite. Boron has a special function in a polymer matrix. It is applied to regulate nuclear reactors as a cooling agent in dangerous situations. It also absorbs neutrons in the reactor core. Boron often ends up in soil and groundwater through domestic landfills, when these are inadequately sealed. It serves as a typical indicator compound that indicates the presence of other hazardous substances.

It occurs naturally in the environment due to the release into air, soil and water through weathering. It may also occur in groundwater in very small amounts. Humans add boron by manufacturing glass, combusting coal, melting copper and through the addition of agricultural fertilizers. The concentrations of boron that are added by humans are smaller that the naturally added concentrations through natural weathering. Boron exposure through air and drinking water is not very likely to occur, but the risk of exposure to borate dust in the workplace does exist. Boron exposure may also occur from consumer products such as cosmetics and laundry products. Plants absorb boron from the ground and through plant-consuming animals it can end up in food chains. Boron has been found in animal tissue, but it is not likely to accumulate. When animals absorb large amounts of boron over a relatively long period of time through food or water the male reproductive organs will be affected. When animals are exposed to boron during pregnancy their offspring may suffer from birth defects or delayed development. Furthermore, animals are likely to suffer from nose irritation when they breathe in boron.

Boron is a dietary requirement for a number of organisms, and it plays an important role in mitosis. This applies to green algae, and some higher plant species. Boron deficiencies cause growth problems and difficulties in sugar mobilization. The boron compound that is absorbed most is boric acid. Plants contain 30-75 ppm of boron (dry mass). The toxic mechanism starts at concentrations exceeding 100 ppm. This may decrease crop yield. Grass species tolerate relatively high boron concentrations, but pine species are particularly susceptible. However, trees do require large amounts of boron compared to other plant species. A tolerable boron concentration in soils is approximately 25 ppm. High boron concentrations in water may be toxic to fish species, regarding concentrations of 10-300 mg/L. For water plants mainly borate is hazardous. Boron is not a dietary requirement for vertebrates. Boric acid is mildly water hazardous, but boron halogens are strongly water hazardous. Boron is averagely mobile and is transformed slowly. It may therefore spread rapidly through water. Boron consists of two stable and fourteen instable isotopes.

Humans can be exposed to boron through fruit and vegetables, water, air and consumer products. We have a regular daily intake of about 2 mg and about 18 mg in out body in total. When humans consume large amounts of boron-containing food, the boron concentrations in their bodies may rise to levels that can cause health problems. Boron can infect the stomach, liver, kidneys and brains and can eventually lead to death. When exposure to small amounts of boron takes place irritation of the nose, throat or eyes may occur. It takes 5 g of boric acid to make a person ill and 20 grams or more to put its life in danger. Eating fish or meat will not increase the boron concentrations in our bodies, as boron does not accumulate within the tissues of animals. The human body contains approximately 0.7 ppm of boron, an element that is not considered a dietary requirement. Still, we absorb this element from food stuffs, because it is a dietary requirement for plants. Daily intake is approximately 2 mg. The amount of boron present in fruits and vegetables is below the toxicity boundary.
At a daily intake of over 5 g of boric acid the human body is clearly negatively influenced, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and blood clotting. Amounts over 20 g are life threatening. Boric acid irritates the skin and eyes. Skin contact with boron trifluoride may cause corrosion. A possible correlation exists between the amount of boron in soils and drinking water, and the occurrence of arthritis among people. Both boric acid and borax are applied in medicine in certain amounts. Neutron absorbing characteristics of boron are applied in brain tumour treatment (boron neutron capture therapy).   

Sodium (symbol Na, atomic number 11, and atomic weight 22,9898) is a chemical a soft metal, reactive and with a low melting point, and a relative density of 0,97 at 20ºC (68ºF). The element's name comes from the English word soda, which is sometimes used to describe various sodium compounds. From the commercial point of view, sodium is the most important of all the alkaline metals. Sodium reacts quickly with water, and also with snow and ice, to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. When recently cut metallic sodium is exposed to air, it loses its silvery appearance and acquires an opaque grey colour due to the formation of a sodium oxide coating. While sodium can react with ammonia to form sodium amide, it does react with halogens. Sodium and hydrogen react above 200ºC (390ºF) to form sodium hydride.

Sodium also reacts with various metallic halides to generate the metal and sodium chloride. Sodium doesn't react with paraffinic hydrocarbons, but it forms addition compounds with naphthalene and other aromatic polycyclic compounds and with aryl alkenes. The reaction of sodium with alcohols is similar to the reaction of sodium with water, but slower. There are two general reactions with organic halides. One of them requires the condensation of two organic compounds, which form halogens when those are eliminated. The second type of reaction includes the replacement of halogen by sodium, to obtain a sodium organic compound. Sodium is found in nature only in the combined state. It occurs in the ocean and in salt lakes as sodium chloride, NaCl, and less often as sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, and sodium sulfate, Na2SO4. Sodium is prepared commercially by the electrolytic decomposition of fused sodium chloride. Sodium ranks seventh in order of abundance of the elements in Earth's crust. It is a necessary constituent of plant and animal tissue.

Sodium is prepared commercially by the electrolytic decomposition of fused sodium chloride. It is a necessary constituent of plant and animal tissue. Sodium in its metallic form is very important in making esters and in the manufacture of organic compounds. Sodium is also a component of table salt, sodium chloride (NaCl) a very important compound found everywhere in the living environment. Its other uses are: to improve the structure of certain alloys; in soap, in combination with fatty acids, in sodium vapor lamps, to descale metals, to purify molten metals. Solid sodium carbonate is needed to make glass. The element is used in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead and as a cooling agent in nuclear reactors. Other important compounds of sodium include sodium carbonate, known as washing soda, and sodium bicarbonate, known as baking soda. Sodium hydroxide, known commercially as soda lye or caustic soda, is used in the manufacture of many important articles of immense importance. Sodium fluoride, NaF, is used as an antiseptic, as a poison for mice and roaches, and in ceramics. Sodium nitrate, known as Chile saltpeter, is used as a fertilizer. Sodium peroxide, Na2O2, is an important bleaching and oxidizing agent. Sodium thiosulfate, Na2S2O3 · 5H2O, known as hypo, is used in photography as a fixing agent.

Sodium is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is found in nature only in the combined state ranking sixth or seventh in order of abundance of the elements and containing 2,83% of sodium in all its forms. It occurs in the ocean and in salt lakes as sodium chloride, NaCl, and less often as sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, and sodium sulfate, Na2SO4. Sodium is the second most abundant element after chlorine (as chloride ions) dissolved in seawater. The most important sodium salts found in nature are sodium chloride (halite or rock salt), sodium carbonate (trona or soda), sodium borate (borax), sodium nitrate and sodium sulfate. Sodium salts are found in seawater (1.05%), salty lakes, alkaline lakes and  springs. A huge amount of this salt is extracted mainly from salt deposits by pumping water down bore holes to dissolve it and pumping up brine. The sun and many other stars shine with visible light in which the yellow component dominates and this is given out by sodium atoms in a high-energy state. Sodium's powdered form is highly explosive in water and a poison combined and uncombined with many other elements. This chemical is not mobile in solid form, although it absorbs moisture very easily.

Sodium salts are important ingredients of many foodstuffs (for instance common salt) as besides imparting salty taste, it is necessary for humans to maintain the balance of the physical fluids system. Sodium is also required for nerve and muscle functioning. However, too much sodium can damage our kidneys and increases the chances of high blood pressure. The amount of sodium a person consumes each day varies from individual to individual and from culture to culture. Some people get as little as 2 g/day, some as much as 20 grams. Sodium is essential, but controversially surrounds the amount required. Contact of sodium with water, including perspiration causes the formation of sodium hydroxide fumes, which are highly irritating to skin, eyes, nose and throat. This may cause sneezing and coughing. Very severe exposures may result in difficult breathing, coughing and chemical bronchitis. Contact to the skin may cause itching, tingling, thermal and caustic burns and permanent damage. Its contact with eyes may result in permanent damage and loss of sight.

 

 

 

 

Hydrogen, the first element in the periodic table, is a colorless, odorless and insipid gas, formed by its diatomic molecules, in normal conditions. The hydrogen atom is formed by a nucleus with one unit of positive charge and one electron. It's one of the main compounds of water and of all organic matter, and it's widely spread not only in the Earth but also in the entire Universe. There are three hydrogen isotopes: protium, mass 1, found in more than 99,985% of the natural element; deuterium, mass 2, found in nature in 0.015% approximately, and tritium, mass 3, which appears in small quantities in nature, but can be artificially produced by various nuclear reactions.  

 

Hydrogen forms 0.15 % of the earth's crust and it is the major constituent of water. 0.5 ppm of hydrogen H2 and variable proportions as water vapor are present in the atmosphere. Hydrogen is also a major component of biomass, constituting the 14% by weight. Hydrogen occurs naturally in the atmosphere. The gas will be dissipated rapidly in well-ventilated areas. Any Effect of hydrogen on plants or animals would be related to oxygen deficient environments. No adverse effect is anticipated to occur to plant life, except for frost produced in the presence of rapidly expanding gases. No evidence is currently available on the effect of hydrogen on aquatic life.

 

Hydrogen is the most flammable of all the known substances. It is slightly more soluble in organic solvents than in water. Many metals absorb hydrogen. Hydrogen absorption by steel can result in brittle steel, which leads to faults in the chemical process equipments. At normal temperature hydrogen is a not very reactive substance, unless it has been activated somehow; for instance, by an appropriate catalyser. At high temperatures it's highly reactive. Although in general it's diatomic, molecular hydrogen dissociates into free atoms at high temperatures. Atomic hydrogen is a powerful reductive agent, even at ambient temperature. It reacts with the oxides and chlorides of many metals to produce free metals. It reduces some salts to their metallic state and reacts with a number of elements, both metals and non-metals to produce their hydrides. Atomic hydrogen  reacts with organic compounds to form a complex mixture of products. The heat released when the hydrogen atoms recombine to form the hydrogen molecules is used to obtain high temperatures in atomic hydrogen welding.  

 

The most important use of hydrogen is the synthesis of ammonia. The use of hydrogen is extending quickly in fuel refinement, like the breaking down by hydrogen (hydrocracking), and in sulphur elimination. Huge quantities of hydrogen are consumed in the catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils to obtain solid fat. Hydrogenation is used in the manufacture of organic chemical products. Huge quantities of hydrogen are used as rocket fuels, in combination with oxygen or flour, and as a rocket propellant propelled by nuclear energy. Hydrogen can be burned in internal combustion engines. Hydrogen fuel cells are being looked into as a way to provide power and research is being conducted on hydrogen as a possible major future fuel. For instance it can be converted to and from electricity from bio-fuels, from and into natural gas and diesel fuel, theoretically with no emissions of either CO2 or toxic chemicals.

 

As hydrogen is extremely flammable, its many reactions may cause fire or explosion. As the gas mixes well with air, explosive mixtures are easily formed. Moreover the gas is lighter than air. The gas can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and high concentrations can cause an oxygen-deficient environment. Individuals breathing such an atmosphere may experience symptoms which include headaches, ringing in ears, dizziness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting and depression of all the senses. The skin of a victim may have a blue color. Under some circumstances, death may occur. Hydrogen is not expected to cause mutagenicity, embryotoxicity, teratogenicity or reproductive toxicity. Pre-existing respiratory conditions may be aggravated by overexposure to hydrogen. When inhaled a harmful concentration of this gas in the air will be reached very quickly.

Heating may cause violent combustion or explosion as the gas reacts violently with air, oxygen, halogens and strong oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard. Metal catalysts greatly enhance these reactions. High concentrations in the air cause a deficiency of oxygen with the risk of unconsciousness or death. We must check oxygen content before entering a suspected area as there is no odor warning if toxic concentrations are present. We may measure hydrogen concentrations with suitable gas detector (a normal flammable gas detector is not suited for the purpose). In case of inhalation problem we should shut off its supply. In case it not possible and there seems no risk to surroundings, let the fire burn itself out; in other cases extinguish with water spray, powder, carbon dioxide. In case of fire we should keep its cylinder cool by spraying with water. One must combat fire from a sheltered position and rush for medical aid and advice in case of all inhalation and contact cases.

Deuterium

Deuterium is the stable, nonradioactive isotope of hydrogen, commonly called heavy hydrogen because its atomic weight is approximately doubles that of ordinary hydrogen, but it has identical chemical properties. Deuterium has about twice the atomic weight of normal hydrogen because its nucleus contains a proton and a neutron, instead of just a proton. Hydrogen as it occurs in nature contains approximately 0.02 percent of deuterium that was the first isotope to be separated in a pure form from an element. Several methods have been used to separate the isotope from natural hydrogen. The two processes that have been most successful have been fractional distillation of water and a catalytic exchange process between hydrogen and water. In the latter system, when water and hydrogen are brought together in the presence of a suitable catalyst, about three times as much deuterium appears in the water as in hydrogen. Deuterium has also been concentrated by electrolysis, centrifuging, and fractional distillation of liquid hydrogen. The nuclei of deuterium atoms, called deuterons, are much used in research in physics because they can be readily accelerated by cyclotrons and similar machines and used as "atomic bullets" to transform an atom of one element into another element. Deuterium also has important uses in biological research as a tracer element for studying problems of metabolism.

Regular hydrogen and deuterium are not normally metallic, meaning they are not shiny or malleable. Scientists have used pressure and heat, however, to force deuterium to act like a metal, making it shinier and easier to compress. Studying deuterium in compressed and highly hot conditions can help scientists understand how hydrogen behaves in the hot, heavily pressurized interiors of planets and in the interiors of stars. The use of heavy water as a moderator in atomic piles has been suggested and Deuterium, either in deuterium oxide or in lithium deuteride, and tritium are essential components of nuclear fusion weapons, or hydrogen bombs.

 

Tritium

Tritium is the radioactive hydrogen isotope of atomic mass 3 and symbol 1H3 or T. The nucleus of a tritium atom consists of a proton and two neutrons. It undergoes decay by beta emission to give a helium nucleus of mass 3; it has a half-life of 12.26 years. Tritium is produced in a number of ways, including the bombardment of deuterium compounds with high-energy deuterons and by the absorption of neutrons by the lithium isotope of mass 6. Some tritium is produced in the upper levels of the atmosphere by the bombardment of nitrogen with energetic neutrons produced by cosmic rays; rainwater is usually found to contain minute amounts of tritium. The enormous amount of energy released when tritons react with deuterons in the so-called nuclear-fusion process makes tritium an important constituent of hydrogen bombs. Tritium is also used as a tracer in chemical and biochemical research.

Chelation refers to a substance that is used to eliminate matters such as metals & minerals from the body. It contains these molecules all together strongly to ease their sending out from the body. It eliminates poisonous metals from the body earlier than any injury is done to your body. It is widely used in the case of poisoning. The general form of chelating agent is EDTA. It is an artificial amino acid. EDTA eliminates metals & minerals from the body. These minerals comprise iron, calcium & copper.

This chelating agent is accepted by the Food & drug Organization in United States of America. It is medically approved healing for heavy metal poisoning as well as lead. Moreover, it is used for the treatment of atherosclerosis, though the FDA hasn't accepted it. Although as a substitute pills, chelation assists recovery of blood pressure & eliminates the plaques produced in the blood capillaries. It has the capability to break up the metals. There is a broad application of chelation. In addition, it is used in water softeners & chemical analysis. It is widely used as a component in preservatives & shampoos. Water management plans, such as boiler water treatment & steam engineering use chelators as a refining agent.

Some physical conditions in which chelation are helpful are coronary artery disease, circulatory disorder, angina & gangrene. But this action needs some remedial tests also. These experiments comprise of cholesterol test, blood pressure test, sugar test & kidney function test. These tests are done to make sure protection of the patients. In this healing, intravenous injections are helpful. The injection holds EDTA. It is injected 3 times within 7 days. One session of injection is 3 hrs lengthy & at least 30 sessions are essential for the preferred end result.

The probability of bad effects in the chelation healings is not very high. In addition, it depends on the amount of the chelating agent. The inoculation of this medicine gives a blazing effect on the body. A number of bad effects possible to take place comprise fever, headache, nausea, stomach upset, low blood pressure & vomiting. However, this therapy is possibly unsafe if it is not ended properly. That is why, protection concerns & risk implicated in the chelation action has made it divisive. A number of people elevated alarm against the chelating agents but there is no definite information verifying the risk of chelation therapy has been originate. At present, the numbers of patients admitting in hospitals for chelation therapy are vast in European countries & America also.

Colloidal trace minerals are just as important to our health and well being as vitamins. Practically since birth we have had it pounded into us that we must eat our vitamins if we are to be healthy. The fact is that vitamins are of little use to you without minerals which are as essential for your metabolism as any vitamin is.

The essential minerals are the inorganic equivalents of the essential organic vitamins. They work together to maintain the biochemistry that keeps you alive. Take calcium, for example. That is a mineral needed for healthy teeth and bones, among many other things, but it is no good without vitamin D. Magnesium and potassium are also needed for healthy bones. Take blood clotting: vitamin K is the blood clotting vitamin, but blood will not clot without calcium.

How is energy generated in your body from the carbohydrates and sugars that you eat? They are converted to glucose that is converted to energy in every cell in your body and used in-situ. Your heart gets the energy to beat from cells in the heart - energy does not float around the blood waiting to be used. It is generated by means of the production of a substance known as ATP - adenosine triphosphate of which phosphorus is an essential component. Without the mineral phosphate none of us would be alive - nor would any form of life for that matter. ATP is the universal molecule of life.

So far we have discussed some of the seven major minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium and chlorine. There are many more that your body needs, and estimates vary from 45 to 70 trace minerals, without which you would find it difficult to function properly. Although your body can make many of the organic substances needed for life from vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids and proteins, it cannot make minerals which have to be taken in as part of your diet. They must be taken in your regular diet or as a supplement.

In the USA a major mineral is one that is needed in amounts greater than 100 mg (0.1g) a day, and trace minerals are required at less than 100 mg a day. So one that is needed at 100.1 is major, and one at 99.9 mg is trace. Is there a difference in the source of trace minerals, or would any source be good enough? The answer lies in the construction of the human body, and the way in which it absorbs minerals.

Your body is not designed to absorb metallic minerals. The way that such minerals are available in your diet is as part of larger organic molecules, and this is the way they must be taken as a supplement. Thus, you can't just drink a soluble metal salt because it will pass straight through you with only around 5% absorption, if it doesn't poison you first. For supplement purpose, metallic minerals are chelated, or combined with larger organic molecules such as proteins and amino acids, and this increases absorption to as high as 50%.

The necessity of trace minerals in the human diet was not discovered, as much as the result of a number of studies on various societies and remedies that appeared to have no basis for their effects. The Hunzas and Azerbaijanis, for example, are known to live very long lives, and investigations into this showed their diet was very rich in colloidal trace minerals from glacial water and food grown in soil enriched by that water.

It was through studies such as this and also investigation into the metabolites obtained from liver extracts that indicated the importance of many trace minerals. Take arsenic, for example. A known poison in larger quantities, trace quantities have been found to be metabolized by the liver, and while no studies have been carried out on the use of arsenic as a trace element in human biochemistry, studies on rats and human liver extracts have indicated that it could have a part to play in normal growth and reproduction.

Trace minerals take part in many enzyme reactions, and physicians now agree that many health conditions could be enzymic in origin. It follows, then, that trace elements are important in maintaining good health. It is certainly true that we cannot live without any of the seven major minerals. And it is just as certain that many of the trace minerals are just as import to human biochemistry as the major ones. It is certainly true of vegetables, which are less complex biological entities than humans, and if tomatoes need at least eight known minerals for good growth then it is certain that we will need a lot more. No studies are needed to convince us of that.

Take zinc, for example. Zinc is essential for proper liver function, wound healing and reproduction: spermatogenesis, the proper development of the primary and secondary male sex organs, and all area of the female reproduction process. Zinc is classed as a trace element, as is selenium, a deficiency of which can lead to heart disease, mental retardation and impaired function of the thyroid. Selenium deficiency is not common in the West but is in China where many areas are depleted of selenium. However, if zinc and selenium are known to be essential, how many of the other seventy or so trace minerals are also essential to human health?

The trace minerals in general are believed to protect us from some degenerative conditions, the effects of environmental pollution and help to protect us from the effects of an excessive intake of toxic minerals. Although there have been insufficient studies carried out on most trace minerals, it is known that they should be taken in chelated form, metallic in nature or not.

It is also known that such minerals should be taken as a balanced mixture as found in nature. A bullet approach, using an individual mineral to treat a certain condition, could lead to an imbalance in the body, and severe side effects, some of which might not yet be known. What is known is that certain minerals are tolerated by each other in specific relative concentrations, but if this balance is upset then they can inter-react and produce unpleasant side effects on, for example, the delicate balance of minerals in the blood.

It is becoming increasingly clear that modern farming methods have resulted in mineral depletion of the soil, and that our normal diet now only contains a small number of the minerals that our forefathers were taking. Plants draw up minerals from the soil when they grow, and we take in these when we consume them or the animals that live on them. Saturation of the soil year in year out by chemical fertilizers low in or devoid of trace minerals has resulted in a sterile environment for our feedstock, and has made colloidal trace mineral supplements almost mandatory for good health.

Today's plants can contain fewer than 20 minerals, compared to the 70 plus of our ancestors. Life expectancy is increasing in spite of our increasingly poor diet rather than because of it, and is due more to medical advances than to advances in agriculture. A mineral supplement does seem necessary, but when you take one it should be balanced so that no one mineral is in excess at the expense of another.

This helps to reduce the possibility of overdosing on an individual substance while maintaining a natural balance of minerals in your body to make sure that your normal biochemistry is not interrupted by some deficiency or excess that has yet to be discovered. While this might seem a spurious argument, you can be certain that those in the past that used cadmium and lead as cosmetics would rather have known the effects of these toxic substances that eventually killed them.

So use chelated trace mineral by all means, but make sure that they are balanced and tested so that nothing is present that can upset the normal balance of minerals in your body. If they work for tomatoes they should work for you!

Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau

The Chinese have a different perspective on health and wellness.

Unlike Western medicine, which focuses on treating symptoms of a disease, the Chinese medicine is more embracive: it concentrates on causes of an illness, and wholeness of an individual in relation to the universe.

For thousands of years, the Chinese have observed the importance of balance and harmony. This philosophy is manifested in the concept of "yin" and "yang", which is represented as the female and male, respectively, or as any two opposing forces in Nature that balance and complement each other for harmony and co-existence.

The terms "yin" and "yang" describe the opposite yet complementary energy states in the universe. A balance between the two polarities can help you stay in beneficial energy alignment, which is fundamental to wellness. "Yin" embodies negative electrical charge and contractive energy, while "yang" demonstrates positive electrical charge and expansive energy.

The balance of yin and yang is reflected in the Five Elements.

This concept of balance and harmony originates from the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), which not only are fundamental to the cycles of Nature, but also correspond to the different organs of the human body. In addition, each of these elements also corresponds to a different color.

These Five Elements not only balance but also complement each other to create harmony. To illustrate, water nourishes trees or wood, without which there will be no fire, and without fire, there will be no earth, and without earth, there will be no metal; fire heats metal to produce water through condensation, and without metal, there will be no water. These Five Elements are inter-dependent on one another for existence in the form of a cycle of Nature.

The element of wood relates to the color green. Accordingly, eat green vegetables (from asparagus to dark leafy greens, such as spinach); green fruits (e.g. lime, and green apples); green-colored nuts and seeds (e.g. pumpkins); green-colored beans (e.g. mung beans); and green grains (e.g. rye).

The element of fire relates to the color red. Accordingly, eat red vegetables (e.g. beets, hot red peppers and bell peppers); red fruits, (e.g. cherries and red strawberries); red nuts and seeds (e.g. pecans); red-colored beans (red lentils and red beans); and red grains (buckwheat).

The element of earth relates orange and yellow. Accordingly, eat orange and yellow vegetables (e.g. pumpkins, squash, and yams); orange and yellow fruits (e.g. mangoes, oranges, and papaya); orange and yellow nuts and seeds (e.g. almonds and cashews); orange and yellow beans (e.g. chickpeas); and orange and yellow grains (e.g. corn and millet).

The element of metal relates to the white color. Accordingly, eat white vegetables (e.g. cauliflower); white fruits (e.g. bananas and pears); white nuts and seeds (e.g. pine nuts); white-colored beans (e.g. soy beans); and white grains (e.g. barley and rice).

The element of water relates to the black, blue, and purple. Accordingly, eat dark-colored vegetables (e.g. black mushroom, eggplant and seaweed); dark-colored fruits (e.g. blackberries, blueberries and raisins); dark-colored nuts and seeds (e.g. black sesame and walnuts); dark-colored beans (e.g. black beans and navy beans); and black grains (black wild rice).

For your "yin" and "yang" health, eat a diet that includes vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, beans, and grains of all the colors from the Five Elements. This "yin" and "yang" diet creates balance and harmony between your body organs for optimum health and wellness.