ELi5: why are almost all heavy metals toxic? What do they do in the body?
In: Chemistry
not a complete answer but I know that in the body lead gets confused for calcium. calcium not only is a key ingredient in building bones but it helps the nervous system in the brain transmit signals. when the body replaces some of the calcium in the brain with lead it starts to disrupt the whole nervous system. Leading to mental disabilities all the way up to death. I believe that mercury acts in a similar way. Hence the term ‘Mad as a hatter’ since people who used to make hats out of animal skins used to use mercury to shape them. They would go ‘crazy’ from mercury poisoning.
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