Thallium (Tl)
Thallium (Tl) is a highly toxic element, which like lead and mercury, accumulates in many body tissues. Hair levels reflect chronic accumulation, and toxic reactions can have a long latency period before clinical symptoms appear.
Common sources of Tl are:
- foods – marine organisms concentrate Tl up to 700 times
- tobacco
- contaminated water
- electronic components
- fly ash
- cement dust
- some fertilizers
Symptoms of Tl exposure include:
- sleep disturbances
- cardiac stress
- optical disturbances
- skin reactions, alopecia
- liver stress
- GI dysfunction
- kidney dysfunction