Heavy Metals Damage DNA Without Crossing Cell Membrane

by Heidi Stevenson

22 November 2009

Fibroblast Cells in Culture
(Image from Wikipedia)

The journal Nature Nanotechnology reports that metal nanoparticles can affect cellular DNA without crossing the cell membrane. This may have significant implications for people concerned with heavy metal damage, such as mercury in autism.

The metals studied were cobalt and chromium, because they're used in implants. The study's authors state, "The potential damage to tissues located behind cellular barriers needs to be considered when using nanoparticles for targeting diseased states."

The study documented ten times the amount of DNA damage in fibroblast cells when the metal particles were simply adjacent to membrane tissues and known not to have crossed the barrier.

The head of orthopedic surgery at the University of Bristol, Ashley Blom, stated, "If the barriers in the human body do work in this way, the first exciting thing is: can we deliver novel therapies across barriers without having to cross them? For example, if you have a condition that affects the brain, maybe we could treat you with something that doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier, that does not come in contact with the brain."

Gaia Health suggests that the study's implications go well beyond intended use of nanoparticles, but also to the potential of harm by heavy metals in general. Perhaps the implications in terms of autism should be the first focus of study.

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