Marijuana Smokers Have Higher Levels Of Toxic Metals In Tests, Study Suggests

Marijuana may be an under-recognized source of metal exposure a study out Wednesday suggested, after researchers detected significantly higher levels of lead and cadmium in the blood and urine of users of marijuana, which remains illegal at the federal level and therefore unregulated by government agencies.

Compared to non-users, cannabis users had 27% higher levels of lead in their blood, and 21% higher ... [+] levels in their urine, the study found.

Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health compared participants who exclusively used marijuana to non-marijuana tobacco users and found participants who used marijuana had significantly higher lead levels in their blood and urine.

Compared to non-users, cannabis users had 27% higher levels of lead in their blood, and 21% higher levels in their urine, the study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found.

Cannabis users also had 22% higher cadmium levels in their blood than non-users, and 18% higher levels in their urine, according to lead author Tiffany Sanchez, assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.

They predicted that because marijuana is known to accumulate metals, individuals would have higher metal biomarker levels than those who did not use the drug, and the study confirmed that marijuana is a source of cadmium and lead exposure.

The research aims to help researchers decipher what health consequences might result from the metal exposure of cannabis use, Sanchez said.

Sanchez said it was concerning to find levels of lead—which the EPA says there is no safe level of in the body—and cadmium, well established toxins, in the systems’ of cannabis users.

Exposure to cadmium through tobacco smoke can cause kidney disease and fragile bones, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, cadmium is considered a cancer-causing agent. Lead exposure can also have severe impacts on those exposed. While children are most at risk for the serious side effects of lead exposure, adults also experience symptoms, such as high blood pressure, headaches, joint and muscle pain and fertility issues, according to the Mayo Clinic. While 23 states, not including Washington D.C., have legalized recreational use of marijuana, it is still illegal at the federal level. This means that the regulation of contaminants in cannabis-containing products is lacking and researchers note there’s yet to be any regulatory guidance from the FDA or EPA.

Because of the exposure to these metals, researchers recommended more investigation into the potential public health concerns of metal exposure from cannabis. Sanchez said this study laid the groundwork for future studies that can more specifically look into the adverse health effects of metal exposure caused by cannabis use.

Marijuana Users Have More Heavy Metals In Their Bodies (CNN)