Presence of Lead and Heavy Metals Detected in Blood and Urine of Marijuana Consumers
A new study suggests that some marijuana consumers may have elevated blood and urine levels of lead and cadmium, two toxic metals linked to long-term health problems.
Among more than 7,200 adults, the 358 who reported using marijuana within the past 30 days had blood lead levels that were 27% higher than those who reported not using either marijuana or tobacco.
The marijuana consumers also had 22% higher levels of cadmium in their blood, according to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives on Wednesday. Urine samples yielded comparable results.
Researchers from Columbia University knew beforehand that cannabis plants can absorb heavy metals from soil and are especially adept at doing so. Through the plant’s stem, the contaminants reach the foliage and blossoms.
However, recent research indicates that heavy metals in cannabis plants can also end up in the human body.
There is no secure level of lead exposure, as even low levels can retard brain development and cause cognitive and behavioral issues in children. Chronic lead exposure increases the risk of hypertension, heart disease, and renal impairment in adults.
According to the World Health Organization, cadmium is a human carcinogen. Exposure to modest levels, such as through the use of tobacco, may result in kidney disease and brittle bones.
“For both cadmium and lead, these metals are likely to stay in the body for years, long after exposure ends,” said Tiffany Sanchez, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and author of the study.
Sanchez and her team analyzed data from blood and urine samples collected between 2005 and 2018 as part of the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for their research.
The data set did not differentiate between various methods of marijuana consumption, such as edibles and joints. However, according to Sanchez, inhaling lead is frequently more dangerous than ingesting it in food.
She stated, “The absorption rate from inhalation is 100%.”
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Varied Regulations and Illicit Market Pose Contamination Risks in Cannabis Products
Sanchez added that while tobacco is the primary source of cadmium exposure in the general population, the study revealed comparable exposure levels among cannabis consumers.
Due to the fragmented character of marijuana laws, there are no standardized regulations regarding contaminants such as heavy metals. The substance is prohibited by the federal government, lawful for recreational use in 21 states, and permitted for medical use in 38 states. The Department of Health and Human Services recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday that marijuana be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III.
Up to 28 states regulate the presence of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in cannabis products. Consequently, manufacturers there are required to test for the presence of these metals and ensure concentrations are below a specified limit.
Even so, Sanchez stated, “each of the states where cannabis is legal sets their own levels of contaminants.”
And this is only for legal cannabis products. Even in states where the drug is now legal, illicit transactions persist.
Jim Seaberg, assistant director of Drexel University’s Medical Cannabis Research Center, who was not involved in the new study, said, “I know people who have gone to New York who will just see a dispensary and think, ‘Oh, it’s legal here.'” “But there are tons of illegal dispensaries popping up that are not regulated, that are not selling regulated, tested products.”
He added that there are no federal testing regulations for products derived from hemp. A 2022 study discovered lead, mercury, and other toxic metals in e-cigarettes containing CBD derived from cannabis.
However, states are improving their screening for contaminants, according to Seaberg. He noted that Sanchez’s analysis contains data from a time before marijuana was legalized in many states.
According to him, the best method to determine whether a marijuana product is free of heavy metals is to purchase it from a legal dispensary (state health department websites typically provide a list). From there, he advised, ask the dispensary staff for a certificate of analysis proving that a particular product does not contain heavy metals.
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Source: NBC News