title: Heavy metal exposure in patients suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risks from electromagnetic devices are of considerable concern. Electrohypersensitive (EHS) persons attribute a variety of rather unspecific symptoms to the exposure to electromagnetic fields. The pathophysiology of EHS is unknown and therapy remains a challenge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Heavy metal load has been discussed as a potential factor in the symptomatology of EHS patients. The main objective of the study was to test the hypothesis of a link between EHS and heavy metal exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured lead, mercury and cadmium concentrations in the blood of 132 patients (n=42 males and n=90 females) and 101 controls (n=34 males and n=67 females).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that heavy metal load is of no concern in most cases of EHS but might play a role in exceptional cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data do not support the general advice to heavy metal detoxification in EHS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, Germany. david.ahmadi@web.de
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghezel-Ahmadi
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weidemann
authors.forename: Lygia Therese
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Budnik
authors.forename: Xaver
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dahmen
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury