Sources:
Fish, shellfish, plants, cigarettes, soil, air, water, electronic devices, switches and closures for the semiconductor industry, glass for medical procedures.
Nutrient interactions:
Some of its toxic effects results from interference with biological functions of potassium.
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Urinary thallium (Tl) provides an indication of recent or ongoing exposure to the metal, and endogenous detoxification to a lesser extent. About 35% of assimilated Tl is excreted in urine, and urinary Tl may be at elevated levels for up to 30 days after exposure.
Tl is rapidly and almost completely absorbed when ingested, inhaled or brought into contact with skin. Tl is a highly toxic heavy metal which is generally tasteless and odorless. Currently the most common sources of dietary Tl are contaminated vegetables, fish and shellfish; particularly those obtained in close proximity to drilling sites for natural gas and oil. Kale, spinach, cabbage and other Brassicaceae family vegetables appear to be most highly contaminated. The highest levels of urine Tl observed at this laboratory have been associated with daily consumption of “green drinks” that were prepared at home from raw Brassicaceae vegetables. It should be noted that a labelling of “organic” generally does not provide any assurance that the produce is not contaminated with Tl.
Contaminated water has apparently been used to irrigate crops in certain agricultural areas in California. Other possible sources of Tl include tobacco, fly ash (coal), cement dust, some fertilizers, some artists’ paints, semiconductors, and hazardous waste sites and landfills. Tl is also a by-product of the smelting of copper, zinc and lead ores.
Symptoms associated with significant exposure to Tl may include: fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance, neuropathy, ataxia, depression, psychoses, and extreme loss of hair. Tl follows potassium in the body and accumulates in tissues with high potassium content including skeletal/cardiac muscle, and central/ peripheral nerves.
Hair elemental analysis may be utilized to assess exposure to Tl over the past 2-4 months.
References:
Goyer RA, Clarkson TW. Toxic effects of metals. Casarett and Doull’s toxicology: the basic science of poisons. 1996;5:696-698.
ATSDR. ToxFAQs for Thallium. Toxic Substances Portal 2013; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=308&tid=49, 2020.
Osorio-Rico L, Santamaria A, Galvan-Arzate S. Thallium Toxicity: General Issues, Neurological Symptoms, and Neurotoxic Mechanisms. Adv Neurobiol. 2017;18:345-353.
Thallium
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