Blood and Urinary Metal Levels among Exclusive Marijuana Users in NHANES (2005–2018)
Go to source). “Because the cannabis plant is a known scavenger of metals, we had hypothesised that individuals who use marijuana will have higher metal biomarker levels compared to those who do not,” said Katelyn McGraw, postdoctoral researcher in Columbia Public Health’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences.
Marijuana Emerges as a Previously Unrecognized Source of Cadmium and Lead Exposure
“Our results therefore indicate marijuana is a source of cadmium and lead exposure,” McGraw added. In the study, McGraw and team examined 7,254 participants who had used marijuana in the last 30 days. Five metals were measured in the blood and 16 in urine; 358 people were found to have 27 percent higher blood lead levels than those who said they didn’t use either marijuana or tobacco. Researchers also found that the urine samples showed similar results. Marijuana is the third most commonly used drug in the world behind tobacco and alcohol.
Marijuana
Marijuana (cannabis) is a drug obtained from the hemp plant and often abused for its psychoactive effects, though it has medicinal uses as well.
Marijuana (cannabis) is a drug obtained from the hemp plant and often abused for its psychoactive effects, though it has medicinal uses as well.
‘Individuals who use marijuana, as opposed to non-marijuana-tobacco users, exhibited notably elevated lead concentrations in their blood (1.27 micrograms per deciliter) and urine (1.21 micrograms per gram of creatinine). #marijuana #cannabis’
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Lead exposure is known to harm children and pregnant women. In adults, chronic exposure to lead increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney damage. Studies have shown high cadmium levels can severely irritate the stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea, cause cancer as well as lead to death. “Going forward, research on cannabis use and cannabis contaminants, particularly metals, should be conducted to address public health concerns related to the growing number of cannabis users,” said Tiffany R. Sanchez, Assistant Professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia Public Health.Reference:
- Blood and Urinary Metal Levels among Exclusive Marijuana Users in NHANES (2005–2018) - (https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP12074)
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Cannabis
Cannabis has a long history of medicinal, recreational, and industrial use and comes from a bushy plant with thick sticky flowers called Cannabis Sativa
Cannabis has a long history of medicinal, recreational, and industrial use and comes from a bushy plant with thick sticky flowers called Cannabis Sativa
Marijuana Edible Treats can be Threat to Children
Marijuana edibles taken unintentionally by children pose them at higher health risk than adults.
Marijuana edibles taken unintentionally by children pose them at higher health risk than adults.
Could Marijuana-Derived Compounds Help Reverse Opioid Overdose?
Compared to heroin or morphine, the other fast-acting opioids, fentanyl was found to bind more tightly to opioid receptors in the brain.
Compared to heroin or morphine, the other fast-acting opioids, fentanyl was found to bind more tightly to opioid receptors in the brain.
