Cure Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma International (iCureASPS)

“Definition
The term mineral toxicity refers to a condition in which the concentration in the body of any one of the minerals necessary for life is abnormally high, and which has an adverse effect on health.”

http://www.healthofchildren.com/M/Mineral-Toxicity.html

“Description
The mineral nutrients are defined as all the inorganic elements or inorganic molecules that are required for life. As far as human nutrition is concerned, the inorganic nutrients include water, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, sulfate, magnesium, iron, fluorine, copper, zinc, chromium, manganese, iodine, selenium, and molybdenum. The last nine elements in this list are sometimes called trace minerals or micronutrients because humans need only small amounts of them in the diet. In high doses all nine trace minerals can be toxic in humans.”

“In general, mineral toxicity results when a person accidentally consumes too much of any mineral, as with drinking ocean water (sodium toxicity), or is overexposed to industrial pollutants, household chemicals, or certain drugs. Iron toxicity in children, for example, frequently results from accidental swallowing of dietary supplement tablets.

Mineral toxicity may also refer to toxic conditions resulting from certain diseases or injuries. For example, a disorder known as hemochromatosis leads to iron toxicity, while Wilson's disease results in copper toxicity. Severe trauma can lead to hyperkalemia or potassium toxicity.”

“Demographics
Iron poisoning is the most common form of mineral toxicity in children in the United States and is one of the leading causes of fatal poisoning in children younger than six years of age. About 20,000 children are reported as accidentally swallowing iron tablets each year in the United States, although not all of these cases end in death. In one Indian study of 21 children treated for iron poisoning, four of the patients died.

With regard to diseases leading to mineral toxicity, about one person in ten in the United States has the genetic mutation that can lead to hemochromatosis; however, not everyone with this mutation necessarily develops the disease. It is thought that there are about 1 million persons in the United States with hemachromatosis as of the early 2000s. About one person in 30,000 has the genetic defect that causes Wilson's disease, while about 1.1 percent of the general population are carriers of the mutant gene. The incidence of Menkes disease, which primarily affects boys, is variously estimated at one in 50,000 to one in 250,000 persons. Wilson's disease and Menkes disease occur at the same rate in all races and ethnic groups.”