Boyd Haley: Comments regarding EDTA for lead when mercury is also present

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I wrote to Professor Boyd Haley regarding the safety and effectiveness of

using EDTA to help remove lead, when mercury is also present. He has

graciously given me permission to share his thoughts with any person (or

list) that I believe would benefit. Please see his replies in ALL CAPS

below. Permission is given to forward this post freely.

: See my reply in CAPS in the text. Share with whomever you think it

may help.

Boyd E. Haley

Professor

Department of Chemistry

University of Kentucky

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From: R. Owen [mailto:beth424@...]

Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 6:41 AM

Professor Boyd Haley

Subject: EDTA for lead when mercury is also present

Friday, June 17th, 2005

Dear Professor Haley,

I want to thank you for all the contributions you are making (and have

made) to the autism community. My questions concern the use of EDTA

(perhaps with DMSA) to remove lead in children and adults. (I realize that

you are a chemist and have no clinical experience; however, your opinion is

highly valued in the autism community.) I'm trying to get clarity

regarding using EDTA safely to chelate lead (in an autistic child), when

the child also has a body burden of mercury. IF THE CHILD DOES NOT HAVE

EXTENSIVE AMALGAM FILLINGS THEN EDTA IS VERY SAFE TO USE TO REMOVE LEAD AND

OTHER METALS.

It is my understanding that the presence of other metals--in addition to

mercury--makes the mercury in our children more toxic. It is also my

understanding that if lead is present, it has to come out first before the

mercury will come out. I also understand that chelation itself, is

somewhat hard on the body. According to Ph.D. chemist, Andy Cutler, EDTA

is good at removing lead, but makes mercury in the body more toxic. It is

Andy's opinion that DMSA is better at removing lead, and that it also

removes other heavy metals. Amy Yasko, Ph.D. states that DMSA is known to

lead to a G6PDH deficiency. I DON T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT DMSA

LEADING TO A DEFICIENCY OF G6PDHase ACTIVITY. DMSA MAY REMOVE MERCURY

BETTER THAN EDTA BUT BOTH REMOVE MOST OTHER HEAVY METALS EFFECTIVELY, WITH

EDTA BEING THE LEAST TOXIC OF THE TWO.

I searched on Google and found a reference to a study you did showing that

EDTA makes mercury more toxic (specifically, 100% more toxic!) Many

parents are now using EDTA (IV, Detoxamin suppositories, Calcium/Disodium

oral, and Bio-Chelate (which is somewhat of a homeopathic remedy that

contains EDTA), as well as EDTA baths (the product is called Beyond Clean

from www.LongevityPlus.com; it is promoted by Garry Gordon and Amy Yasko,

Ph.D.) to remove lead from their children. Listmates have stated that Dr.

Usman believes lead needs to be removed before the mercury will come

out. Here's a link to two studies regarding the effectiveness of the

Bio-Chelate product (I really don't see any useful data in these studies);

Dr. Usman is just beginning to try this product with her patients: DR.

USMAN IS CORRECT IN MY OPINION. EDTA IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT IS USED WHILE

THE PATIENT IS BEING EXPOSED TO MERCURY. ONCE THE MERCURY IS BOUND IN THE

BODY IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT EDTA WOULD MAKE THAT MERCURY MORE TOXIC AS

MERCURY IS TO TIGHTLY BOUND TO PROTEINS FOR EDTA TO BIND TO. HOWEVER, EDTA

CAN REMOVE LEAD, CADMIUM, ETC. IN THE PRESENCE OF MERCURY QUITE EFFECTIVELY

AND THIS IS OF GREAT BENEFIT TO THE PATIENT.

http://www.evenbetternow.com/bio-chelat-usstudies.html

http://www.evenbetternow.com/bio-chelat-germanstudy.html

Many parents are now starting with EDTA first (to get the lead out), before

moving on to a stronger chelator. There has also been some talk on

email lists recently, about using a stronger chelator with EDTA, to cancel

out--I guess you'd say--the negative effect that EDTA has on mercury. Andy

Cutler states that EDTA shouldn't be used with DMSA, but I don't know if

this is true, or why. I found a study noting increased lead removal when

EDTA was used with DMSA. I DON T KNOW OF ANY REASON WHY AND EDTA CHELATION

COULD NOT BE SUPPORTED BY DMSA OR DMPS AT THE SAME TIME. IT WOULD HAVE THE

EFFECT OF PREVENTING ANY MOBILE MERCURY FROM BEING BOUND BY EDTA (DMPS AND

DMSA BIND MERCURY MUCH MORE TIGHTLY THAN DOES EDTA).

My questions are, as follows (I really appreciate your time and expertise):

1) Which product do you think is more effective at removing lead from a

child (or adult) who also has mercury toxicity--EDTA or DMSA? SEE THE

ANSWER ABOVE. EDTA IS VERY PROVEN IN THIS REGARD AND DOES NOT HAVE THE

TOXIC PROPERTIES OF DMSA OR DMPS.

2) Do you see any reason that EDTA can't be used in conjunction with

DMSA? NO, THEY WOULD NOT REACT WITH EACH OTHER AT ALL AND THE DMSA WOULD

BIND ANY MOBILE MERCURY PREVENTING IT FROM BEING BOUND AND MADE MORE TOXIC

BY EDTA.

3) Do you think that the possibility that EDTA makes mercury more toxic in

the body is less of an issue than the negative effect of having lead as

well as mercury (in a child with autism)? EDTA IS SAFE TO USE UNLESS THE

CHILD OR PATIENT IS CURRENTLY TAKING IN MERCURY. MOST CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE

AMALGAMS AND ARE NOT EATING FOODS CONTAINING MERCURY SO EDTA IS MOST LIKELY

VERY SAFE.

4) Do you feel that adequate supplementation with nutrients such as

vitamins, minerals, amino acids, vitamin C, Lipoceutical Glutathione, oral

glutathione, selenium, folinic acid, and oral methyl and hydroxy B12 would

be enough to neutralize any negative effects that EDTA could have on the

mercury in a child's body? Or, do you feel that another stronger chelator

(DMSA or DMPS) has to be used with EDTA, in order to prevent any negative

effects (while of course, trying to achieve a positive effect by getting

the lead out!) I DON T THINK DMSA IS NECESSARY DURING AN EDTA CHELATION,

BUT IT MAY HELP. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO ASK THIS QUESTION OF A PHYSICIAN

THAT IS DOING THIS TYPE OF TREATMENTS AS I DO NOT TREAT PATIENTS AND I DO

NOT HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE----AND THIS IS WHAT COUNTS.

Again, I realize that you are a chemist and have no clinical

experience. My concern is to do no harm while chelating. Thank you in

advance for any info or insights you can provide.