According to some literature that touches on MS, dumps at which waste materials containing heavy metal are disposed can be dangerous to those living or working in their vicinity. In the long-term, they can result in heavy metal poisoning. This, in turn, can trigger degenerative neurological processes that are similar to multiple sclerosis.
The question worth asking here is whether heavy metal poisoning simply mimics MS or is actually a trigger of multiple sclerosis in some people. Various factors have been identified as potential MS triggers in different people. It has also been established that much about the development of MS remains unknown to conventional medical science. So the idea that heavy metal poisoning might set into motion processes that result in the development and progression of MS might not be crazy. Various websites actually suggest that this is what happens, arguing that, when it comes to the epidemiology of MS, dumps and other sites associated with heavy metal poisoning increase a population’s risk.
Examining the MS-Dumps Association
It must be pointed out that discussion boards and blogs do not in and of themselves constitute scientific evidence. So no definite conclusions can be drawn on the basis of what these internet sources claim. However, whether or not the neurological degeneration that results from heavy metal poisoning is synonymous with MS, it may be possible to take home some valuable scientific lessons that may ultimately help in the treatment of MS.
Perhaps the neurological damage due to heavy metal poisoning develops similarly to the neurological damage due to MS. If that happens to be the case, then attention to the forms of treatment adopted to treat heavy metal poisoning might suggest new ways of treating multiple sclerosis. One example comes to mind: it involves the use of vitamin C in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. Vitamin C is supposed to play a role in one of the chelating mechanisms that helps to detoxify the body. It is also said to dramatically improve the condition of some MS patients when taken under medical supervision. It would be a great idea to find out whether vitamin C played the same role in these distinct situations or just happened to be a universally helpful nutrient in different contexts.
MS dumps heavy burdens into the laps of affected individuals and their families, so any bit of information that might lead to the more effective treatment of the condition would make a world of difference. Even if it turns out that heavy metal poisoning and MS are completely different conditions, any knowledge unearthed about them might help prevent the misdiagnosis of both conditions, thus saving some patients lives. Thus, it is still too early to dismiss the speculations about the connections that tie MS, dumps and heavy metal poisoning.
