METALLOPATHY Evidence on heavy metals in people

Static evidence pages. Grades A to F. Sources named.

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Detox and binders

Does sauna sweating remove arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury?

A 20-person case series found arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and other elements in sweat, sometimes at higher levels than in urine or blood. A review of 24 studies called for adequately sized trials. Detectable metal in sweat is not evidence that sauna use lowers body burden or improves health.

Studies

  • Genuis 2011: 20 adults. Elements were detectable in sweat. PMID 21057782.
  • Sears 2012: review of 24 studies. Authors call for adequately sized trials. PMID 22505948. A DOI recorded in the draft table was marked unverified and is not used.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Genuis et al. 2011, doi:10.1007/s00244-010-9611-5, PMID 21057782
  2. Sears et al. 2012, PMID 22505948, PMC3312275

Heavy Metal Index

Heavy Metal Index: metal registry. This Heavy Metal Index URL returned HTTP 200 on 15 October 2026. Figures on this page are not copied from that index. They come from the sources named above.

What's safe to buy

The Heavy Metal Tested and Certified public register listed no licensees on 15 October 2026. That page reported 0 certified brands and 0 certified products, and it stated that no brand has completed the three-lot baseline. A specimen layout on the register is an illustration, not a licensee. This page does not name or rank any brand.

The program states that certification is a measurement of a product against a published limit, not a statement that the product is safe. If a licensee is later listed for this category, it will be on the register.

This page summarizes cited documents. It does not diagnose or prescribe. Reviewed 15 October 2026.