Tellurium is classified in the broad category of heavy metals.
- Belonging to the family of heavy metals, tellurium is an element quite close to selenium.
- It is notably used in certain infrared optical devices, the formulation of rubber or even the coloring of ceramics.
- It has just been associated with the development of high blood pressure.
According to a new study Published in the journal Environment International, high blood pressure (HBP) can be caused by high levels of tellurium in the environment.
Belonging to the heavy metal family, tellurium is an element quite close to selenium. It is notably used in certain infrared optical devices, the formulation of rubber or even the coloring of ceramics.
Hypertension and tellurium: results confirmed in humans and mice
“Our results indicate that diet is the main factor in increasing urinary tellurium levels compared to other lifestyle factors such as smoking and employment status. The same goes for physiological specificities such as age and gender,” explains study director Takumi Kagawa, a member of Nagoya University in Japan.
The research conducted by Professor Takumi Kagawa and his colleagues involved 2,592 Japanese adults. “We also administered amounts of tellurium to mice equivalent to those that humans encounter on a daily basis and observed an increase in the animals’ blood pressure,” adds Tomoko Misawa, co-author of the essay. “When we stopped the exposure, blood pressure decreased. These results establish a direct link between tellurium exposure and increased blood pressure, which confirms the results obtained in humans,” he continues.
“Our results can be applied to all populations on the planet,” conclude the two researchers.
Besides hypertension, “Inhalation of tellurium causes drowsiness, headache, nausea and dry mouth. Contact with the eye results in redness and pain. Ingestion induces abdominal pain, constipation and vomiting,” precise ASEF.
Hypertension: symptoms and incidence
People with very high blood pressure (usually 180/120 or higher) may experience the following symptoms: severe headaches, chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision or other alterations of this field, anxiety, confusional state, ringing in the ears, nosebleeds, abnormal heart rhythm.
High blood pressure is also a significant risk factor for cardiovascular problems, kidney disease and dementia.
According to a recently published survey30% of French people are hypertensive, which corresponds to nearly 17 million people and makes this condition the most common chronic disease in France. “However, knowledge, treatment and control of hypertension remain suboptimal in our country and have not seen any recent improvement, with some indicators even deteriorating,” deplores Public Health France in this regard.
