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The most common mechanism of heavy metal toxicity in the human body is via the production of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, which can damage enzymes, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, and cause cancer and neurological issues. They found that heavy metal contamination in cannabis can cause various health problems due to the fact that the heavy metals are rarely metabolized, and therefore, accumulate in specific areas of the human body. Next, the researchers investigated the documented health effects of heavy metals. "This led us to question if these heavy metals are there at the level of the trichome, what can they do to people?" "Trichomes are important because they store the CBD oil and the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that are desired by consumers," said Bengyella. These heavy metals then exit the plant through trichomes, which are hairlike structures located on the flowers. The team also found that lead, cadmium and chromium, specifically, are capable of being transported and distributed up through the stalk and into the leaves and flowers of the plant. The team learned that some cannabis strains are commonly used for phytoremediation because of their unique physical characteristics - including long stem length, fast growth, high root and leaf surface area, high photosynthetic activity and dependence on relatively few nutrients for survival - which facilitate the absorption of heavy metals. Their results were published in a recent issue of Toxin Reviews, hosted by Taylor and Francis Ltd. Specifically, they investigated available information on the application of cannabis in phytoremediation, the fate of heavy metals in cannabis plants, the medical impact of heavy metals in cannabis and agricultural strategies to mitigate heavy metal uptake. "The problem is if we use these strains that were developed for phytoremediation without considering why they were developed in the first place, we may unknowingly expose consumers to heavy metals," he said.īengyella and his colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of research studies on heavy-metal contamination in cannabis. This is bad news for anyone who uses cannabis but is particularly problematic for cancer patients who use medical marijuana to treat the nausea and pain associated with their treatments."Ĭompounding the problem, Bengyella said, is the fact that some cannabis strains have been bred specifically for phytoremediation, which is the use of plants to remove pollutants from soil, water or air. "The heavy-metal content of cannabis is not regulated therefore, consumers could unknowingly be exposed to these toxic metals. "Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium, are known to be carcinogenic," said Louis Bengyella, assistant research professor of plant science, Penn State.