Rich People Carry Different Environmental Toxins

By Annie Hauser
Published Aug 6 2013 07:17 PM EDT

For most individuals, exposure to naturally occurring toxins, such as arsenic, is inevitable. (Arsenic exists in soil, meaning it naturally occurs in low levels in some fruits, vegetables, grains and fish. It's also in drinking water.)

But when it comes to manmade toxins in the environment, such as bisphenol A (BPA), which are traced to certain consumer products, how much of any given element you have in your body could something to do with your lifestyle, not just your health, researchers from the University of Exeter say in the journal Environment International

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Wealthier people have higher levels of mercury, arsenic, caesium and thallium in their bodies than poorer individuals, researchers said, meaning that people who can afford sushi and other fish are paying the price with a toxic buildup of heavy metals in their system.

Using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers found that more affluent individuals also have higher levels of oxybenzone, the active ingredient in most sunscreens that some experts say is linked to skin cancer.

Meanwhile, higher rates of cigarette smoking among less-affluent individuals seems to be associated with higher levels of lead and cadmium, researchers said. They also have higher levels of BPA in their systems, which is used to line cans and other food containers. BPA has been found to cause brain damage and more, though some experts challenge the link between BPA and long-term bodily harm.

These results illustrate how socioecononic status can influence not only individual, but also public health, researchers said, providing information that can help public health officials take steps to decrease toxicant and disease burdens. 

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