On Jan 8, 10:39*am, Mark Lipton > wrote:
> cwdjrxyz wrote:
> > I don't know the reputation of the journal in which this paper was
> > published.
>
> Neither do I, and that's a bit worrisome given our profession.
>
> > Before I retired and sometimes peer reviewed some papers
> > for a few top tier journals, I likely would have suggested to the
> > journal editor that the article not be published in the present form,
> > because it offers no useful results other than a very crude index,
> > only an indication that there might be concern for metals content in
> > some wines.
>
> It certainly is a bit shy on data. *Perhaps that's why it ended up in
> the journal that it did.
>
>
>
> > Analytical chemistry has improved to the point that one often can
> > measure concentrations of metals far below the parts per million
> > level. Taken to the extreme, nearly everything contains a bit of many
> > metals. The important thing from the health viewpoint is in what form
> > the metal exists and what is the concentration level at which there
> > are harmful effects. It is of interest to note that several of the
> > metals are absolutely necessary for human life in very minute amounts,
> > although sometimes rather toxic at higher levels. Many vitamin-mineral
> > supplements contain added trace amounts of several metals in compounds
> > that can be used by the human body.
>
> This was my reaction, too. *Copper, zinc and manganese all are needed in
> small quantities for proper enzymatic function. *And the term "heavy
> metal" is ill-defined and overly alarmist. *None of the metals cited in
> the paper is nearly as toxic as those most commonly associated with the
> term "heavy metal" (lead, mercury and cadmium).

Just to give an indication of how many metals and other elements are
essential to human health, I give some of the quantities contained in
Equate(trademark) multivitamin/multimineral USP dietary supplement per
tablet. The percentage of the DV(daily value) also is given when
established. Some of these elements, can be toxic in amounts only a
little above the DV and others can be taken in a huge excess of that
needed without problems.

Zinc 11 mg, 73%;
Selenium 55 mcg, 79%;
Copper 0.9 mg, 45%;
Manganese 2.3 mg, 115%;
Chromium 45 mcg, 38%;
Molybdenum 45 mcg. 60%;
Boron 150 mcg, DV not established;
Nickel 5 mcg, DV not established;
Silicon 2 mg, DV not established;
Vanadium 10 mcg, DV not established;

The label states "Made to U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP quality, purity and
potency standards. Laboratory tested to dissolve within 60 minutes"

Thus to have a desired effect on health, the important thing is that
the elements are present in a form that will dissolve and be absorbed
into the body through the digestive system, or sometimes through the
skin. For an extreme example, many people, often children, have
swallowed copper, gold or silver coins, chrome or nickel plated
buttons, etc. These often pass through the digestive system without
problem, although sometimes they get hung up and have to be removed.
However since the mentioned metals do not dissolve well, no toxic
effects usually result, although the total amount of metal in the
object swallowed may greatly exceed the DV and greatly top safe dosage
of the metal (if it is dissolved).