Experts have warned that cannabis plants can absorb carcinogenic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium from the soil.
Pennsylvania researchers have conducted a “meta-analysis” of previous studies to examine the ability of cannabis plants to absorb heavy metals.
They report that some varieties of cannabis have been bred specifically for “phytoremediation”: the cultivation of plants to remove contaminants from the soil.
But this risks leaking heavy metals into cannabis crops that are subsequently harvested and smoked by humans, which could lead to cancer and neurological problems.
Researchers say heavy metal contaminants could be dangerous to people who ingest them, including cancer patients who use medical marijuana.
New meta-analysis examines the ability of cannabis plants to absorb heavy metals and analyzes the resulting impacts on consumer health (stock image)
PHYTOREMEDIATION
Phytoremediation is the use of plants to remove contaminants from soil, air or water.
Phytoremediation is a good way to approach the accumulation of heavy metals in soils in hazardous environments, such as nuclear sites.
The accumulation of heavy metal soils has increased rapidly due to various natural processes and industrial activities.
Source: Front. Plant Sci / CPEO.org
Therefore, researchers at Penn State University have proposed strategies for cannabis growers to ensure that they prevent heavy metals from contaminating their cannabis crops.
“Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium, are known to be carcinogenic,” said Louis Bengyella, an adjunct professor of plant science research at Penn State University.
‘The heavy metal content of cannabis is not regulated; therefore, consumers may be unknowingly exposed to these toxic metals.
“This is bad news for anyone who uses cannabis, but it is especially problematic for cancer patients who use medical marijuana to treat the nausea and pain associated with their treatments.”
Cannabis plants are used to produce industrial hemp, medical marijuana and cannabidiol oil (CBD), among other products.
They have an inherent ability to absorb heavy metals from the soil, which makes them useful for remedying contaminated sites, such as for industrial activities.
But this ability to absorb toxic metals can also make cannabis dangerous to consumers who ingest it.
“The problem is that if we use these strains that were developed for phytoremediation without considering why they were developed in the first place, we can unknowingly expose consumers to heavy metals,” Bengyella said.
The schematic diagram shows the absorption, translocation, and sequestration of heavy metals in plants
Together with his colleagues, Bengyella conducted a meta-analysis of research studies on heavy metal pollution in cannabis.
IS CANNABIS LEGAL?
It is illegal to own, distribute, sell or grow cannabis in the UK.
Cannabis is classified as a Class B drug. Therefore, anyone caught with cannabis runs the risk of up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. As long as he is convicted of producing and supplying a Class B drug, he runs the risk of up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
For people caught with a small amount of cannabis (usually less than an ounce), the police can issue a warning or a fine on the spot if the possession is considered for personal use.
It is therefore still illegal to smoke weeds anywhere in the UK, including your own home. The data, however, suggests that this law is regularly violated.
In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first U.S. states to legalize cannabis. Since then, more U.S. states have followed suit (New York did in July 2019). Some other states now also allow the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
After legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes in 2001, Canada became the first entire G7 nation to legalize recreational drug use in October 2018.
Source: politics.co.uk
Specifically, they investigated the available information on the application of cannabis in phytoremediation, the fate of heavy metals in cannabis plants, the medical impact of heavy metals on cannabis, and agricultural strategies to mitigate the absorption of heavy metals. .
The team learned that some cannabis strains are commonly used for phytoremediation because of their unique physical characteristics.
These characteristics include stem length, rapid growth, large surface area of roots and leaves, high photosynthetic activity, and dependence on relatively few nutrients for survival, which facilitate the absorption of heavy metals.
The team also found that lead, cadmium and chromium can specifically be transported and distributed through the stem and leaves and flowers of the plant.
These heavy metals leave the plant through the trichomes, the hair-like structures on the flowers.
“Trichomes are important because they store the CBD oil and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that consumers want,” Bengyella said.
“This led us to wonder if these heavy metals are there at the level of the trichome, what can they do to people?”
The researchers then investigated the documented health effects of heavy metals.
They found that heavy metal contamination of cannabis can cause various health problems due to the fact that heavy metals are rarely metabolized and therefore accumulate in specific areas of the human body.
The most common mechanism of heavy metal toxicity in the human body is through the production of reactive oxygen species (highly reactive chemicals formed from oxygen) and free radicals (unstable atoms that can damage cells). lules).
These can damage enzymes, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, and cause cancer and neurological problems.
“Cannabis consumed in the form of combustion poses the greatest danger to human health, as the analysis of heavy metals in cannabis smoke revealed the presence of selenium, mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel and arsenic.” , said Bengyella.
Heavy metal pollution from cannabis can cause a number of health problems due to the fact that heavy metals are rarely metabolized in the human body (stock image)
“It’s disturbing to realize that the cannabis products used by consumers, especially cancer patients, can be causing unnecessary harm to their bodies.”
To mitigate heavy metal pollution, the authors advise producers to choose landfills free of heavy metals and varieties of cannabis that are not grown to better absorb heavy metals.
When choosing farmland, growers should avoid abandoned industrial sites and perform air quality analysis.
They should also perform a soil pH test, because pH can affect the amount of heavy metals a plant absorbs.
“The problem is at the level of the consumer who uses cannabis products, but the solution has to come at the agricultural level,” Bengyella said.
“We think that’s where we should hit hard and solve the problem.”
The full results were published in a recent issue of Toxin Reviews.
CANNABIS: THE FACTS
Cannabis is a class B illegal drug in the UK, which means that possession could lead to a five-year prison sentence and those who supply the drug face up to 14 years in prison.
However, the drug is widely used for recreational purposes and can make users feel relaxed and happy.
But smoking can also cause feelings of panic, anxiety, or paranoia.
Scientific studies have shown that the drug can relieve depression, anxiety and stress, but intensive use can make long-term depression worse by reducing the brain’s ability to release bad memories.
It can also contribute to mental health problems among people who already have them, or increase users’ risk of psychosis or schizophrenia, according to research.
Marijuana can be prescribed for medical use in more than half of the U.S. states, where it is used to combat anxiety, aggression, and sleep problems. Researchers are also investigating whether it could help people with autism, eczema or psoriasis.
Cannabis oil containing the psychoactive chemical THC, which is illegal in the UK, is said to have anti-cancer properties, and a 52-year-old woman from Coventry is said to have recovered from terminal cancer. intestine and stomach taking the drug.
