Profile: Chemical Properties of Iron - Fe. INDEX
https://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/Fe-en.htm#Atomic%20number

Iron is a lustrous, ductile, malleable, silver-gray metal (group VIII of the periodic table).
It is known to exist in four distinct crystalline forms. Iron rusts in damp air, but not in dry air.
It dissolves readily in dilute acids. Iron is chemically active and forms two major series of chemical compounds, the bivalent iron (II), or ferrous, compounds and the trivalent iron (III), or ferric, compounds.

Applications
Iron is the most used of all the metals, including 95 % of all the metal tonnage produced worldwide.
Thanks to the combination of low cost and high strength it is indispensable.
Its applications go from food containers to family cars, from scredrivers to washing machines, from cargo ships to paper staples. Steel is the best known alloy of iron, and some of the forms that iron takes include: pig iron, cast iron, carbon steel, wrought iron, alloy steels, iron oxides.

Iron in the environment
Iron is believed to be the tenth most abundant element in the universe.
Iron is also the most abundant (by mass, 34.6%) element making up the Earth; the concentration of iron in the various layers of the Earth ranges from high at the inner core to about 5% in the outer crust. Most of this iron is found in various iron oxides, such as the minerals hematite, magnetite, and taconite. The earth's core is believed to consist largely of a metallic iron-nickel alloy.

Iron is essential to almost living things, from micro-organisms to humans.
World production of new iron is over 500 million tonnes a year, and recycled iron add other 300 million tonnes.
Economically workable reserves of iron ores exceed 100 billion tonnes.
The main mining areas are China, Brazil, Australia, Russia and Ukraine, with sizeable amounts mined in the USA, Canada, Venezuela, Sweden and India.

Research: Health Effects of Iron. INDEX
https://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/
Fe-en.htm#Health%20effects%20of%20iron

Iron can be found in meat, whole meal products, potatoes and vegetables.
The human body absorbs iron in animal products faster than iron in plant products.
Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin; the red colouring agent of the blood that transports oxygen through our bodies.

Iron may cause conjunctivitis, choroiditis, and retinitis if it contacts and remains in the tissues.

Chronic inhalation of excessive concentrations of iron oxide fumes or dusts may result in development of a benign pneumoconiosis, called siderosis, which is observable as an x-ray change. No physical impairment of lung function has been associated with siderosis.

Inhalation of excessive concentrations of iron oxide may enhance the risk of lung cancer development in workers exposed to pulmonary carcinogens. LD50 (oral, rat) =30 gm/kg. (LD50: Lethal dose 50. Single dose of a substance that causes the death of 50% of an animal population from exposure to the substance by any route other than inhalation. Usually expressed as milligrams or grams of material per kilogram of animal weight (mg/kg or g/kg).)

A more common problem for humans is iron deficency, which leads to anaemia.
A man needs an average daily intake pf 7 mg of iron and a woman 11 mg; a normal diet will generally provided all that is needed.

Concern: Environmental Effects of Iron. INDEX
https://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/
Fe-en.htm#Environmental%20effects%20of%20iron

Iron (III)-O-arsenite, pentahydrate may be hazardous to the environment;
special attention should be given to plants, air and water.
It is strongly advised not to let the chemical enter into the environment because it persists in the environment.

Report: Iron (Fe) and water. INDEX
https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/iron/iron-and-water.htm

Seawater contains approximately 1-3 ppb of iron.
The amount varies strongly, and is different in the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.
Rivers contain approximately 0.5-1 ppm of iron, and groundwater contains 100 ppm.
Drinking water may not contain more than 200 ppb of iron.

Most algae contain between 20 and 200 ppm of iron, and some brown algae may accumulate up to 4000 ppm.
The bio concentration factor of algae in seawater is approximately 104 - 105.
Sea fish contain approximately 10-90 ppm and oyster tissue contains approximately 195 ppm of iron (all are dry mass).

Dissolved iron is mainly present as Fe(OH)2+ (aq) under acidic and neutral, oxygen-rich conditions.
Under oxygen-poor conditions it mainly occurs as binary iron. Iron is part of many organic and inorganic chelation complexes that are generally water soluble.

In what way and in what form does iron react with water?

Iron does not clearly alter in pure water or in dry air, but when both water and oxygen are present (moist air), iron corrodes.
Its silvery colour changes to a reddish-brown, because hydrated oxides are formed. Dissolved electrolytes accelerate the reaction mechanism, which is as follows:

4 Fe + 3 O2 + 6 H2O -> 4 Fe3+ + 12 OH- -> 4 Fe(OH)3 or 4 FeO(OH) + 4 H2O

Usually the oxide layer does not protect iron from further corrosion, but is removed so more metal oxides can be formed.
Electrolytes are mostly iron (II) sulphate, which forms during corrosion by atmospheric SO2.
In sea regions atmospheric salt particles may play an important role in this process.

Iron (II) hydroxide often precipitates in natural waters.

Solubility of iron and iron compounds
Elementary iron dissolves in water under normal conditions.
Many iron compounds share this characteristic.
Naturally occurring iron oxide, iron hydroxide, iron carbide and iron penta carbonyl are water insoluble. The water solubility of some iron compounds increases at lower pH values.

Other iron compounds may be more water soluble than the examples mentioned above.
Iron carbonate has a water solubility of 60 mg/L, iron sulphide of 6 mg/L, and iron vitriol even of 295 g/L.
Many iron chelation complexes are water soluble.

Usually there is a difference between water soluble Fe2+ compounds and generally water insoluble Fe3+ compounds.
The latter are only water soluble in strongly acidic solutions, but water solubility increases when these are reduced to Fe2+ under certain conditions.

Why is iron present in water?
The main naturally occurring iron minerals are magnetite, hematite, goethite and siderite.
Weathering processes release the element into waters. Both mineral water and drinking water contain iron carbonate.
In deep sea areas the water often contains iron fragments the size of a fist, manganese and small amounts of lime, silicon dioxide and organic compounds.

Iron is applied worldwide for commercial purposes, and is produced in amounts of 500 million tons annually.
Some 300 million tons are recycled. The main reason is that iron is applicable in more areas than possibly any other metal. Alloys decrease corrosivity of the metal. Steel producers add various amounts of carbon. Iron alloys are eventually processed to containers, cars, laundry machines, bridges, buildings, and even small springs. Iron compounds are applied as pigments in glass and email production, or are processed to pharmaceutics, chemicals, iron fertilizers, or pesticides. These are also applied in wood impregnation and photography.

Aluminum waste products containing iron were discharged on surface water in the earlier days.
Today, these are removed and applied as soil fillers.

Iron compounds are applied in precipitation reactions, to remove compounds from water in water purification processes.
The 59Fe isotope is applied in medical research and nuclear physics.

What are the environmental effects of iron in water?
Iron is a dietary requirement for most organisms, and plays an important role in natural processes in binary and tertiary form.
Oxidized tertiary iron cannot be applied by organisms freely, except at very low pH values. Still, iron usually occurs in this generally water insoluble form.

Adding soluble iron may rapidly increase productivity in oceanic surface layers.
It might than play an important role in the carbon cycle.
Iron is essential for nitrogen binding and nitrate reduction, and it may be a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth.
Solubility in salt water is extremely low.

The iron cycle means reduction of tertiary iron by organic ligands (a process that is photo catalysed in surface waters), and oxidation of binary iron.

Iron forms chelation complexes that often play an important role in nature, such as haemoglobin, a red colouring agent in blood that binds and releases oxygen in breathing processes. Organisms take up higher amounts of binary iron than of tertiary iron, and uptake mainly depends on the degree of saturation of physical iron reserves.

Iron is often a limiting factor for water organisms in surface layers.
When chelation ligands are absent, water insoluble tertiary iron hydroxides precipitate.
This is not thought to be hazardous for aquatic life, because not much is known about hazards of water borne iron.
Mollusks have teeth of magnetite or goethite.

Green plants apply iron for energy transformation processes.
Plants that are applied as animal feed may contain up to 1000 ppm of iron, but this amount is much lower in plants applied for human consumption. Generally plants contain between 20 and 300 ppm iron (dry mass), but lichens may consist up to 5.5% of iron. When soils contain little iron, or little water soluble iron, plants may experience growth problems. Plant uptake capacity strongly varies, and it does not only depend on soil iron concentrations, but also upon pH values, phosphate concentrations and competition between iron and other heavy metals. Lime soils are often iron deficit, even when sufficient amounts of iron are present. This is because of the generally high pH value, which leads to iron precipitation.

Iron usually occurs in soils in tertiary form, but in water saturated soils it is converted to binary iron, thereby enabling plant iron uptake. Plants may take up water insoluble iron compounds by releasing H+ ions, causing it to dissolve. Micro organisms release iron siderochrome, which can be directly taken up by plants.

Iron may be harmful to plants at feed concentrations of between 5 and 200 ppm.
These cannot be found in nature under normal conditions, when low amounts of soil water are present.

A number of bacteria take up iron particles and convert them to magnetite, to apply this as a magnetic compass for orientation. Iron compounds may cause a much more serious environmental impact than the element itself. A number of LD50 values are known for rats (oral intake): iron (III) acetyl acetonate 1872 mg/kg, iron (II) chloride 984 mg/kg, and iron penta carbonyl 25 mg/kg. There are four naturally occurring non-radioactive iron isotopes. There are eight unstable iron isotopes.

What are the health effects of iron in water?
The total amount of iron in the human body is approximately 4 g, of which 70% is present in red blood colouring agents.
Iron is a dietary requirement for humans, just as it is for many other organisms.
Men require approximately 7 mg iron on a daily basis, whereas women require 11 mg.
The difference is determined by menstrual cycles. When people feed normally these amounts can be obtained rapidly.

The body absorbs approximately 25% of all iron present in food.
When someone is iron deficit feed iron intake may be increased by means of vitamin C tablets, because this vitamin reduces tertiary iron to binary iron. Phosphates and phytates decrease the amount of binary iron.
In food iron is present as binary iron bound to haemoglobin and myoglobin, or as tertiary iron.
The body may particularly absorb the binary form of iron.

Iron is a central component of haemoglobin.
It binds oxygen and transports it from lungs to other body parts.
It than transports CO2 back to the lungs, where it can be breathed out.
Oxygen storage also requires iron.
Iron is a part of several essential enzymes, and is involved in DNA synthesis.
Normal brain functions are iron dependent.

In the body iron is strongly bound to transferrin, which enables exchange of the metal between cells.
The compound is a strong antibiotic, and it prevents bacteria from growing on the vital element. When one is infected by bacteria, the body produces high amounts of transferrin.

When iron exceeds the required amount, it is stored in the liver.
The bone marrow contains high amounts of iron, because it produces haemoglobin.
Iron deficits lead to anaemia, causing tiredness, headaches and loss of concentration.
The immune system is also affected. In young children this negatively affects mental development, leads to irritability, and causes concentration disorder. Young children, pregnant women and women in their period are often treated with iron (II) salts upon iron deficits.

When high concentrations of iron are absorbed, for example by haemochromatose patients, iron is stored in the pancreas, the liver, the spleen and the heart. This may damage these vital organs. Healthy people are generally not affected by iron overdose, which is also generally rare. It may occur when one drinks water with iron concentrations over 200 ppm.

Iron compounds may have a more serious effect upon health than the relatively harmless element itself.
Water soluble binary iron compounds such as FeCl2 and FeSO4 may cause toxic effects upon concentrations exceeding 200 mg, and are lethal for adults upon doses of 10-50 g. A number of iron chelates may be toxic, and the nerve toxin iron penta carbonyl is known for its strong toxic mechanism. Iron dust may cause lung disease.

Which water purification technologies can be applied to remove iron from water?
Iron removal from water is mostly carried out in drinking water preparation, because mineral water contains high amounts of iron ions. These influence water colour, odour and turbidity.

Iron is present in all wastewaters.
Iron removal from wastewater may be achieved by oxidation of binary iron to tertiary iron.
Hydrolysis subsequently causes flake formation, and flakes can be removed by sand filtration.
Oxidation may be achieved by adding oxygen or other oxidants, such as chlorine or potassium permanganate.
The reaction rate depends upon pH values, and is slower under acidic than under alkalic conditions.
To speed up the reaction under acidic conditions, the water may be aerated for carbon dioxide removal and pH recovery.
The total reaction causes acid formation and thereby diminishes itself. Iron is often reduced together with manganese.

Applying ion exchangers for iron trace removal from drinking water and process water is another option, but this is not very suitable for removing high iron concentrations.

Iron compounds are applied in wastewater treatment, usually as coagulants.
One example is iron sulphate application in phosphate removal.

- Book -: The Iron Time Bomb. INDEX
http://www.hereandnowbooks.com/
by Bill Sardi, 1999
$19.95 + $4.00 S&H

The central theme of this book is that humans tend to over-mineralize as they age.
Heart valves calcify, kidneys develop stones, blood vessels harden, livers begin to rust, cholesterol begins to oxidize, brains begin to deteriorate, blood begins to thicken, energy slowly starts to wane ... all because our tissues are overloaded with minerals.

... This book primarily addresses the subject of iron metabolism.
Iron is the primary growth factor for all living cells.
... The red pigment in red blood cells is called hemoglobin.
Without iron, hemoglobin cannot be produced. ... which transports oxygen through the body....

However, not all iron that enters circulation can be carried by hemoglobin.
If iron ions circulate through the blood stream unattached to protein, what is called "free iron," they can wreak havoc, promoting .. destructive oxidation ... occurring within fatty tissues is called lipid peroxidation. ...

Albumin is the protein in the blood stream that attaches to iron.
Ferritin is the protein that stores excessive iron.
Ferritin levels may rise or drop depending upon your state of health.
Iron is transported to tissues on another protein called transferrin.

When challenged by infection, a cousin of transferrin, called lactoferrin, is produced, to bind up even more iron.
There are also some dietary components that bind to iron and help to control its availability, such as bioflavonoids ...

Among medical professionals, confusion over stored iron in the body is common.
In states of chronic disease or infection the body will attempt to lock up and store it in Ferritin.
High Ferritin levels are normally a sign of high iron stores. But high stored-iron levels (ferritin) can also be a sign the body is sequestering all its iron during inflammation or infection to inhibit the growth of undesirable microorganisms or tumor cells. This is called "anemia of inflammation" or "anemia of chronic disease," not iron overload. If iron is chronically withheld and stored, hemoglobin can't be formed. Anemia of chronic disease may result, which occurs in advanced cases of cancer.

By regulation of iron stores, the body can control the growth of tumor cells, bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasites and yeast (fungi).

... Tylenol ... could hinder liver function.
The liver is the organ that handles excesses of iron.

(Symptoms of Excess Iron in one's diet)
• pain in the wrist,
• bone tumor,
• distorted vision
• arthritis,
• fatigue,
• development of diabetes,
• numbness in forearms and legs,
• bone thinning,
• worsening duodenal ulcer,
• misdiagnosed macular degeneration,
• abdominal pain,
• loss of appetite with weight loss,
• recurrent bladder infections,
• over prescription of antibiotics,
• trembling hands,
• coldness and knee pain,
• fainting spells,
• abnormal heart rhythms,
• skin cancer,

High iron levels increase the growth of bacteria and parasites.
One of the body's ways of adapting to iron overload is to grow bacteria and parasites that impair the absorption of iron. ...

Geritol, an iron-rich food supplement, was at one time in the recent past, widely advertised in the USA to mature adults.
The "Geritol Generation" remembers this iron-rich food supplement, which also contained iron-absorbing alcohol! Who knows how many older Americans shortened their life span through iron overload by taking an innocent-looking spoon full of Geritol? ...

Because the USA began fortifying foods with iron in 1940, most baby-boomer kids are taller than their fathers and mothers.
Bigger and taller equals more iron.

Iron must be stored in the bones so it is available for the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells.
Red blood cells normally die off and are replaced by new cells every 4 months. As red blood cells die, their iron is re-circulated to be incorporated into new blood cells. Humans only need to replace the small amount of iron lost in sweat or the iron lost during menstruation among females. There is greater need for iron in the growing years because more units of blood are being produced to fill the blood stream as the body expands in size. ...

Unfortunately, there is no mechanism for excessive iron to be eliminated from the system in males except for a tiny amount in sweat. If calculated on a daily average, due to menstrual bleeding, females average about 2 mg of iron loss per day. In the average menstrual period women lose about 30 mg of iron, enough to keep their iron level at half that of males. ...

... iron supplements retarded the weight gain of children who already had sufficient consumption of iron from their diet.

... meat when combined with alcohol, promotes aging and disease. ...

Milk is low in iron and contains lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein.

... men with higher levels of stored iron were more than twice as likely to have heart attacks compared to those with lower levels.

... an iron-binding protein called ferritin is widely distributed in all tissues, especially the liver, to hold onto (excess) iron.
However, if the ferritin protein comes under attack by the superoxide radical, which is produced when copper oxidizes, then it can release stored metal to promote oxidation. ... High iron stores become a liability for all critically-ill patients.

... When iron is set free, the iron transport protein transferrin, attempts to try and carry iron away from the scene of inflammation. Thus, the transferrin protein becomes saturated with iron. Normally, transferrin is only 1/3rd full, but when it becomes 60% saturated with iron, it can't carry all the free iron. Albumin attempts to help out but only loosely clings to iron. So the transferrin protein dumps excessive iron in the liver. Over time, the liver can become overloaded. Now all of the backup systems to control iron have been overwhelmed. Bacteria, viruses and fungi (yeast) can now grow at will since iron is their growth booster. ...

Alcohol consumption has been closely linked with iron overload. ...

Increased levels of iron and aluminum have been detected in ... patient's with Alzheimer's disease. ...

Iron increases the ability for viruses to replicate. ...

... copper appears to be another co-factor in Alzheimer's disease. ...

Patients with aortic aneurysms were studied and it was found their aneurysms contained high levels of iron and copper.

... Hips, knees, and wrists are the joints usually affected by iron overload.

Arthritis may be the initial symptom of iron overload. ...
Hip arthritis is common in iron overload. ...

High body iron stores may increase the risk of asthma ....

Iron favors cancer cell growth.
Excessive metal is carcinogenic due to its ability to form hydroxyl radicals, a type of undesirable by-product of cellular respiration that causes oxidation and tissue destruction. ... The iron rich liver is a frequent site of new cancer colonies (metastasis). ... The risk of liver cancer increases by 400% among Americans with high iron stores in their liver. ...

Iron and saturated fat appear to work in concert to promote colon cancer. ...
When lean beef is consumed the risk for colon cancer is not increased. ...

Iron levels are 10 times greater in feces than other tissues and thus can expose the colon and rectal tissues to more iron-induced oxidation.

... progesterone increases the serum iron levels among breast cancer patients ...

dietary iron increases the incidence and severity of estrogen-induced tumors. ...

Iron levels help to predict recurrence of kidney cancer. ...

Excessive levels of calcium and lead may also be involved in kidney cancer ... promotes kidney tumors.

Artemesia (an iron-chelator) is a Chinese herb (qing hao) ... used for centuries, particularly for the treatment of malaria. An ingredient in Artemesia forms free radicals when combined with iron which leads to the death of the parasite that causes malaria. Since cancer cells hunger for iron more so than normal cells, cancer cells are more susceptible to the toxic effect of artemesia when iron levels are high. ...

Iron can oxidize or harden cholesterol ... (yet) Copper and/or iron are required for the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (and) copper may be the primary oxidizing agent for cholesterol rather than iron.

... diets high in fiber retard iron absorption. Additionally, intestinal parasites may impair iron absorption and induce urinary or fecal blood loss. ... highly absorbable iron-rich meat and iron-fortified foods (can do the opposite). Iron from vegetables is poorly absorbed unless there is a true deficiency.

In some cases (of diabetics lowering their iron stores) the beta cell in the pancreas that secretes insulin may recover its ability to produce insulin as iron levels are reduced. ... Diabetics frequently experience nerve problems (neuropathy), particularly sciatic nerve troubles (pains shooting down the leg). ... an iron-chelating drug (used in an experiment) improved sciatic nerve function and improved blood flow to the sciatic nerve by 45%.

Since iron overload disease increases the risk of diabetes by over 6 times, screening for iron levels among diabetics, especially males who have higher iron levels than females, should be a high priority. Men with high iron storage levels are 2.4 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to men with lower iron stores. It is known that 53-80% of those men with iron-overload disease (hemochromatosis) develop diabetes. The severity of the diabetes is related to the magnitude of excess iron. Iron Overload is a disease of males by a ratio of 10 to 1. Pak age of onset is from 50 to 70 years with 70% of cases falling into this age group. Hyper-pigmentation of the skin is a hallmark sign, though most males seldom recognize its gradual progression as abnormal. Some men will say they suntan more easily. Blood letting, to reduce iron levels, has been proposed as a treatment for diabetes. ...

Diabetics may experience kidney problems, and this is attributed to iron accumulation in the filtering mechanisms of the kidney. The kidneys filter the blood ... (which carries iron). ... Kidney dialysis patients are often anemic and frequently receive iron supplements, or iron from blood transfusions, and may subsequently experience iron overload. If unexplained heart, liver, diabetic, joint or immune problems occur among dialysis patients, iron overload may be suspected and iron removal may be indicated.

Deferrioxamine, an iron-chelating drug ... caused 41% of patients to experience cataracts, 29% defects in color vision and 24-35% changes in the retina. ... While vitamin C may increase absorption of dietary iron, in the human eye vitamin C increases storage of iron by increasing ferritin levels, thus reducing the amount available iron that can induce oxidation. Vitamin C appears to increase the transfer of iron from its transportation protein (transferrin) into its storage protein (ferritin). Vitamin C reduces the risk of cataracts. Ferritin is produced in the liver.

A well-designed study in Finland (1994) .. showed that males, whose iron stores (serum ferritin) were above 200 nanograms per millilter, experienced a 2-fold increased risk to have a heart attack. Most males have iron levels twice that level. The risk of heart attack increased by 5% for every milligram of daily iron intake. ... Finnish males consume more meat (than most other nationalities), which provides a form of iron (heme) that is 10 times more absorbable. (another report) showed that total iron intake was not associated with risk of heart attack but the consumption of highly absorbable heme iron, exclusively obtained from meat, increased the risk by 83%. There is a more pronounced association between fatal heart attack and heme iron consumption. The heme iron increased the risk of a fatal event by nearly 3 times.

Iron ... works in tandem with copper.
Copper induces oxidation of circulating fat (cholesterol) more so than iron. ...
Most studies have found a relationship between serum copper or its storage protein (ceruloplasmin) and coronary heart disease.
The levels of the copper storage protein rise following a heart attack, infection, or, inflammation.

Asperin induces trivial daily blood losses from the gut, not detectable to an individual, which could over time reduce iron stores. ... Fish oil is a good blood thinner, but may increase bleeding times. ... blood letting .... Among male smokers. iron stores (ferritin) are reduced by 44% during period of blood letting and measurements of oxidation of LDL cholesterol is reduced by 20%. In another study, male blood donars cut their risk of a stroke, angina, or heart attack in half. ...

Exercise is known to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. ...
Walking reduces iron stores (ferritin) levels. ... Sports anemia" involves the loss of blood from the gastrointestinal tract and sweat emanating from vigorous and prolonged exercise ... long-distance running ...

Oral contraceptive users were 3.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack (than non-users) ... due to their losing less blood through no menstruation (which would have contributed to lower stored iron levels).

Hemochromatosis is THE disease of iron overload ... believed to be of genetic origin ... with 10% of Caucasians carrying the mutation. ... Diseases of the joints, liver, colon, and, spleen (encouraged by iron overload) may take decades to develop. ... It is rarely diagnosed before the age of 20 because the body is growing in size and blood volumbe and thus most iron is incorporated into the hemoglobin in red blood cells or take up by tissues. ... Blood letting is an effective treatment and 250 mg of hemoglobin is removed with each 500 cc of blood withdrawn. ... only 18-20% of patients with the genetic mutation ... do not exhibit iron overload.

Thalassemia is an inherited disorder characterized by the over-production of hemoglobin. Since hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein, it results in iron overload. Normally, less than 5% of iron is unbound from transferrin, but in hemochromatosis up to 35% of total serum iron can be unbound. Among 410 individuals with genetic iron overload disease, only 27% had clinical symptoms. Iron accumulation in this disease is highly variable and not directly related to age. Fatigue is the most common symptom.

Hemochromatosis

Presenting Symptoms:
• Joint pain -- 40 to 75%
• Abdominal pain: 10 to 20%

Common Symptoms:
• 80%+ -- Weakness, lethargy
• 60%+ -- Abdominal pain
• 40%+ -- Joint pain
• 40%+ -- Impotence
• 20%+ -- Disrupted menstruation
• 20%+ -- Shortness of breath

Physical Findings:
• 80%+ -- Liver problems
• 70%+ -- Pigmented skin, easy suntan
• 40%+ -- Diabetes

Other Signs & Symptoms:
• Loss of body hair
• Profound fatigue
• Elevated blood sugar
• Irregular heart beat
• Chronic intermittent diarrhea
• Lack of menstruation or early menopause
• Enlarged spleen or liver
• Congestive heart failure
• Cirrhosis (liver)
• Depression
• Hypothyroidism

Body stores of iron actually reach their peak between age 40 and 60.
In iron overload, iron concentrations may be

50 to 100 times above normal in the liver and pancreas,
25 times higher in the thyroid,
10-15 times higher in the heart and adrenals, and,
about 5 times greater in the spleen, kidney, skin, and stomach.

The Hemochromatosis Foundation indicates a transferrin saturation over 55% and serum ferritin levels above 200 micrograms per liter are indications that treatment to reduce iron stores is best begun, This test costs from US $2 to $30 and DNA testing costs $100, ore or less.

DNA testing alone may fail to identify 20% to 40% of white patients and most African-Americans with signs of hemochromatosis.

ALL tests used to detect iron deficiency or iron overload are limited. Accuracy can be as low as 41%.

It is possible to have iron overload and your blood tests appear normal.

One may also use either Hair or Urine Element Analysis Tests with a provoking agent such as DMSA.

Estrogen is known to raise copper levels.

Progesterone, acting as an iron mobilizer, will chelate iron from storage sites in the body.
During pregnacy, progesterone serves to mobilize iron reserves for the fetus. Thus women who have had children may have had their bodies cleansing of iron stores in bone, muscle, joints, skin and brain and actually live longer than women who have not had children. ... women with varicose veins may actually have iron overload. The iron stains the varicosed veins and appears much like a tattoo.

The positive effect of progesterone on some types of arthritis, caused by reduction of iron in the joints, is due to the iron-chelating action of the progesterone. However, once progesterone mobilizes the iron, it will stay in the body, except during pregnancy .... The resultant buildup of iron will cause irregular heart rhytm, a problem that (may) be solved by blood donation (or, blood letting).

... oral contraceptive use by women aged 20 to 45 tends to increase their iron stores.

The idea of withholding iron to prevent infection was proposed as early as 1944, but was largely ignored for decades. ...

Iron is required for the growth of bacteria, viruses, fungi (yeast) and protozoa. ...

In states of infection, iron absorption may drop by as much as 80%, the production of iron-binding proteins increases (lactoferrin and ferritin) and iron release from white blood cells called macrophages diminishes by 70%. All this ... deprives bacteria of iron for growth.

Normally, blood serum has antibacterial properties.
But when the saturaturation of transferrin reaches 60 to 80% this anti-bacterial action (ceases).

Heart attacks, trauma, infections, surgery, inflammation, and cancer cells trigger a decrease in serum of iron.

Bacteria and fungi require iron and are accompanied by fever, whereas viral infections do not induce fever.
Fever lowers the concentration of iron in serum and favors resistance to infection. ... bacterial growth is inhibited when temperature rises.

... Antibacterial systems are abolished when iron becomes freely available. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has put the treatment of serious infections in jeopardy. ... elevated levels of ferritin and transferrin increase the risk of acquiring a fungal infection. ... iron deficiency may promote infection by lowering the body's resistance to infectious diseases (but) administration of iron ... can increase morbidity ... because infectious diseases depend upon iron for growth.

Fungi (Candida Albicans, yeast) requires iron for growth.
Iron chelation inhibits candida albicans infection. ...

In starvation or severe iron deficiency, the shortage of iron may impair the iron needed to form antibodies and for cellular immune systems. While iron overload contributes to bacterial growth and increased risk of infection, severely iron-deficient animals may also exhibit impaired immunity, so it is well accepted that adequate dietary intake of iton is required to maintain normal immune function.

Numerous studies confirm that a weekly iron pill is as effective as daily supplementation in iron replenishment. ...

Humans consume up to 30 mg of iron per day, but just a fraction of that amount is actually absorbed. Too little iron will not support a vigorous life, while too much iron is lethal. The body has a very precise mechanism to control iron levels. More iron is absorbed when there is a need, while less is absorbed when there is overload, inflammation, or infection. ...

The following .. were found to INCREASE iron storage:
1. iron from meat (heme iron)
2. iron supplements,
3. Vitamin C,
4. alcohol,

   while ferritin levels were REDUCED by

5. coffee.

Many dietary components (phytic acid, carbonates, oxalates) impair iron absorption from plants, but heme iron from meat is unaffected. .. Iron absorption from foods varies according to deficiency. ...

Anise, mint, caraway and licorice, in decreasing order, promote the absorption of iron. ...

It is possible to genetically modify corn to enhance mineral absorption by reducing the phytic acid content of the grain. ...

When dairy products such as milk, milkshakes, or cheese are consumed with hamburger at the same meal, this REDUCES iron absorption by 50 to 60% ....

In one study, green tea REDUCED iron absorption from foods by 62%, coffee by 35%, while orange juice INCREASED iron absorption by 85% .... Iron stores are negatively affected by coffee intake ... and more by tea.

... sardine oil (may) reduce absorption of iron, while olive oil increased iron absorption. ...

The administration of magnesium an hour following iron intake reduces iron absorption.

Iron deficiency affects 2 billion people worldwide (1999), mostly women and young children.

Iron deficiency needs to be distinguished from anemia.
Many are iron deficient, but far fewer have anemia (low hemoglobin red blood cell count). ...
slight iron deficiency defines the best state of health compared to iron overload or true anemia.

The serum transferrin receptor test is a useful alternative for distinguishing iron deficiency anemia from the anemia of chronic disease.

Iron deficiency may produce blue sclera and pica.

Iron deficiency alters fatty acid composition of blood plasma and may impair growth by depriving growing tissues of essential fats.

Symptoms of Anemia.
• Tiredness
• Mental fatigue (rather than physical fatigue)
• Fainting
• Breath holding (rather than Shortness of breath)
• Coldness of extremities
• Resistant to infections (rather than frequent infections)
• Restless leg syndrome
• Blue sclera
• Meat craving.

In chronic disease, the iron storage protein ferritin attempts to withold iron from use, and the production of red blood cells from the bone marrow is impaired. ...

High levels of nitric oxide (arginine), adriamycin (an anticancer drug), paraquat (insecticide), or, ionizing radiation (as from x-rays), can promote the release of iron from ferritin. ...

About 90% of circulating copper is bound to ceruloplasmin (which) promotes the uptake of iron into transferrin and possibly ferritin. ... higher levels of serum copper are associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

EDTA and most other metal chelators prefer to chelate to metals such as iron, mercury, copper and aluminum more so than potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, or zinc. In other words, EDTA chelates iron first. Therafter, it will pursue copper, then calcium. ...

EDTA chelation therapy is employed to reduce calcium deposits and remove heavy metals to control oxidation and blood clotting.

EDTA therapy has been shown to be very safe and effective.
Some patients have undergone more than 100 EDTA treatments. Its only documented drawback is that it must be repeated for lasting effect (unless one removes oneself from the sources of exposure, and in acknowledgement that some minerals will chelate out of organs and bones in a series of leachings rather than in a continuous excretions).

(A suggested detoxing scenario of therapy is...)
Approximately 20 to 30 treatments of 500 to 1000 ml of EDTA fluid are required intravenously.
Infusion takes 3 to 4 hours, 1 to 3 times per week. Cost ranges from US $75 to US $150 (1999) per treatment. ...

Deferioxamine (Desferal) is the most used and efficacious chelator but it must be administered by slow infusion over 8 to 12 hours subcutaneously (through the skin rather than into a vein). ... Deferoxamine mesylate (Desferal) removes iron from ferritin and transferrin and was first used in 1900. Desferal may result in serious side effects such as

• hearing loss,
• cataracts,
• retinal and optic nerve problems,
• night blindness,
• blurred vision.

... deferrioxamine removes excess iron from the body, it also provides iron to bacteria.
Infection is a major complication of deferrioxamine therapy. ... Iron-chelating drugs may be used simultaneously with antibiotics to prevent side effects. Certain antibiotics bind to iron ... and may result in the side effect ... of deafness. ...

Bioflavanoids are iron-binding plant pigments that protect against sun-induced oxidation in fruits ... as well as repel insect attack, plant viruses, and fungi. ... include

• bilberry,
• blueberry,
• grape seed,
• pine bark,
• quercetin,
• elderberry,
• milk thistle,
• cranberry,
• green tea ....

Bioflavanoids have been shown to have antiviral action, are potent antihistamines ... and are known to prevent cholesterol from hardening (oxidizing) within blood vessel walls. (Also) ... anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties ....

Green tea inhibits the absorption of iron from food but does not appear to inhibit the absorption of iron from food supplements. Green tea has 20 times the antioxidant power of vitamin C. ... The antioxidant power of green tea is negated completely by milk.

Quercetin works as an antioxidant by binding to copper and blocking the formation of a free radical called superoxide that separates iron from its binding proteins. ... Quercetin (has) the ability to chelate iron. ... Quercetin and milk thistle ... work by chelating or attaching to iron and copper ions.

... Quercetin has ... antihistamine action ... (and) has been demonstrated to have anti-viral action against herpes simplex, polio virus, and, influenza virus. ...

Copper is required to oxidize Vitamin C.
By virtue of quercetin's ability to bind to copper, it blocks the oxidation of copper and vitamin C antioxidant activity is preserved.

Antibiotics used to treat various infections often are ineffective in the presence of heavy metals like mercury.
Chlamydia, herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus may recur after the use of antibiotics. Chinese parsley (Cilantro) has been shown to accelerate the excretion of mercury, aluminum, and other heavy metals. When patients were given antibiotics and cilantro, the last traces of any infection disappeared. ...

Rice bran extract (IP6), phytic acid, myo-inositol ...
composed of one molecule of inositol (in the B vitamin family) and 6 molecules of phosphorus. ... capable of completely quenching the hydroxyle radical species that promotes cancer and other diseases. ... There was a 66% to 99% increase in natural killer-cell activity with purified phytic acid and phytic acid plus additional inositol. ... Purified phytic acid prolonged (cancer) survival ... reduced tumor growth and reduced the spread (metastasis) of tumors.

Article: Can Iron Deficiency Cause Psychological Problems? INDEX
https://www.livestrong.com/article/489269-can-iron-deficiency-cause-psychological-problems/
by JULIE BOEHLKE -- Oct. 03, 2017

Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological issue that can stem from having low iron levels.
If you have low iron levels, it could trigger panic symptoms, leading to a panic attack.
Panic attack symptoms include feelings of dread, fear of dying, chest tightness, headache, fear of fainting, choking symptoms, muscle weakness, insomnia and visual disturbances. In some cases, low iron levels can lead to irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias, notes the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. A fast or irregular heart rate can trigger a panic attack, especially if you think it could lead to a heart attack or heart failure. Once your iron levels are brought into a normal range, most irregular heart rhythms and signs of panic subside.

Depression
If you have any type of iron deficiency, one psychological symptom could be signs of depression.
While an iron deficiency may not be the sole cause of depression, it can cause symptoms similar to depression such as a lack of appetite, irritability, extreme fatigue, headaches and mood swings, explains MayoClinic.com. Having a broad range of symptoms, especially before diagnosis, can be troubling and lead to feelings of sadness, helplessness and depression.

Mental Disturbances
There are certain mental disturbances you may experience if your iron count is low.
The National Anemia Action Council explains that you may feel dizziness which can make you feel like the room is spinning or you are off-balance. Feelings of unsteadiness can trigger feelings of paranoia and motion sickness, making you unable to complete average tasks. You may also have forgetfulness, trouble concentrating on the task at hand as well as finding it difficult to perform simple mental tasks such as reading, getting projects done and staying focused on others around you.

Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome occurs when you begin to experience unpleasant sensations in your legs such as pulling, creeping, throbbing, crawling and sometimes stabbing pain that occurs mainly at rest. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explain that iron deficiency can trigger restless leg syndrome. Over time restless leg syndrome may trigger psychological issues such as insomnia, stress and anxiety over going to sleep and getting enough rest.

Article: A Different Perspective on Iron (Parasites, TCM). INDEX
http://blog.unikeyhealth.com/a-different-perspective-on-iron/
by James Templeton --- Your Health Keys blog, 2017-10 (?)

... too much or too little iron is not a good thing.
But the big “aha” moment comes in realizing the whole issue revolves around the loss of regulation of iron metabolism.
The control center for iron metabolism is the liver.
It’s the major site of iron storage, regulates iron traffic in and around the body, and is where the major proteins for iron metabolism are made, including ceruloplasmin, which is also important in copper metabolism. But rather than focusing on the cellular level, let’s keep focused on the big picture – like so many other health issues, it’s about liver health.

Iron-Loving Pathogens
When it comes to the liver, it never pays to ignore the role of parasites and pathogens.
There are a lot of pathogens that disrupt iron metabolism, either to increase stores or deplete them.
Most bacteria are iron scavengers because they require iron to live and multiply.
The immune system withholds iron as a protective mechanism, but sometimes it comes down to the numbers – having a large amount of “iron eaters” will quickly make you anemic and suppress the immune system. Menstruating women tend to attract the fungal varieties that bog down the whole cleansing process because of damp conditions and fluctuating high levels of estrogen, which in turn can affect hormone regulation.

Liver flukes are such a big issue when it comes to stone formation and congested bile.
They get in through food or contaminated water and block those all important liver pathways causing the bile to thicken and not flow as easily. You need that bile to flow – its acidity in the intestines is what kills the pathogens there. Interestingly, the goal of most anti-parasitic herbs is not actually to kill the parasites but to cleanse the bile so it can do it’s job of killing unwanted microorganisms. This is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach of treating illness by cleansing the bile.

A Traditional Chinese Medicine View
From a TCM perspective, the emotion involved in iron metabolism is anger.
This is a symptom of “liver fire,” a TCM principle that can be best described as too much energy trapped in the liver.
As anger increases, so do iron stores and vice versa. This may explain why men have higher iron levels, since they are naturally more aggressive with (hopefully) higher testosterone levels.

Women tend to be more anemic and fearful – the opposite of anger in TCM – until they “come into their own wisdom” during menopause and iron levels and anger rise, many times at the life issues they endured during their childhood and childbearing years. Combined with copper imbalance, passiveness and the tendency to please others while sacrificing themselves is seen commonly in childbearing women and men with low testosterone.

Once copper and iron are balanced, you recognize your own strength and no longer feel so vulnerable and needing protection.

Article: Genetically modified rice. INDEX
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_rice
February 28, 2018

... The World Health Organization stated that iron deficiency affects 30% of the world's population.
Research scientists from the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) and IRRI to are working to increase the amount of iron in rice. They have modified three populations of rice by over expressing the genes OsNAS1, OsNAS2 or OsNAS3. The research team found that nicotianamine, iron, and zinc concentration levels increased in all three populations relative to controls.

Ventria Bioscience uses a proprietary system known as Express Tec for producing recombinant human proteins in rice grains. Their most notable variety produces human Lactoferrin and Lysozyme. These two proteins are produced naturally in human breast milk and are used globally in infant formula and rehydration products.

Article: Iron, conditions and treatment. INDEX
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/iron
Last updated: April 2013 --- Deakin University contributors.

Iron is an important mineral that is involved in various bodily functions, including the transport of oxygen in the blood. This is essential for providing energy for daily life. Good sources of iron include red meat, offal and iron-fortified breakfast cereals.

Iron is lost from the body through shedding intestinal cells, sweat and blood loss.
About one third of the world’s population is iron deficient. Menstruating women are at greater risk than men and postmenopausal women for iron deficiency. It is thought that up to five per cent of the Australian population has iron deficiency anaemia.

Roles of iron
Some of the many roles of iron include:

Oxygen transport – red blood cells contain haemoglobin, a complex protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Haemoglobin is partly made from iron, and accounts for about two thirds of the body’s iron.

Myoglobin – a special protein that helps store oxygen in muscle cells.
Myoglobin contains iron and is responsible for the red colour of muscle.

Enzymes – many enzymes throughout the body contain iron, including those involved in energy production.
Enzymes are catalysts (increase rate of chemical reaction) that drive many cell functions.

Immune system – proper functioning of the immune system relies, in part, on sufficient iron.
The immune system helps us fight infection.

Types of iron

haem iron – found in animal tissue such as beef, lamb, chicken and fish. Offal products such as liver and kidney are particularly rich in haem iron. Pregnant women should avoid eating too much offal as it contains large amounts of vitamin A, which can cause birth defects. The body absorbs just under one quarter of the iron contained in animal foods.

non-haem iron – found in animal tissue, animal-based products and plant foods such as dried beans and lentils.
Good vegetarian sources of non-haem iron include iron-fortified breakfast cereals and wholegrains.

Dietary factors that boost iron absorption
Certain foods and drinks help your body to absorb greater amounts of iron, including:

Vitamin C (found in fruits and vegetables) increases iron absorption.

Animal protein boosts iron absorption from plant sources.

Cooking.
In most cases, cooking increases the amount of available non-haem iron in vegetables.
For example, the body absorbs six per cent of the iron from raw broccoli, compared to 30 per cent from cooked broccoli.

Dietary factors that reduce iron absorption
Certain foods and drinks reduce your body’s ability to absorb iron, including:

Soy proteins can reduce absorption from plant sources.

Tannins from tea, coffee and wine reduce iron absorption by binding to the iron and carrying it out of the body.

The phytates and fibres in wholegrains such as bran can reduce the absorption of iron and other minerals.

Vitamin A helps to release stored iron, so not enough vitamin A in the diet could lead to iron deficiency.

Calcium and phosphorus reduce the absorption of plant-sourced iron.

...

Product: Gentle Iron Plus, Nature's Bounty, 28 mg INDEX
https://well.ca/products/natures-bounty-gentle-iron_25534.html
LINK 2: https://www.amazon.ca/
Natures-Bounty-Gentle-Glycinate-Capsules/dp/B001G7QYM4?th=1
Ca $ 9.99 -- Well.ca
Ca $ 9.99 -- Save-on-Foods MORE loyalty card discount: 30% = total: $7.00
Ca $33.74 -- Amazon.ca (same size as above)
Ca $22.99 -- Costco.ca (same size as above)
90 capsules

Ingredients:
• 28 mg --- Ferrous Biglycinate
• 60 mg --- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• --------------- Silicon Dioxide
• 400 mcg -- Folic Acid
• 008 mcg -- Vit B12 (cyanocobalamin)
• --------------- Dibasic Calcium Phosphate

Take with food.
AND/OR
Take a few hours before or after taking other medications.
•Child Resistant Cap. Keep out of the reach of children.
Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under six.
Store at room temperature.

LINKS from Lenntech, and others. INDEX
http://www.lenntech.com/

LINK 2: http://rmalab.com/sites/default/files/tests/instructions/20140107_CI_UrineElement.pdf
Rocky Mountain Labs Clinical Info report for Professionals, 2014-01-07
An assessment of the benefits and limitations of various test protocols.

Phone: +31 152 610 900 --- info@lenntech.com

• Processes
  1. LINK: Home
  2. LINK: Sea water desalination
  3. LINK: Surface water treatment
  4. LINK: Water softening systems
  5. LINK: Disinfection
  6. LINK: Remineralisation
  7. LINK: Waste water treatment
  8. LINK: Pesticide treatment
  9. LINK: Iron and manganese
  10. LINK: Heavy metal removal
  11. LINK: Nitrates treatment
  12. LINK: Degasser calculation sheet
  13. LINK: Ion exchange - demi plants

INDEX