Too Much of a Good Thing? Detrimental Health Effects Linked to Environmental Lithium Exposure through Drinking Water

Abstract

For centuries, people have made pilgrimages to lithium springs in search of better health. In modern times, relatively high levels of lithium in drinking water are linked to lower suicide and homicide rates as well as possible neuroprotective benefits. However, with increased mining of lithium, metallic contaminants in the environment are a growing concern. The goal of this systematic review is to determine whether there is a risk to humans from higher levels of environmental lithium in the water supply. Methods: Systematic Review. Between searches in October 2021 and May 2023, a total of 10,234 citations were retrieved from three databases, one citation index, and one clinical trial registry. 6106 duplicates were removed. 4127 records were screened. 3873 were excluded. 254 reports were retrieved and assessed for eligibility based on population, study design, and outcomes. 26 studies were included in the final review. Results: Of the 26 studies selected for extraction, 12 showed negative effects related to lithium exposure through drinking water. The studies reviewed included data from five continents. Study subjects ranged from newborn to adult, including pregnant women. The data reflected the possibility for detrimental effects to the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, the lymphatic system, the urinary system, and the integumentary system. Of note, the suggested effects included increased risk of autism spectrum disorder and up to 1.88-fold increase in the risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorder. It also indicated possible teratogenicity. Conclusion: The findings of this review indicate that lithium, even at the non-therapeutic levels found in drinking water, is linked to negative impacts on human health. This suggests the need for further studies and the development of clear guidelines regarding monitoring and maximum permissible concentrations of lithium in municipal and bottled water supplies [Note: Due to APA’s conference restrictions on the number of authors, Schwab, R was left off as an author on the poster. However, she contributed to the study by doing initial work on parameters.]