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Occupational Health and Safety in Mines
Published in Debi Prasad Tripathy, Mine Safety Science and Engineering, 2019
Metal toxicity is the toxic effect of specific metals in certain forms and doses. Generally, all the heavy metals are toxic in nature, but not all are particularly toxic. Some trace metals in high doses can also be toxic. Heavy metals are metals with a relatively high density (>5 g/cm3), atomic number, or atomic weight. Trace metals are metals that naturally occur at low levels (<1,000 ppm) in the environment. The trace elements are chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. They are required for maintaining good health in people and are used for various purposes in daily life. Depending on the general characteristics of heavy metals, their usage varies. Generally, they are categorized into six groups based on their usage, as shown in Figure 8.6.
Technologies for the Treatment of Heavy Metal–Contaminated Groundwater
Published in Mu Naushad, Life Cycle Assessment of Wastewater Treatment, 2018
Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar, Anbalagan Saravanan
The essential heavy metals (Zn, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, and Mo) play biochemical and physiological roles in plants and animals. However, some heavy metals are also potent carcinogens and have a tendency to accumulate in biological systems. On account of their inherently persistent nature, when heavy metal particles (Cu, Cd, and Pb) are released or transported into the earth, they may undergo changes and can have an expanded natural, general health, and financial effect (Sang et al., 2008). If the final product contains a high concentration of heavy metals, it might be toxic to soil, plants, and human health (Alothman et al., 2013; Mittal et al., 2016). Metal toxicity is the toxic effect on life of specific metals in specific compounds and concentrations. A few metals are dangerous when they form toxic solvent mixes. Certain metals have no natural role; that is, they are not basic minerals, or they are dangerous.
Potential Application of an Indigenous Actinobacterium to Remove heavy Metal from Sugarcane Vinasse
Published in Edgardo R. Donati, Heavy Metals in the Environment, 2018
Verónica Leticia Colin, Macarena María Rulli, Luciana Melisa Del Gobbo, María Julia del Rosario Amoroso
The vinasses’ disposal into the water bodies without prior treatment affects the quality of aquatic life. The effect depends on the dose of vinasses discharged. Although some countries have made stringent amendments, many countries still have a long way to go about it. If the concentration of the metals in industrial wastes is not within permissible limits, they can dissolve in water and can be easily absorbed by fish and other aquatic organisms. Metal toxicity produces adverse biological effects on survival, activity, growth, metabolism, and/or reproduction of aquatic organisms; thereby they can be lethal or harm the organism without killing it directly (Solomon, 2008). There are several pathways by which each organism can be exposed to the metals’ action. One of them is by diffusion in the bloodstream via the gills and skin of the fishes. Besides, animal or plants can be exposed by drinking water or eating sediments which have been contaminated with metal.
Preparation and characterisation of green clay-polymer nanocomposite for heavy metals removal
Published in Chemistry and Ecology, 2020
Most people living in remote areas of developing countries are largely dependent on groundwater as a source of drinking water. However, the groundwater can be contaminated with various pollutants such as heavy metals, fluoride, arsenic and iron. Heavy metals can enter a water supply from industrial and consumer wastes, or even from acidic rain. Heavy metal toxicity can cause chronic degenerative diseases, the symptoms being mental disorders, pain in muscle and joints, gastro-intestinal disorders, vision problems, chronic fatigue and susceptibility to fungal infections. Sometimes the symptoms are vague and difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Geno-toxicity and cancers can also occur. Also, they tend to undergo bioaccumulation [4].
Impact of copper treatment on phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in adventitious root culture of Althaea officinalis L.
Published in Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology, 2022
Yun Ji Park, Nam Su Kim, Ramaraj Sathasivam, Yong Suk Chung, Sang Un Park
Heavy-metal toxicity, caused due to the metals stored in soils, surface water, or produced through industrial and mining processes, leads to hazardous effects in animals and plants.[1] Treatment with highly concentrated heavy metals exerts adverse effects on plant metabolism, including photosynthesis, respiration, disruption of membranes, and enzymatic activity.[2,3] In addition, heavy-metal contamination induces changes in the composition of chemicals produced by plants. Heavy metals that have mobility in plants cause responses such as reduction in the biosynthesis of natural plant products, loss or inactivation of vital enzymes, and damage to nonessential processes, including secondary metabolite accumulation.[4] However, heavy metals have become important abiotic stress factors for living species, as they are often used in industrial production and have high bioaccumulation and toxicity.[5] Heavy metals may enhance the production of therapeutically active constituents and change the ultra-morphological characteristics of medicinal plants.[4] Heavy metals are likely to be used as elicitors because they are cheaper and chemically more defined than biotic stress agents. Therefore, the application of heavy metals to plants has been proposed as an ideal system for the accumulation of beneficial compounds.[6] However, heavy metals may be toxic depending on the type of metal, its oxidation status, pH, concentration, duration, and so on, resulting in the death of organisms. The toxicity of a particular substance is based on a range of elements, including how much of the substance is subjected, how it is exposed, and for how long. It has been also documented that low-dose chemicals can have positive effects, called hormesis, and high-dose adverse effects.[7]
Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in tissues of selected fish species from Ganga river, India, and risk assessment for human health
Published in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2019
Pradip Kumar Maurya, D. S. Malik
Heavy metals analyzed in the present study included cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), which are required in very less quantity for the functioning of different biological systems. Pb and Cd are known to produce adverse effects in biological system. The aim of this study was to examine the accumulation of heavy metals in the selected fish species and their impact assessment regarding human health risk. The selected fish species were obtained from different places of river Ganga at Kanpur, Allahabad and Varanasi. The occupational exposure to cadmium, chromium, lead, and copper caused respiratory problems and effects, lung function, and changes in the nasal mucosa. The histopathological examination of respiratory tract tissues revealed chronic inflammation of the lung. Heavy metal toxicity does not only have adverse effects on human health but also affects animals, plants, and aquatic microorganisms (Yadav et al.2018). Metal toxicity depends on the absorbed dose, the route of exposure, and the duration of exposure, such as acute or chronic. This can lead to various disorders and can also result in excessive damage due to oxidative stress induced by free radical formation (Jaishankar et al.2014). Deliberate consumption of arsenic in the case of suicidal attempts or accidental consumption by children may also result in cases of acute poisoning (Mazumder 2008). Lead is an extremely toxic heavy metal that disturbs various plant physiological processes, and unlike other metals, such as zinc, copper, and manganese, it does not play any biological functions (Jaishankar et al.2014). High doses may lead to death, usually 2–4 weeks after the onset of symptoms. Even at low concentrations, lead treatment was found to cause huge instability in ion uptake by plants, which, in turn, leads to significant metabolic changes in photosynthetic capacity and ultimately in a strong inhibition of plant growth (Yadav et al.2017a). Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water is mainly related to increased risks of skin cancer, and also some other cancers, as well as other skin lesions such as hyperkeratosis and pigmentation changes (Jarup 2003). Cadmium exposure may occur at lower exposure levels than previously anticipated, primarily in the form of kidney damage but possibly also bone effects and fractures (Jarup 2003; Maurya et al.2016). The Minamata catastrophe in Japan in the 1950s was caused by methyl mercury poisoning from fish contaminated by mercury discharges to the surrounding sea (Yadav et al.2017b). This study aims to determine various trace metals in fish tissue and to compare the estimated intakes with reference toxicological and nutritional values. This study also evaluate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk for humans through fish consumption.