1: Define heavy metal and toxicity?
2: source of heavy metal contamination?
3: impotence of heavy metals?
4: why heavy metals considered harmful?
Explain with intext citation and references
1: Heavy metals are metallic elements with a high atomic weight, density, and toxicity. They are known for their ability to accumulate in the environment and living organisms, leading to various health problems.
2: The primary sources of heavy metal contamination include industrial activities, mining, agricultural runoff, and improper disposal of waste products. Heavy metals can also be released into the environment through atmospheric deposition, such as from burning fossil fuels.
3: The importance of heavy metals lies in their potential impact on human health and the environment. These elements can bioaccumulate in living organisms, leading to long-term health effects such as neurological disorders, organ damage, and cancer. Furthermore, heavy metal contamination can also degrade soil and water quality, affecting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
4: Heavy metals are considered harmful due to their ability to interfere with cellular processes and disrupt normal physiological functions. They can bind to proteins, enzymes, and DNA, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage. Chronic exposure to heavy metals has been linked to various health issues, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and reproductive problems.
References:
- Satarug, S., & Moore, M. R. (2004). Adverse health effects of chronic exposure to low-level cadmium in foodstuffs and cigarette smoke. Environmental health perspectives, 112(10), 1099-1103.
- Alloway, B. J. (2013). Heavy metals in soils: Trace metals and metalloids in soils and their bioavailability. Springer Science & Business Media.