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Review
. 2020 Sep 8;6(9):e04691.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04691. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans

Jessica Briffa  1 , Emmanuel Sinagra  2 , Renald Blundell  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans

Jessica Briffa et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Environmental pollution of heavy metals is increasingly becoming a problem and has become of great concern due to the adverse effects it is causing around the world. These inorganic pollutants are being discarded in our waters, soils and into the atmosphere due to the rapidly growing agriculture and metal industries, improper waste disposal, fertilizers and pesticides. This review shows how pollutants enter the environment together with their fate. Some metals affect biological functions and growth, while other metals accumulate in one or more different organs causing many serious diseases such as cancer. The pharmacokinetics and toxicological processes in humans for each metal is described. In summary, the review shows the physiological and biochemical effects of each heavy metal bioaccumulation in humans and the level of gravity and disquieting factor of the disease.

Keywords: Agricultural science; Air; Earth sciences; Environmental science; Food science; Heavy metals; Soil; Toxicology; Water.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship of all the spheres.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The relationship between the person's performances concerning the concentration of the essential element in the diet.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Heavy metal source pathway and human exposure [13].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Metal-induced oxidative stress pathways [14].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Chromium formation of free radicals [14].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Cobalt reactions [14].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Copper Fenton reaction [14].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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