Consequences of Toxic Heavy Metals on Environment and Human Health: A Review
Nanjala Rajkumar
Department of Zoology, Government Degree College, Badangpet, Rangareddy (Dist.), Telangana, India.
Ch M Kumari Chitturi
Department of Applied Microbiology, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (Women's University), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
K. Lavanya
Department of Zoology, Sri YKR&K Govt Degree College, Kovur, SPSR Nellore (Dist.), Andhra Pradesh, India.
V. Subhashini
Department of Zoology, A.G & S.G. Siddhartha Degree College of Arts and Science (Autonomous), Vuyyuru, Krishna (Dist.), Andhra Pradesh, India.
S. Shamshad
Department of Zoology, KVR Government College for Women (A), Cluster University, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India.
G. Seethamma *
Department of Zoology, KVR Government College for Women (A), Cluster University, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Heavy metals are significant environmental pollutants that persist in various ecosystems due to their toxicity and ability to remain in the environment, contaminating soil, water, and living organisms. These contaminants can bioaccumulate in the human body, posing serious health risks. While some heavy metals are generated by human activities, the majority occur naturally. Living organisms can be exposed to heavy metals through the food chain as they interact with environmental elements such as soil, water, and air, which can amplify their harmful effects. Humans are particularly vulnerable to the combined effects of multiple heavy metals rather than exposure to a single metal. This combination can lead to oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, resulting in damage to various organs. This review highlights the fate of heavy metals and their toxicological effects on different organ systems. Some metals influence developmental and biological processes, while others accumulate in specific organs, potentially leading to a range of illnesses. In this work, we have reviewed the toxicity of several heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury and their impact on the environment and human health.
Keywords: Heavy metals, health risks, environment, oxidative stress