Heavy Metal’s Environmental Impact

Abstract

Heavy metals are inorganic elements with something like a density of more than 5 g/cm3. Essential and non-essential heavy metals were divided into two groups based on their toxicity. Heavy metals, unlike organic pollutants, are non-biodegradable and tend to accumulate in living things. Many heavy metal ions are hazardous or carcinogenic. The majority of heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, and zinc, are linked to pollution and hazardous concerns. There are more than 50 elements categorized as heavy metals, with 17 of them being extremely hazardous and easily accessible. Metal pollutants are often non-degradable and have no recognized homeostasis mechanism. Their mere presence in aquatic habitats is enough to have a direct or indirect impact on living systems. The anthropogenic pollution of heavy metals in ancient mining regions refers to areas where the concentration of one or more heavy metals exceeds normal values. Heavy metals disrupt cellular organelles and components in biological systems. Nanoscale zero-valent iron is a promising alternative for heavy metal cleanup. Heavy metal ions are poisonous, non-degradable, and tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify. The purpose of this chapter is to display some heavy metals and the environmental impact of these minerals, which includes soil, plants, and humans.

Surface water quality assessment in the Bach Dang river basin, Vietnam: using water quality index and geographical information system methods

“…During the dry season, the elevated levels of the As, Pb, and Cr indexes in the south and southeast in the regions of the Bach Dang river basin could be attributed to anthropogenic activities such as industrial and agricultural practices, the discharge of untreated sewage and wastewater, and transportation activities in this region. These actions can lead to the release of heavy metals into the environment, which can accumulate over time in the water and soil, resulting in increased heavy metal concentrations [65][66][67]. On the other hand, the low levels of the As, Pb, and Cr indices in the noth of the Bach Dang river basin in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam during the dry season may be the result of numerous causes, including fewer human activities, less industrialisation, and fewer agricultural practices.…”

Metal-tolerant morganella morganii isolates can potentially mediate nickel stress tolerance in Arabidopsis by upregulating antioxidative enzyme activities

“…Heavy metals can enter the soil through various sources such as mining activities, atmospheric deposition, petrochemical operations, coal combustion, spillage events, sewage sludge, irrigation with wastewater, paint usage, fertilizer utilization, pesticide application, animal manure disposal, and waste management practices, resulting in high metal concentration. 1 , 2 Once introduced into the soil, heavy metals persist for prolonged periods, as they are not amenable to biological degradation and can only undergo changes in oxidation state. 3 Among the various heavy metals, nickel (Ni) is one of the most toxic and widespread pollutants in the soil.…”

Pollution Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Irrigation Water in Rajshahi City of Bangladesh

“…The harmful effects of heavy metals on humans depend on their dosage, rate of emission, and period of exposure. Because of their ubiquitous exposure, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and mercury (Hg) have received much attention in recent days (Khalef et al 2022). Lead can cause hypertension and affect blood vessels.…”