Mutagenic, Carcinogenic, and Teratogenic Effect of Heavy Metals

Abstract

Heavy metal (HM)-induced toxicity and its associated complications have become a major issue in the medical world. HMs are not biodegradable, enter into the food chain, and gets accumulated in the living systems. Increased concentrations and accumulation of HMs can cause severely damaging effects and severe complications in living organisms and can even lead to the death of the organism. In Ayurvedic medicine, ingredients of natural origin, including whole plants or certain portions of the plant, animal sources, and minerals, are used for therapeutic purposes as medicine, both alone and in combination. HM such as cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, nickel, and arsenic cause hazardous effects on animals, human health, and the environment. This review focuses on mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects of HM , mechanism, organ toxicity, available remedies in the market, and their side effects. Also, emphasis is given to alternative systems of medicine to treat HM toxicity.

Environmentally relevant lead alters nuclear integrity in erythrocytes and generates oxidative stress in liver of Anabas testudineus: Involvement of Nrf2‐Keap1 regulation and expression of biomarker genes

“…Increased lipid peroxidation causes the oxidation of hemoglobin molecules and ultimately causes hemolysis. Pb is also reported to bind phosphatidylcholine in the cell membrane altering its properties (Dasharathy et al, 2022). We evaluated how Pb increased the frequency of abnormal nuclei in climbing perch.…”

“…It is inexpensive and therefore extensively used in the industry. Few, among its several uses are lead‐acid batteries, paints, ammunition, glazed ceramics, cosmetics, water pipes, and leaded gasoline (Boskabady et al, 2018; Dasharathy et al, 2022). On an average, 10 million tons of Pb‐compounds are produced annually (Raza‐Naqvi et al, 2022).…”

A review of important heavy metals toxicity with special emphasis on nephrotoxicity and its management in cattle

“…The nephrotoxic effects of Pb, As, and Cd are well established and have high amounts of naturally occurring environmental metals; in addition, occupational populations with a high level of exposure have an adverse relationship between kidney damage and toxic metal exposure ( 43 , 44 ). Heavy metals have mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity; they induce poor body conditions, reduced reproduction rate, and lead to immunosuppression in domestic animals even at lower dosages ( 45 , 46 ) because heavy metals easily cross food chains and are not recognized to perform any vital biological functions ( 47 , 48 ). Toxic elements like Cd, Pb, Hg, and As can contaminate milk ( 49 , 50 ).…”

Health risk of heavy metals from the consumption of cucumber in Darrehshahr Township, west of Iran

“…Plants are the most important route of heavy metals transport into the human food chain and subsequently biological cycles [4,5]. Among heavy metals, some of them, such as Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), and Cobalt (Co), are necessary as trace elements for most biological systems, including humans body [6]; While some heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and Arsenic (As) are very toxic for plants, animals, and humans health [7,8]. Cadmium is known as a carcinogen in the development of most cancers and cardiovascular and blood pressure diseases [9][10][11].…”

“…The concentration of heavy elements in vegetables body is one of the most important health factors [13]. Plants can accumulate large amounts of Cd without any damages to themselves and the consumption of these plants as food diet can bio-magnify this element in the human body [7].…”