RRL

Heavy Metal Poisoning

Low concentrations of heavy metals are quintessential to maintain various biochemical

and physiological functions in living organisms, however they become hazardous when levels

exceed threshold. Accumulation of heavy metals in soft tissues in the body can result in heavy

metal poisoning. It has been proven to be a major threat and several health risks are associated

with it by interfering with metabolic processes (Jaishankar, Tseten, Anbalagan, Mathew, &

Beeregowda, 2014). Some heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and

mercury are reported to demonstrate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative

stress which plays a key role in toxicity and carcinogenicity of these metals. DNA damage and

conformational changes that lead to cell cycle modulation, carcinogenesis, and apoptosis are also

associated with interactions of metal ions to cellular components (Tchounwou, Yedjou, Patlolla,

& Sutton, 2014). Excess of metal ions can also disrupt membranes and mitochondrial function

with the generation of free radicals (Baldwin & Marshall, 1999). Fetal exposure to heavy metals

is also related with lower birthweight and shorter birth length which is a consistent risk factor for

cardio metabolic diseases and obesity in adulthood (Luo, et al., 2017). Each metal is known to have

unique properties and interactions which confer to its toxicity mechanism, and prolonged exposure

these can cause deleterious effects on humans.

Possible Sources of Heavy Metals

 The earths crust naturally contains heavy metals, but human activities have drastically

changed geochemical cycles and biochemical balance which results in the integration and

accumulation of these metals in the food chain. People are generally exposed to some metals like

cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic through ingestion of contaminated food and drinking water

(Jarup, 2003). Various sources of heavy metals include soil erosion, weathering, mining,

industrial effluents, urban runoff, sewage discharge, pesticides, and many more (Singh, Gautam,

Mishra, & Gupta, 2011). Accumulation of these metals in the soil degrades the soil quality which

results in poor agricultural products and poses significant hazards to humans and the ecosystem

health (Singh, Gautam, Mishra, & Gupta, 2011).

References
Baldwin, D., & Marshall, W. (1999). Heavy metal poisoning and its laboratory investigation. Ann Clin
Biochem, 36, 267-300.

Jaishankar, M., Tseten, T., Anbalagan, N., Mathew, B., & Beeregowda, K. (2014). Toxicity, mechanism
and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol, 7(2), 60-72. doi:10.2478/intox-
2014-0009

Jarup, L. (2003). Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin, 68(1), 167-182.

Luo, Y., McCullough, L., Tzeng, J., Darrah, T., Vengosh, A., Maguire, R., . . . Hoyo, C. (2017). Maternal
blood cadmium, lead and arsenic levels, nutrient combinations, and offspring birthweight. BMC
Public Health, 17(2017), 354. doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4225-8

Singh, R., Gautam, N., Mishra, A., & Gupta, R. (2011). Heavy metals and living systems: An overview.
Indian J Pharmacol., 43(3), 246-253. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.81505

Tchounwou, P., Yedjou, C., Patlolla, A., & Sutton, D. (2014). Heavy Metals Toxicity and the Environment.
EXS(101), 133-164. doi:10.1007/978-3-7643-8340-4_6