Metal Toxicity: Significant Health Assessment

Abstract

Background: The deleterious effects of these heavy metals are contingent on the quantity ingested, the issue of exposure mode, exposure duration, and whether it is acute or chronic. Additionally, heavy metals interfere with numerous cellular functions, encompassing growth, proliferation, differentiation, DNA damage repair, and programmed cell death. This disturbance can lead to various diseases and inflict significant damage. Heavy metal toxicity alters the operation of the central nervous system, resulting in cognitive dysfunction, alterations in blood parameters, and impairment of liver, kidney, and lung functions, among other crucial physiological activities, culminating in the exacerbation of diverse human illnesses. Prolonged presence and consumption of heavy metals in the organism's body worsen the progression of somatic, neuromuscular, and neurodegenerative processes that mimic specific situations such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Heavy metals mimic hormonal functions, causing changes in the functioning of the endocrine system. Consequently, efforts should be focused on reducing human exposure and the build-up of heavy metals in the body due to anthropogenic and industrial activities to prevent detrimental health issues. This article delivers a thorough analysis of seven individual metals, and their toxicity including lead, cadmium, chromium, iron, arsenic, aluminium, mercury, etc., elucidating their toxic mechanisms, environmental presence, the potential for human exposure, and toxicity-induced health consequences such as nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. a potential future research avenue could involve investigating the efficacy of chelation therapy on a large scale for the management of metal poisoning.