WHAT ARE HEAVY METALS?
Heavy metals are trace metals with a density at least five times that of water. They are stable elements that cannot be metabolized by the body and get passed up in the food chain to human beings (bio-accumulate). The most common, and harmful, heavy metals are Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, and Nickel. There are many more existing heavy metals that are not as prevalent or as harmful as the previously noted elements. Heavy metals, in general, have no basic function in the body and can be highly toxic.Heavy metals are present in the air, drinking water, food and countless human-made chemicals and products. They are taken into the body by inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. If heavy metals enter and accumulate in body tissues faster than the body’s detoxification pathways can dispose of them, a gradual buildup of these toxins will occur.High-concentration exposure is not necessary in order to produce a state of toxicity in the body. Most cases of heavy metal poi
A heavy metal is a member of an ill-defined subset of chemical elements that exhibit metallic properties. Many different definitions of the term heavy metal have been proposed, based on either density, atomic number, atomic weight, chemical properties or toxicity. The heavy metals which are monitored by CEH include: Aluminium (Al), Antimony (Sb), Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Rubidium (Rb), Scandium (Sc), Selenium (Se), Strontium (Sr), Tin (Sn), Titanium (Ti), Tungsten (W), Vanadium (V), Zinc (Zn). Heavy metals are natural constituents of the Earth’s crust. They are stable and cannot be degraded or destroyed, and therefore they tend to accumulate in soils and sediments. However, human activities have drastically altered the biochemical and geochemical cycles and balance of some heavy metals. The principal man-made sources of heavy metals are industrial point sources,
Heavy Metals are natural elements found in rock and soil. They may be released into the environment by human activities such as mining, smelting, hydroelectric dams and coal-burning power generation. They don’t break down, and tend to stay in the environment. Heavy metals can accumulate in animals’ and humans’ organs, such as the liver or kidney. Examples of heavy metals are cadmium, arsenic, selenium, lead and mercury.
Heavy metals such as zinc, iron, and copper are naturally occurring substances in the Earth’s crust. Some are needed by humans in trace amounts to maintain optimum body function, whilst others such as mercury, arsenic, and cadmium can be harmful. All metals can be toxic if levels are too high. Why do Heavy Metals Contaminate Fish? Marine animals such as fish are able to readily absorb metals and their bodies regulate to accommodate their presence. They are easily stored in fatty tissue and will bio-accumulate if the fish is exposed to further contamination. Copper And Zinc It has been found that the presence of copper in water affects the populations of fish even in very low doses. Metals such as copper and zinc can leach into water from the mining industry, via storm drains and from agricultural run-off from fields.
Heavy metals are trace metals with a density at least five times that of water. They are stable elements that cannot be metabolized by the body and get passed up in the food chain to human beings (bio-accumulate). The most common and harmful heavy metals are Aluminum Arsenic Cadmium Copper Lead Mercury and Nickel. There are many more existing heavy metals that are not as prevalent or as harmful as the previously noted elements. Heavy metals in general have no basic function in the body and can be highly toxic. Heavy metals are present in the air drinking water food and countless human-made chemicals and products. They are taken into the body by inhalation ingestion and skin absorption. If heavy metals enter and accumulate in body tissues faster than the body’s detoxification pathways can dispose of them a gradual buildup of these toxins will occur. High-concentration exposure is not necessary in order to produce a state of toxicity in the body. Most cases of heavy metal poisoning resul
