A review on the public health implications of heavy metals
1 Department of Microbiology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, PMB 1022, Keffi, Nigeria.
2 Department of Biochemistry, Abia state University Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.
3 Department of Microbiology, Gregory University Uturu, PMB 1012 Amaokwe Achara Uturu, Abia State Nigeria.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 10(03), 255–265
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2021.10.3.0249
Publication history:
Received on 26 April 2021; revised on 08 June 2021; accepted on 11 June 2021
Abstract:
In the recent years, the pollution of the environment by heavy metals has become a crucial problem across the world. Heavy metals consist of a group of metals and metalloids which have atomic density greater than 4000 kg m-3. Heavy metals such as Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb) are present in the biota. These metals are also known as trace elements which play a very important role in various metabolic processes of plants, animals and microorganisms. Heavy metals may gain entrance into the human body through consumption of contaminated drinking water or ingestion of soil or crops grown on contaminated land. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and copper are collective poisons, which causes environmental hazards and are reported to be exceptionally toxic. These metals are important sources of oxidative stress in the cell and play an important role in a etiology of diverse human pathologies such as carcinogenesis. Exposure to heavy metal toxicity leads to brain damage, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung cancer, gastrointestinal abnormalities, dermatitis and death of the unborn fetus. Many metals have been shown to directly modify and/or damage DNA by forming DNA adducts that induce chromosomal breaks. The unrestricted access to the dumpsite means that each day, scavengers search for raw materials, much of which eventually finds its way back to neighborhoods as animal feed and even human food. Stray chicken, pigs, goats, dogs and cats roam the dumpsite eating the toxic matter and becoming vectors of pests and parasites that are eventually transferred to the surrounding home and hence causing diseases to both animals and human beings.
Keywords:
Heavy metals; DNA; Lead; Zinc; human; animal
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