| Chapter title |
Heavy Metals Toxicity and the Environment
|
|---|---|
| Chapter number | 6 |
| Book title |
Molecular, Clinical and Environmental Toxicology
|
| Published in |
EXS, April 2012
|
| DOI | 10.1007/978-3-7643-8340-4_6 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Book ISBNs |
978-3-76-438339-8, 978-3-76-438340-4, 978-3-76-438339-8, 978-3-76-438340-4
|
| Authors |
Paul B Tchounwou, Clement G Yedjou, Anita K Patlolla, Dwayne J Sutton, Tchounwou PB, Yedjou CG, Patlolla AK, Sutton DJ, Paul B. Tchounwou, Clement G. Yedjou, Anita K. Patlolla, Dwayne J. Sutton, Tchounwou, Paul B., Yedjou, Clement G., Patlolla, Anita K., Sutton, Dwayne J. |
| Editors |
Andreas Luch |
| Abstract |
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight and a density at least five times greater than that of water. Their multiple industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical, and technological applications have led to their wide distribution in the environment, raising concerns over their potential effects on human health and the environment. Their toxicity depends on several factors including the dose, route of exposure, and chemical species, as well as the age, gender, genetics, and nutritional status of exposed individuals. Because of their high degree of toxicity, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury rank among the priority metals that are of public health significance. These metallic elements are considered systemic toxicants that are known to induce multiple organ damage, even at lower levels of exposure. They are also classified as human carcinogens (known or probable) according to the US Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This review provides an analysis of their environmental occurrence, production and use, potential for human exposure, and molecular mechanisms of toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 16 | 34% |
| Canada | 3 | 6% |
| Mexico | 2 | 4% |
| Australia | 1 | 2% |
| Spain | 1 | 2% |
| Sweden | 1 | 2% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 22 | 47% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 43 | 91% |
| Scientists | 3 | 6% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | 3 | <1% |
| Spain | 2 | <1% |
| United States | 2 | <1% |
| Mexico | 2 | <1% |
| India | 2 | <1% |
| Egypt | 2 | <1% |
| South Africa | 2 | <1% |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | <1% |
| Ghana | 1 | <1% |
| Other | 13 | <1% |
| Unknown | 6882 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 1242 | 18% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 859 | 12% |
| Student > Master | 830 | 12% |
| Researcher | 433 | 6% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 230 | 3% |
| Other | 813 | 12% |
| Unknown | 2505 | 36% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science | 778 | 11% |
| Chemistry | 683 | 10% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 631 | 9% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 439 | 6% |
| Engineering | 398 | 6% |
| Other | 1140 | 16% |
| Unknown | 2843 | 41% |