Scientific library - abstracts - harmful effects of heavy metals on the human body. The effect of heavy metals on human health

Heavy metals have a serious impact on human health.
In the near future you will be able to see the target organs for heavy metals in the figure

Barium
It has high chemical activity; all barium salts are very toxic and easily soluble in water and biological fluids.

Iron
Iron is practically not absorbed from water; in addition, the World Health Organization does not note the harmful effects of iron contained in water on the human body.
An increased concentration of iron gives water a brown tint, making it unsuitable for consumption in terms of organoleptic indicators (but not in terms of health effects). Also, the so-called “rusty” water leads to the coloring of plumbing fixtures in the corresponding color.

Calcium
Gives water hardness, settles on dishes when boiling, leads to clogging and breakdown of boilers and household water equipment. Calcium compounds (bicarbonate, sulfate) are practically not absorbed by the body.

Cadmium
It binds sulfur-containing enzymes and amino acids and accumulates in the body. If poisoned, it causes vomiting and convulsions.
Cadmium compounds affect the central nervous system, liver and kidneys, disrupt phosphorus-calcium metabolism. At chronic poisoning anemia and bone destruction.

Magnesium
Excess magnesium has mainly laxative effect, and is also an antagonist of calcium and phosphorus, displacing them from the body.

Manganese
Refers to heavy metals. It has a neurotoxic effect and also affects cardiovascular system, parenchymal organs (liver, lungs, kidneys). Consumption of water with a manganese concentration higher than 0.1 mg/l (maximum permissible concentration) can trigger the occurrence of serious illnesses skeletal system.
Symptoms of excess manganese are nonspecific, similar to other diseases: fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, headaches; pain in the lower back, limbs, right hypochondrium, decreased appetite; urination disorder, sexual weakness; insomnia, depressed mood, tearfulness. Pregnant women who drink water with a high concentration of manganese increase the risk of having mentally handicapped children.
Without analysis, one can suspect a high Mn content in water - an astringent taste and a yellowish color. Such water is not suitable for drinking and is harmful to pipes, plumbing, and washing machines.
The content of free manganese in water is affected by the connection of surface waters with groundwater, presence of photosynthetic organisms, aerobic conditions, biomass decomposition ( dead organisms and plants); leaching of minerals and ores that contain manganese; wastewater from mines, chemical industry, metallurgy.
Water purification from iron and manganese is carried out using deferrizers, which remove Fe 2+, Fe 3+ and manganese from water. It is also possible to use filters based on manganese oxides and reverse osmosis units. The choice of method of influence depends on the goals.

Copper
Copper is toxic to the enzymatic function of the digestive and excretory systems(By latest research, this is quite controversial). Copper in combination with vitamin B6 preparations suppresses the properties of the latter, and it becomes more toxic. Large doses copper causes changes in general analysis blood - leukopenia with a rod-nuclear shift to the left.
Drinking water containing excess copper (more than 2 mg/l) irritates the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and causes vomiting. A lack of copper in water is also undesirable, since it has a bactericidal effect. The health risks from excess copper are lower than those from too little copper. Copper ions give excess copper in water a distinct “metallic taste.”

Arsenic
A well-known metal that was widely used to poison kings, kings and royalty. Also used to bait rats and mice. Also causes endemic goiter due to accumulation in the thyroid gland. In case of poisoning, it causes abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression of the central nervous system. In small doses it has a carcinogenic effect.

Mercury and its compounds are very toxic not only in the form of vapors, but also cause severe poisoning. Affects the nervous system, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract. Organic mercury compounds are even more toxic due to their more effective interaction with the body's enzymatic systems.

Lead
Toxic as in pure form, and in connections. One of the versions of the fall of the Roman Empire is related to the fact that the pipes in the aqueducts and dishes were made of lead. Accumulates in bones and causes their destruction.

Selenium

Antimony
Has a cumulative and irritating effect. Target organ - thyroid, antimony accumulates in it and causes endemic goiter. Dust and vapors are mainly dangerous; they are not found in food in this form.

Chromium
In case of chronic chromium poisoning, headaches, emaciation, and inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines are observed. Chromium compounds cause various skin diseases, dermatitis and eczema, occurring acutely and chronically and having a vesicular, papular, pustular or nodular nature.
Trivalent chromium compounds cause dermatitis. Quadrivalent chromium compounds lead predominantly to cancer.

Zinc
Zinc is a natural antioxidant and helps the body resist the dirty environment. Participates in metabolic processes, affects the immune system, is part of carbonic anhydrase, has a wound-healing effect, has antiviral effect, participates in processes taste perception and sense of smell, is necessary for the functioning of the central nervous system, including memory processes.
Chronic poisoning is characterized by complaints of fatigue, lack of appetite, headaches, dizziness, heaviness and tightness in the chest, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. On examination - exhaustion, signs of hepatitis, hypotension, hyperthyroidism, dystrophic or allergic dermatitis.
Accumulates in bones; with a lack of zinc, bone demineralization occurs.
Despite beneficial features zinc, with its excess, fibrous degeneration of the pancreas occurs.
Zinc inhibits the activity of iron-containing enzymes cytochrome oxidase and catalase, which increase the ability of bone cells to synthesize collagen.
Zinc phosphide and oxide Unlike zinc metal, they are poisonous. The ingestion of soluble zinc salts into the body leads to indigestion and irritation of the mucous membranes.

Radionuclides
These are natural radioactive elements that are always present in the environment, including creating a background of natural radiation.
Well water contains larger number radionuclides compared to plain water or water from a well.
Natural radioactive elements are contained in building materials, especially in concrete structures. Poor ventilation, especially in homes with tightly closed windows, can increase the radiation dose caused by inhaling radioactive aerosols due to the decay of radon gas, which in turn is formed during the natural decay of radium contained in soil and building materials. Phosphorus fertilizers contain natural radionuclides of the uranium and thorium series, which is additional factor irradiation of the human body. These radionuclides accumulate in the soil and then enter the body with dust and food. No one advertises that thermal power plants emit radioactive ash into the atmosphere, which is very important for the left bank of the city of Voronezh.
During thermal and culinary processing, the content of radionuclides in food and water is reduced by 30-50%.
Cases of occurrence radiation sickness from contaminated water in our region has not been recorded (unlike Chernobyl), but it should be remembered that excess radiation depresses immune system, contributing to the emergence of many diseases.
The level of contamination of artesian well water is usually determined by uranium, radon, radium-226 and radium-228

"Influence heavy metals on human health"

heavy metal surrounding the body

The world around us contains a large number of different chemical elements. But the most dangerous of them, undoubtedly, are heavy metals. They directly affect the human body, changing its functions and properties. Heavy metals - a group of chemical elements with the properties of metals and significant atomic weight or density.

Heavy metals include mercury, lead, cadmium, cobalt, copper, zinc, iron.Our body is by no means indifferent to the quantitative content of microelements, because depending on the concentration, a substance can be both beneficial and harmful.

Cobalt. Even its small concentration in the body leads to anemia, endemic goiter, insufficient synthesis or absence of vitamin AT 12, since at a high concentration of this metal the production of the above-mentioned vitamin is inhibited. And without AT 12growth will stop, normal hematopoiesis will be disrupted, the maturation of erythrocytes, the synthesis of labile methyl groups, the accumulation in erythrocytes of compounds that contain sulfhydryl groups and the formation of choline, methionine, creatine, nucleic acids. Also, without it, the liver and nervous system will cease to function normally.

Copper. At low concentrations, anemia and diseases of the skeletal system are possible, and an excess of this element of the periodic table affects the liver, causing jaundice.

Zinc, also called "two-faced Janus" It stimulates cell division and healing of affected tissues, and also promotes the formation of cancer cells.

But zinc , as well as magnesium, chromium And vanadium reduce blood cholesterol levels, cadmium increases blood pressure, and the disadvantage copper affects the elasticity of blood vessels.

Cadmium - like a time bomb. It dissipates into the environment along with superphosphate and fungicides (antifungal elements)and is a companion of widely used zinc and is always present in products containing zinc. In the human body, this chemical element accumulates in the kidneys; with its excess, the “Itai-Itai” disease develops - curvature and deformation of bones, accompanied by severe pain, extraordinary fragility and brittleness of bones.

Mercury - when inhaled, the vapor is concentrated in the brain, resulting in neuropsychic disorders, dizziness, constant headaches, memory loss, speech disturbances, stiffness and general lethargy. Most severe cases ended in complete blindness, paralysis, madness and death. Sufficient amounts of mercury are released into the environment by in the usual way- when breaking medical mercury thermometers. It is also released into the atmosphere during the smelting of non-ferrous metal ores, cement production and coal combustion. But an interesting fact is that MERCURY IS FOUND IN MOLECULES DNA. It is not yet known whether it is involved in the transmission of hereditary information, but it is quite possible.

Lead, - ingested through inhalation is 10-100 times more toxic than that ingested through the stomach. It enters the blood and combines with red blood cells, which leads to poisoning of the blood and the entire body. So, when one liter of fuel is burned, 200-400 milligrams of lead enter the air. But no matter how it enters the body, it still accumulates in the bones.

Iron - an element necessary for the body, but an excess of its ions causes slagging of the body at the cellular level. It is contained in hemoglobin in the blood, in tissues and tissue enzymes and is deposited (accumulated) in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. To absorb iron you need: copper, cobalt, manganese, vitamin C, and this, in turn, is needed for proper metabolism B vitamins, for growth, disease resistance and fatigue prevention. An excessive dose of it - 200 milligrams or more - can have toxic effect, inhibits the body's antioxidant (antioxidant) system. To provide the body with this element of the periodic table, it is best to regularly eat vegetables and fruits, animal products: ham and tomatoes.

An increase in the concentration of heavy metals in the environment increases the number of mutations that are inherited. Mutants are susceptible to physical and mental developmental defects.If you monitor the mutation of, for example, fish, it will become obvious that many of them have their gene pool disrupted in polluted waters.

Thus, we understand that, as one of the proverbs says, “everything is good in moderation.” If any of the above substances are abused, either a disease or a mutation may develop, so we must take care of ourselves and comply with all the required standards for the use of this or that element.

Warning: this is the author's table, which sets out the author's subjective view and experience of communicating with metals. The author draws his conclusions on the basis of scientific articles, data from the global metals market, historical facts and recipes traditional medicine. Remember that no matter how safe a particular metal may seem to you, you should not come into contact with it unless necessary. I was surprised to discover that there is practically nothing on the Internet on the topic of the safety and danger of specific metals for humans. I undertake to clarify this issue to everyone interested in this topic. So, first, let's look at which metals are best never to deal with. Hazardous metals In my analysis, I will use the most adequate and convenient, in my opinion, version of the periodic table, approved by the international organization Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Let's start by crossing all non-metals off our list. 1. Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium - these elements are called non-metals. 2. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine, ununseptium are halogens. 3. Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, ununoctium are inert gases. Next come the hypothetically possible chemical elements - superactinoids (unbiunium, unbibium, unbitrium, unbiquadium, unbipentium, unbihexium). They don't exist. Deadly dangerous!!! Actinoids (thorium, protactinium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium, californium, einsteinium, fermium, mendelevium, nobelium, lawrencium) - they are all radioactive and deadly. Forget about them. Lanthanides (lanthanum, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, gadolinium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium). Of the lanthanides, dysprosium, neodymium, europium can be relatively safe, and even those with a reservation. In general, I would not contact any of the lanthanides unless necessary. They definitely won't bring you any health benefits. Alkali metals (lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium, ununennium). These metals tend to oxidize when in contact with oxygen, that is, in air, but what’s even worse is that some of them spontaneously combust. Others, such as francium, are radioactive. They should be stored under a layer of paraffin or in kerosene, where they oxidize less, but become covered with a film and lose their natural color, so you cannot see them. Bottom line: I would not come into contact with these metals unless necessary. Some of them can seriously hurt you. Semi-metals (germanium, arsenic, tellurium, polonium). Not recommended to have at home. For example, silicon (not to be confused with the useful stone “flint”), despite the fact that it is part of silumin products, can be very dangerous for humans. Its dust affects the lungs. Antimony can poison the body, cause enlargement of the thyroid gland and sexual dysfunction, arsenic is poison, and polonium is radioactive. Germanium and tellurium are also suspect. Boron can be considered the safest of the semimetals. It is made from boric acid, which is sold in pharmacies. However, this does not mean that boron is completely safe. This is wrong. Total: we cross out semimetals from completely safe metals. Alkaline earth metals. Dangerous: beryllium, radium, unbinilium. Beryllium is a highly toxic element, if you don’t want to go bald and have other health problems, forget about it. Strontium - can be toxic and radioactive. Barium - in case of severe poisoning with barium salts, death occurs suddenly or within one day. Radium - the name itself speaks for itself. Radium is radioactive, and Marie Curie died from exposure to radium. Unbinilium does not exist. Post-transition metals. Dangerous: thallium, ununtrium, flerovium, ununpentium, livermorium. Thallium is highly toxic and affects the nervous system. Ununtrium is a little-studied, recently discovered element (in the 21st century). Flerovium is highly radioactive. Ununpentium is a little-studied, recently obtained element. Livermorium is a little-studied, artificially synthesized element. Transition metals. Hazardous: technetium (radiotoxic), cadmium (toxic), mercury (mercury vapor is lethal). Little-studied (no less dangerous) artificially synthesized transition metals: rutherfordium (highly radioactive), dubnium, seaborgium (radioactive), bohrium (radioactive), hassium, meitnerium, darmstadtium, roentgenium, copernicium. Neutral metals Calcium, strontium, barium, cerium, neodymium, dysprosium, europium, silicon, boron, antimony, gallium, lead, bismuth, scandium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, yttrium (can oxidize in air), zirconium, rhenium. These are neutral metals, but not harmless. The effect of scandium and rhenium on the human body is poorly understood. Excess cobalt in the body can cause heart disease. Zirconium is not able to regulate your blood pressure, but zirconium dust can spontaneously ignite in air. Safe (conditionally) metals These are mainly transition metals, as well as some post-transition and alkaline earth metals. Alkaline earth metals (magnesium). Magnesium is one of the most important biogenic elements; it is found in significant quantities in the tissues of animals and plants. A piece of magnesium can be applied to the body for insomnia and chronic fatigue. Post-transition metals (aluminium, indium, tin). Aluminum can cleanse the lungs, but it cannot be taken orally. Simply apply slightly heated pure aluminum to your chest for 10-15 minutes a day for two to three weeks. Then take a break. Eating from aluminum utensils, despite the prevalence of such utensils in Russia, is prohibited; it is harmful to health. Indium is a metal even softer than aluminum. Does not pose any particular health hazard upon contact. Tin is a metal that can heal the liver. To do this, you need to apply a piece of tin to the right hypochondrium for 10 minutes a day. Attention! At temperatures below - 30C, white tin disintegrates, forming the phenomenon of “tin plague”, and turns into gray dust (gray tin), which can poison your lungs with fatal. You cannot keep tin in the cold. Transition metals (titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, copper, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, tantalum, tungsten, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold). Vanadium - capable of shooting headache. To do this, if you have a migraine, you should hold a piece of vanadium in your hand for 10-15 minutes. Chrome is the hardest metal. (Conditionally) safe. Tungsten is the most refractory metal. Tungsten is used to make filaments for incandescent lamps. Avoid getting tungsten into water and liquids as this is hazardous to health. Otherwise, tungsten is (conditionally) safe. Titanium is the strongest metal. Like niobium and tantalum, titanium can be classified as a semi-precious metal. These metals are often used in the production of household products and are completely safe to store. Iron is our everything. Iron is used to make cast iron (the safest) dishes and steel knives. Copper is one of the most ancient and healing metals, eliminates headaches. (Conditionally) safe. Molybdenum is a production metal. (Conditionally) safe. Silver is a purifying metal. Silver ions can purify blood and disinfect water. No wonder all the kings loved to drink and eat from silver dishes. Gold, in fact, does not bring any special benefit, except material, but it also does not bring harm. Ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum are platinoids. (Conditionally) safe and precious metals. Only osmium can oxidize in air, and that in fine form. Also, osmium, unlike its counterparts, has a foul odor. P.S. Study the names of metals carefully! Rhodium is safe to store, radium is lethal! Boron is neutral, and bohrium is radioactive! A mistake like this could cost you your life. Therefore, metals should be treated like mushrooms: if you are not sure, do not contact or handle them. Good luck to everyone.

Mercury, lead and cadmium are the most harmful to humans and intoxication with these metals is the most common. Consumption of contaminated food is the main way heavy metals enter the body. They do not decompose when heat treatment products.
Some metals, such as cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, zinc and chromium, have important for good health. However, even they can become toxic if they enter the body in large quantities. Others, such as cadmium, mercury and lead, are not as important and are very dangerous in high concentrations. They are the cause of numerous heavy metal poisonings. Heavy metals dangerous because they accumulate in the body. This means that, over time, the increase in their concentration in tissues reaches above average levels.
Lead is also present in beer
This one is heavy metal can enter the body from products packaged or stored in containers containing lead. It can be found in beer and vodka (in lower concentrations). Lead poisoning, like other heavy metals, manifests itself differently, depending on the concentration of what enters the body metal and the health of the victim. It is for this reason that it is often very difficult to make a correct diagnosis.
Lead accumulated in the body can lead to anemia, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, headaches, weight loss, muscle weakness, pale skin, problems with thyroid gland, irritability, impotence, decreased libido, insomnia, confusion, depression. At severe poisoning there may be chronic renal failure, temporary or even permanent blindness, seizures and fatal outcome.
Cadmium is a carcinogen
This metal is found in batteries, paints, plastics (PET) and some chemical fertilizers. The environment can be contaminated with cadmium as a result of human industrial activities. Long-term exposure to this metal can cause some kidney, lung, and hypertension diseases. blood pressure. It is also noted that it promotes bone demineralization and, accordingly, fractures. Cadmium is classified as a carcinogen. Its accumulation in the body is associated with lung, prostate and pancreatic cancer.
Mercury causes neurological disorders
Dental amalgam fillings and some types of pesticides may contain mercury, and agricultural products treated with them will be contaminated. Methylmercury poisoning (an organic compound of mercury) is very dangerous and causes impaired peripheral vision, drooling, swollen gums, tremors, nervousness, skin rash, fatigue, headache and joint pain, problems with coordination of movements, affects the central nervous system and renal failure. Children exposed to methylmercury in the womb or during the first months of life may suffer birth defects or have neurological problems.
Diagnosis of poisoning
Hair mineral analysis is the most accurate way to know the concentration of heavy metals in the body. Blood tests may be useless in this case because metals accumulate in bones, hair and nails.

Of all 104 chemical elements known to mankind today, 82 are metals. They occupy a prominent place in the lives of people in the industrial, biological and environmental spheres. Modern science divides metals into heavy, light and noble. In this article we will look at the list of heavy metals and their features.

Determination of heavy metals

Initially, it was customary to call heavy metals those representatives that have an atomic mass above 50. However, the use of this term today occurs more often not from a chemical point of view, but depending on their impact on pollution environment. Thus, the list of heavy metals includes those metals and metalloids (semi-metals) that pollute elements of the human biosphere (soil, water). Let's look at them.

How many elements does the list of heavy metals include?

Today there is no consensus on the number of elements in this list, since there are no general criteria classifying metals as heavy. However, the list of heavy metals can be formed depending on various properties metals and their characteristics. These include:

• Atomic weight. Based on this criterion, these include more than 40 elements with an atomic mass exceeding 50 amu (g/mol).
• Density. Based on this criterion, those metals whose density is equal to or exceeds that of iron are considered heavy.
• Biological toxicity combines heavy metals that negatively affect the life of humans and living organisms. There are about 20 elements in their list.

Effect on the human body

Most of these substances have negative impact for all living organisms. Due to their significant atomic mass, they are poorly transported and accumulate in human tissues, causing various diseases. Thus, for the human body, cadmium, mercury and lead are recognized as the most dangerous and heaviest metals.

The list of toxic elements is grouped by degree of danger according to the so-called Mertz rules, according to which the most toxic metals have the smallest exposure range:

1. Cadmium, mercury, thallium, lead, arsenic (a group of the most dangerous metal poisons, excess acceptable standards which can lead to serious psycho-physiological disorders and even death).
2. Cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, scandium, zinc.
3. Barium, manganese, strontium, vanadium, tungsten

This does not mean, however, that none of the elements grouped above, according to Mertz's rules, should be present in human body. On the contrary, the list of heavy metals includes these and more than 20 other elements, a small concentration of which is not only not dangerous for human life, but is also necessary in metabolic processes, especially iron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and even zinc.

Environmental pollution with heavy metals

Elements of the biosphere that are polluted by heavy metals are soil and water. Most often, the culprits for this are metallurgical enterprises that process light and heavy List Polluting agents also come from waste incinerators, automobile exhaust, boiler houses, chemical manufacturing companies, printing companies, and even power plants.

The most common toxins are: lead (automotive production), mercury (example of distribution: thermometers broken in everyday life and fluorescent lighting fixtures), cadmium (formed as a result of burning garbage). In addition, most factories in production use one or another element that can be characterized as heavy. The metal group, the list of which was given above, most often enters water bodies in the form of waste and then reaches humans.

In addition to man-made factors of pollution of nature with heavy metals, there are also natural ones - these are volcanic eruptions, in the lava of which it was found increased content cadmium

Features of the distribution of the most toxic metals in nature

Mercury in nature is most localized in water and air. Mercury enters the waters of the world's oceans from industrial drains, and mercury vapors formed as a result of coal combustion are also found. Toxic compounds accumulate in living organisms, especially in seafood.

Lead has a wide distribution area. It accumulates in the mountains, and in the soil, and in water, and in living organisms, and even in the air, in the form of exhaust gases from cars. Of course, lead also enters the environment as a result of anthropological action in the form of industrial waste and non-recycled waste (accumulators and batteries).

And the source of environmental pollution with cadmium are also natural factors: weathering of copper ores, soil leaching, as well as the results of volcanic activity.

Scope of application of heavy metals

Despite the toxicity, modern industry creates a huge variety healthy products, processing heavy alloys of which includes alloys of copper, zinc, lead, tin, nickel, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, etc.

Copper is a highly plastic material that is used to make a variety of wires, pipes, kitchen utensils, jewelry, roofing and much more. In addition, it is widely used in mechanical engineering and shipbuilding.

Zinc has high anti-corrosion properties, so it is widely used for coating metal products (so-called galvanizing). Areas of application for zinc products: construction, mechanical engineering, printing (production of printed forms), rocket science, chemical industry (production of varnishes and paints) and even medicine ( antiseptics and etc.).

Lead melts easily, so it is used as a raw material in many industries: paint and varnish, chemical, automotive (part of batteries), radio electronics, medical (production of protective aprons for patients during X-ray examinations).