12 Metal pollutants in the environment
Prasann Kumar, E. Lokesh Goud, Priyanka Devi, Bhupendra Koul
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution in the environment is becoming a serious problem and a major concern as it is causing negative effects all over the world. These inorganic pollutants are being discarded in soil, water, and the atmosphere as a result of the rapidly growing agriculture and metal industries, improper waste disposal, pesticides, and fertilizers. This chapter explains how these pollutants enter our environment and cause serious diseases, such as cancer, by interfering with biological functions, causing growth, and accumulating in various organs. This chapter describes the toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of each metal as well as some biochemical properties; physiological effects of these metals in human as well as in plants are also discussed.