Heavy Metals: Major Environmental and Organismal Health Impacts

Abstract

Heavy metals are elements (more than 40 in number) with a density greater than 4.5 g/cm 3. Heavy metals naturally occur in the Earth's crust. However, human activities are causing a significant increase in their presence in environmental compartments such as air, water, and soil. Toxic heavy metals (and elevated levels of beneficial heavy metals) have significant harmful effects on the health of the environment and organisms, including flora and fauna. This chapter aims to: (i) provide an overview of heavy metals and their classification, sources, and bioac-cumulation; (ii) highlight the major impacts of selected heavy metals on the health of environmental compartments such as air, soil, and water; (iii) discuss the important impacts of heavy metals on the health of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans; and (iv) outline major aspects that remain unexplored in this area.