Briffa Jessica, Sinagra Emmanuel, Blundell Renald
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta.
Faculty of Science, Chemistry and Pharmacology Building, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta.
Heliyon. 2020 Sep 8;6(9):e04691. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04691. eCollection 2020 Sep.
Environmental pollution of heavy metals is increasingly becoming a problem and has become of great concern due to the adverse effects it is causing around the world. These inorganic pollutants are being discarded in our waters, soils and into the atmosphere due to the rapidly growing agriculture and metal industries, improper waste disposal, fertilizers and pesticides. This review shows how pollutants enter the environment together with their fate. Some metals affect biological functions and growth, while other metals accumulate in one or more different organs causing many serious diseases such as cancer. The pharmacokinetics and toxicological processes in humans for each metal is described. In summary, the review shows the physiological and biochemical effects of each heavy metal bioaccumulation in humans and the level of gravity and disquieting factor of the disease.
重金属环境污染正日益成为一个问题，由于其在全球造成的不利影响，已引起人们的极大关注。由于农业和金属工业的迅速发展、不当的废物处理、化肥和农药的使用，这些无机污染物正被排放到我们的水体、土壤和大气中。本综述展示了污染物如何进入环境及其归宿。一些金属会影响生物功能和生长，而其他金属则在一个或多个不同器官中蓄积，导致许多严重疾病，如癌症。文中描述了每种金属在人体中的药代动力学和毒理学过程。总之，该综述展示了每种重金属在人体生物蓄积的生理和生化影响以及疾病的严重程度和令人不安的因素。
