Reducing exposure to harmful heavy metals in soils and water

Heavy metals are the elements which have a high relative mass and a density at least 5 times greater than that of water. Their various using in the multiple applications such as industrial, domestic, agricultural, medicaland technological applications have led to their wide distribution within the environment; and also raising the concerns over their potential effects on human health and thus the environment. The contamination chain of heavy metals nearly always follows cyclic order within the environment as industry, atmosphere, soil, water, foods and human because it is obvious that chronic exposure to heavy metals and metalloids at low levels cause the adverse effects. Heavy metals are proved to be toxic to human and environmental health. Heavy metal toxicity is considered a major threat and there's several health risks related to it. Sometimes they'll act as pseudo elements inside the body and will interfere with metabolic processes. Few metals, like aluminum, are often removed by elimination activities, while a number of the metals get accumulated within the body and organic phenomenon, exhibiting a chronic nature. Different public health procedures are taken to regulate, prevent and treat metal toxicity which occurs at various levels, like occupational exposure and environmental factors. Metal toxicity depends on the dose absorbed, several routes of exposure and duration of the exposure, which may cause different disorders and leads to excessive damage thanks to oxidative stress induced by free radical formation. This book provides insight into the sources of heavy metals and reducing their harmful effects on environment and living organisms.