How do arsenic lead and mercury affect the body?

How do arsenic lead and mercury affect the body?

This leads to the damage of vascular endothelium, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and an increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases. The cardiovascular effects of arsenic, lead, and mercury exposure and its impact on cardiovascular mortality need to be included in the diagnosis and the treatment of CVD.

What are the effects of lead and mercury toxicity on human health?

Symptoms include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction. Mild, subclinical signs of central nervous system toxicity can be seen in workers exposed to an elemental mercury level in the air of 20 μg/m3 or more for several years.

What health problems can mercury cause?

However, when elemental mercury is ingested, little is absorbed into the body. The inhalation of elemental mercury vapours can cause neurological and behavioural disorders, such as tremors, emotional instability, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular changes and headaches. They can also harm the kidneys and thyroid.

How does heavy metals affect human health?

Several acute and chronic toxic effects of heavy metals affect different body organs. Gastrointestinal and kidney dysfunction, nervous system disorders, skin lesions, vascular damage, immune system dysfunction, birth defects, and cancer are examples of the complications of heavy metals toxic effects.

What is biochemical effect of arsenic?

Biochemical Response to Arsenic Compounds Reaction of trivalent arsenic with sulfhydryl enzymes could well explain the effects of membrane degradation—injury and eventually death. In general, arsenates are less toxic than arsenites.

Which pollution is caused by mercury and lead?

Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury can result in serious health risks (e.g. lung damage, kidney diseases, nervous system failures, etc.) and can be harmful to the environment (e.g. soil and water pollution, accumulation in plants).

Why is overexposure to materials containing mercury and lead harmful?

The nervous system is very sensitive to all types of mercury. Increased exposure of mercury can alter brain functions and lead to shyness, tremors, memory problems, irritability, and changes in vision or hearing.

Is mercury the most toxic metal?

Mercury is considered the most toxic heavy metal in the environment. Mercury poisoning is referred to as acrodynia or pink disease.

What are some human health problems caused by heavy metals and nitrates?

People that consume high levels of heavy metals risk acute and chronic toxicity, liver, kidney, and intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer.

What is biochemical effect of lead?

Lead also affects cardiovascular system and increases systolic and diastolic blood pressure [11]. Lead interferes with heme biosynthesis by altering the activity of three enzymes δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (δ-ALAS), δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) and ferrochelatase.

What are the health effects of mercury exposure?

Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals or groups

What happens when you are exposed to a biotoxin?

Exposure to a biotoxin may lead to acute or chronic symptoms, depending on the length of exposure, the potency of the biotoxin, your personal health, and other factors. If you’ve been exposed to a biotoxin, it is important to address the issues early on during the acute phase, if possible, to reduce the risk of chronic consequences.

What is mercury poisoning in the endocrine system?

The endocrine system has a high requirement for specific trace minerals and accumulation of mercury within the glands may occur because of the chemical similarity to the essential mineral, zinc. Symptoms of mercury poisoning in the endocrine system include:

How does Mercury bioaccumulate in the environment?

Once in the environment, mercury can be transformed by bacteria into methylmercury. Methylmercury then bioaccumulates (bioaccumulation occurs when an organism contains higher concentrations of the substance than do the surroundings) in fish and shellfish.