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What metal is there in high concentrations?
The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. Examples of heavy metals include mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb).
What produces heavy metal waste?
Reported sources of heavy metals in the environment include geogenic, industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, domestic effluents, and atmospheric sources [4]. Environmental pollution is very prominent in point source areas such as mining, foundries and smelters, and other metal-based industrial operations [1, 3, 4].
What are heavy metals in wastewater?
Heavy metals like Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Thallium (Tl) are potentially hazardous in combined or elemental forms. Heavy metals are highly soluble in the aquatic environments and therefore they can be absorbed easily by living organisms.
Is aluminum a heavy metal?
Examples of heavy metals include lead, mercury, cadmium, sometimes chromium. Less commonly, metals including iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, beryllium, cobalt, manganese and arsenic may be considered heavy metals.
Where are heavy metals?
Heavy metals are found naturally in the earth, and become concentrated as a result of human activities. People may be exposed to small amounts of heavy metals through food, water, air, and commercial products.
How are heavy metals disposed of?
Ultimately, it depends on the type of heavy metal. Lead, for example, can be recycled. Mercury, on the other hand, cannot be and must be disposed of at specialised facilities. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury mustn’t end up in landfill as their toxicity will harm the environment.
How do heavy metals pollute water?
Heavy metals can enter a water supply by industrial and consumer waste, or even from acidic rain breaking down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
What is adsorption heavy metal?
The adsorption process is widely used for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater because of its low cost, availability and eco-friendly nature. Both commercial adsorbents and bioadsorbents are used for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater, with high removal capacity.
Is copper a heavy metal?
The most commonly found heavy metals in waste water include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, all of which cause risks for human health and the environment (Lambert et al., 2000). Heavy metals enter the surroundings by natural means and through human activities.