HEAVY METALS IN HUMAN HEALTH.pptx

HEAVY METALS IN HUMAN HEALTH

WHAT IS HEAVY METAL? 

Heavy metals are individual metals and metal compounds that can impact human health.

  These

are all naturally occurri occurrin n su!stances "hich are o#ten present in the environment at lo" levels. In larer amounts$ they can !e danerous.

Eiht common heavy metals 

Arsenic

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Barium

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Cadmium

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Chromium

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Lead

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Mercury

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Selenium

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Silver

Arsenic 

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Aside #rom occurrin naturally in the environment$ arsenic can !e released in larer %uantities throuh volcanic activity$ erosion o# roc&s$ #orest 'res$ and human activity.  The "ood preservin industry uses a!out ()* o# the industrial arsenic in the +.S.

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Arsenic is also #ound in paints$ dyes$ metals$ drus$ soaps and semi,conductors.

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Animal #eedin operations and certain #ertili-ers and pesticides can release hih amounts o# arsenic to the environment as can industry practices such as copper or lead smeltin$ minin$ and coal !urnin.

Health eects 

Arsenic is odorless and tasteless. Inoranic arsenic is a &no"n carcinoen and can cause cancer o# the s&in$ luns$ liver and !ladder.

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/ Lo"er level e0posure can cause nausea and vomitin$ decreased production o# red and "hite !lood cells$ a!normal heart rhythm$ damae to !lood vessels$ and a sensation o# 1pins and needles2 in hands and #eet. nausea and vomitin

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Inestion o# very hih levels can possi!ly result in death.

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Lon,term lo" level e0posure can cause a dar&enin o# the s&in and the appearance o# small 1corns2 or 1"arts2 on the palms$ soles$ and torso.

Arsenic,induced hyper&eratosis o# the hands

Regulatory limits 

Environmental 3rotection Aency 4E3A5 , ).)6 parts per million 4ppm5 in drin&in "ater.

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7ccupational Sa#ety and Health Administration 47SHA5 , 6) microrams per cu!ic meter o# "or&place air 46) 89 m:5 #or ; hour shi#ts and !arium sul'de is used in uorescent lamps> !arium sul#ate is used in dianostic medicine> !arium nitrate and chlorate ive 're"or&s a reen color. =arium compounds are also used in drillin muds$ paint$ !ric&s$ ceramics$ lass$ and ru!!er.

Health efects 

=arium is not &no"n to cause cancer.

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Short term e0posure can cause vomitin$ a!dominal cramps$ diarrhea$ di@culties in !reathin$ increased or decreased !lood pressure$ num!ness around the #ace$ and muscle "ea&ness.

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Lare amounts o# !arium inta&e can cause$ hih !lood pressure$ chanes in heart rhythm or paralysis and possi!ly death.

Regulatory limits 

/ E3A , .) parts per million 4ppm5 in drin&in "ater.

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/ 7SHA , ).B millirams o# solu!le !arium compounds per cu!ic meter o# "or&place air #or ; hour shi#ts and manetic tapes> and piments #or paints$ cement$ paper$ ru!!er$ composition oor coverin and other materials. Its solu!le #orms are used in "ood preservatives.

Health efects 

Chromium 4VI5 compounds are to0ins and &no"n human carcinoens$ "hereas Chromium 4III5 is an essential nutrient.

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/ =reathin hih levels can cause irritation to the linin o# the nose> nose ulcers> runny nose> and !reathin pro!lems$ such as asthma$ couh$ shortness o# !reath$ or "hee-in.

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/ S&in contact can cause s&in ulcers. Alleric reactions consistin o# severe redness and s"ellin o# the s&in have !een noted.

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/ Lon term e0posure can cause damae to liver$ &idney circulatory and nerve tissues$ as "ell as s&in irritation.

Regulatory limits 

/ E3A ).6 ppm 4parts per million5 in drin&in "ater.

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/ FGA  should not e0ceed 6 milliram per liter 46 ppm5 in !ottled "ater.

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/ 7SHA  an averae o# !et"een ).)))B and 6.) milliram per cu!ic meter o# "or&place air #or an ;,hour "or&day$ "ea&ness in 'ners$ "rists$ or an&les> small increases in !lood pressure> and anemia.

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/ E0posure to hih lead levels can severely damae the !rain and &idneys and ultimately cause death.

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/ In prenant "omen$ hih levels o# e0posure to lead may cause miscarriae.

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/ Hih level e0posure in men can damae the orans responsi!le #or sperm production.

Regulatory limits 

E3A  6B parts per !illion 4pp!5 in drin&in "ater$).6B microrams per cu!ic meter in air.

Mercury 

Mercury com!ines "ith other elements to #orm oranic and inoranic mercury compounds. Metallic mercury is used to produce chlorine as and caustic soda$ and is also used in thermometers$ dental 'llins$ s"itches$ liht !ul!s$ and !atteries.

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Coal,!urnin po"er plants are the larest human,caused source o# mercury emissions to the air in the +nited States. Mercury in soil and "ater is converted !y microoranisms to methyl mercury$ a !io accumulatin to0in.

Health efects 

 The E3A has determined that mercuric chloride and methyl mercury are possi!le human carcinoens.

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/ The nervous system is very sensitive to all #orms o# mercury.

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/ E0posure to hih levels can permanently damae the !rain$ &idneys$ and developin #etuses. Eects on !rain #unctionin may result in irrita!ility$ shyness$ tremors$ chanes in vision or hearin$ and memory pro!lems.

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/ Short,term e0posure to hih levels o# metallic mercury vapors may cause lun damae$ nausea$ vomitin$ diarrhea$ increases in !lood pressure or heart rate$ s&in rashes$ and eye irritation.

Mercury To0icity

Regulatory limits 

/ E3A   parts per !illion parts 4pp!5 in drin&in "ater

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/ FGA  6 part o# methyl mercury in a million parts o# sea#ood.

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/ 7SHA  ).6 milliram o# oranic mercury per cu!ic meter o# "or&place air and ).)B millirams per cu!ic meter o# metallic mercury vapor #or ;,hour shi#ts and