ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY OF SOME HEAVY METALS

Emerging pollutants in the environment due to economic development have become a global challenge for environmental and human health management. The presence of metals which exploited for various industrial and economic purposes in the environment is a major cause of pollution. Potentially toxic elements, a major group of pollutants, have been detected in soil, air, water and food crops. Pollution with metals is a serious problem worldwide due to their toxicity and non-biodegradability and ability to accumulate in the environment and living organisms. Their toxicity depends on several factors including the dose, route of exposure, and chemical species, as well as the age, gender, genetics, and nutritional status of exposed individuals. In the presented article, the impact of heavy metals on the environment and living organisms was considered