CHEM 1R03 Lecture Notes - Methylmercury, Arsenic, Primitive Reflexes
24 Nov 2012
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Document Summary
Metals are notable for their wide environmental dispersion from such activity; their tendency to accumulate in select tissue of the body; and their overall potential to be toxic even at relatively minor levels of exposure. Some metals such as iron and copper are essential life and play a big role. However, some metals are xenobiotics they have no useful role in human physiology. The first, second, third and sixth hazards respectively on the list are heavy metals: lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. Exposure to metals can occur through a variety of routes: metals may be inhaled as dust or fumes. Metals can also be ingested involuntarily from food and drink. The amount of actually absorbed from the digestive tract can vary widely, depending on the chemical form of the metal and the age and nutrional status of the individual. Once a metal is absorbed it distributes in tissues and organs.
