TOXIC METAL

'Toxic metals' are metals that form poisonous soluble compounds and have no biological role, i.e. are not essential minerals, or are in the wrong form^[1]. Often heavy metals are thought as synonymous, but lighter metals also have toxicity, as exemplified by aluminum, and not all heavy metals are particularly toxic and some are even essential (such as iron). The definition may also include trace elements when considered in abnormally high, toxic doses.
Toxic metals imitate the action of an essential element in the body, distorting the metabolic process to cause illness. Many metals, particularly heavy metals are toxic, but most often the definition includes arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and the radioactive metals. Radioactive metals have both radiation toxicity and chemical toxicity. Metals in an oxidation state abnormal to the body may also become toxic: chromium(III) is an essential trace element, but chromium(VI) is a carcinogen.
The toxicity is a function of solubility, so that as insoluble salts or even in the metallic form, toxic metals may have negligible toxicity. On the other hand, organometallic forms, such as dimethyl mercury and tetraethyl lead, are extremely toxic.
Toxic metals bioaccumulate in the body and in the food chain. An exception is barium.
Toxic metals:

★ Barium

★ Beryllium

★ Aluminum

★ Arsenic

★ Cadmium

★ Lead

★ Mercury

★ Radioactive metals:

★
★ Thorium

★
★ Polonium

★
★ Uranium

★
★ Radioactive isotopes of lighter elements, e.g. cobalt-60.
Trace elements with toxicity:

★ Chromium as hexavalent Cr(VI)

★ Nickel

★ Copper

★ Iron

Contents

Reference

External links

Reference

1. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/TX.shtml

External links

★ Dartmouth Toxic Metal Research Facility [1]