A Study on Heavy Metal Sources and Pollution: Challenge to Biological and Ecosystem

Abstract

The heavy metals pollution is a major environmental problem the modemworld is facing today. These are major inorganic contaminants in theenvironment. Though a number of heavy metals are essential micronutrientsfor both plants and animals, but these are toxic at higher concentrations. Theheavy metal ions of Al, Cr, Mn,Ca, Fe, Ni, Ca, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb are majorinorganic contaminants in the environment. These also affect soil microbialpopulations and their metabolic activities. These adversely affect the molecularmechanisms of life. The weathering of bedrock, volcanoes, forest fires and dustare natural sources of heavy metals to soils and ecosystems. The man madeactivities such as mining, smelting, printing, battery-manufacturing,electroplating, tanning etc. are resulting in high concentrations of these metalsin the environments. This study described the different sources of heavymetals and their health hazards