Heavy Metal Toxicity and its Treatment
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Heavy metals are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that are capable of inducing a broad range of physiological, biochemical and behavioural dysfunctions. Heavy metal poisoning remains a persistent public health problem in Malaysia and throughout the world. Exposure to toxic metals and compounds containing them through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact may cause various pathophysiological conditions, and the nervous system is the most susceptible organ system to this exposure causing a condition known as heavy metal-mediated neurotoxicity. This review summarises the current understanding of the mechanisms by which arsenic, lead and mercury induce heavy metal-mediated neurotoxicity. These heavy metals cause toxic manifestations in the nervous system primarily through the presence of excessive pro-oxidants and depletion of antioxidants, causing an imbalance homeostasis also described as oxidative stress. In addition, this article also reviews previous common chelation treatments and emerging antioxidant treatments since antioxidants have become the current interest in the prevention and treatment of these heavy metal-mediated toxicities.
Source: Advances in Human Biology
Authors: Nik Syamimi Nik Yusoff, Victor Feizal Knight, Nik Noorul Shakira Mohamed Shakrin, Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus
Institutions: Ministry of Health, National Defence University of Malaysia
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404436294