Toxic metal

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Part of a series on
Toxicology and poison
Toxicology (Forensic)  · Toxinology
History of poison
(ICD-10 T36-T65, ICD-9 960-989)
Concepts
Poison · Venom · Toxicant (Toxin)  · Antidote
Acceptable daily intake · Acute toxicity
Bioaccumulation · Biomagnification
Fixed Dose Procedure · LD50 · Lethal dose
Toxic capacity · Toxicity Class
Toxins and venoms
Neurotoxin · Necrotoxin · Hemotoxin
Mycotoxin · Aflatoxin · Phototoxin
List of fictional toxins
Incidents
Bradford · Minamata · Niigata
Polonium · Bhopal
2007 pet food recalls
List of poisonings
Poisoning types
Elements
Toxic metal (Lead · Mercury · Cadmium · Antimony · Arsenic · Beryllium · Iron · Thallium· Fluoride · Oxygen
Seafood
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Amnesic)
 · Ciguatera · Scombroid
Tetrodotoxin
Other substances
Pesticide · Organophosphate · Food
Nicotine · Theobromine · Carbon monoxide · Vitamin · Medicines
Living organisms
Mushrooms · Plants · Venomous animals
Related topics
Hazard symbol · Carcinogen
Mutagen · List of Extremely Hazardous Substances · Biological warfare · Food safety

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Overview

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 beryllium, 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. A difference is that there is no beneficial dose for a toxic metal with no biological role.

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 some heavy metals are essential, have a low toxicity, and bismuth is even non-toxic. Most often the definition includes at least cadmium, lead, mercury and the radioactive metals. Metalloids (arsenic, polonium) may be included in the definition. 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. The exceptions are barium and aluminum. Therefore, a common characteristic of toxic metals is the chronic nature of their toxicity.

Toxic metals:

Trace elements with toxicity:

References

External links

  • Dartmouth Toxic Metal Research Facility [2]

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