verdigris (Zangal). Copper is a powerful enzyme inhibitor, has therapeutic and
antiseptic properties but when its salts are retained in the kidney and liver indirectly
affects the nervous, reproductive, adrenal, connective tissue etc. can cause mouth,
salivation, vomiting, burning pain in stomach, nausea, Hair loss, anemia, autism,
anorexia, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, candida overgrowth, arthritis, asthma,
depression, male infertility, prostatitis, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, PMS,
chronic infections, etc.
SeleniumSelenium (Se) is a rare chalcogen possessing metalloid characteristics of
both metal and nonmetal. It is obtained as mining by-product of metals like copper,
iron, and lead ores. The compounds of selenium when inhaled cause respiratory
membrane irritation, bronchial inflammation, pulmonary edema, and pneumonia and
produce irritation in mucous membrane, vomiting and nausea, cardiovascular
effects, nose bleeding, coughing, and ophthalmic irritation.
3.7 Nickel
Nickel (Ni) is a silvery-white, hard and ductile transition metal, which usually occurs
in combined form with sulfur (millerite), with iron (pentlandite), and with arsenic
(nickeline). It is a ferromagnetic element and is considered very toxic metal. The
major sources of Ni are the effluents generated from zinc base casting, silver
refineries, storage battery, and electroplating industries. Nickel is also released to
the atmosphere by volcanoes, combustion of fuel oil, windblown dust, municipal
incineration, nickel refining, and steel production. It adversely affects depending on
the exposure route being inhalation, oral or dermal causing systemic, developmental,
immunologic, carcinogenic, neurologic, reproductive effects. Dermatitis (Ni itch) is
caused by frequent exposure to Ni, such as in coins and jewelry. Higher concentration of Ni causes bone, lungs and nose cancer, dermatitis, acute poisoning causes
headache, chest pain, dizziness, cyanosis, nausea and vomiting, tightness of the
chest, dry cough and shortness of breath (Duvnjak and Al-Asheh 1997).
3.8 Silver
Silver (Ag) occurs as elemental silver and monovalent silver ion +l, 2, and +3
oxidation state naturally. Silver is used in the manufacture of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and higher aldehydes by the catalytic dehydrogenation of the corresponding
primary alcohol and photography industry. When silver-containing dust is inhaled, it
is most toxic causing “argyria.” Silver dust precipitates in the tissues and cannot be
eliminated from the body and can cause skin and nasal septum ulcers.
11 Toxic Metals in Industrial Wastewaters and Phytoremediation Using. . .
267
antiseptic properties but when its salts are retained in the kidney and liver indirectly
affects the nervous, reproductive, adrenal, connective tissue etc. can cause mouth,
salivation, vomiting, burning pain in stomach, nausea, Hair loss, anemia, autism,
anorexia, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, candida overgrowth, arthritis, asthma,
depression, male infertility, prostatitis, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, PMS,
chronic infections, etc.
SeleniumSelenium (Se) is a rare chalcogen possessing metalloid characteristics of
both metal and nonmetal. It is obtained as mining by-product of metals like copper,
iron, and lead ores. The compounds of selenium when inhaled cause respiratory
membrane irritation, bronchial inflammation, pulmonary edema, and pneumonia and
produce irritation in mucous membrane, vomiting and nausea, cardiovascular
effects, nose bleeding, coughing, and ophthalmic irritation.
3.7 Nickel
Nickel (Ni) is a silvery-white, hard and ductile transition metal, which usually occurs
in combined form with sulfur (millerite), with iron (pentlandite), and with arsenic
(nickeline). It is a ferromagnetic element and is considered very toxic metal. The
major sources of Ni are the effluents generated from zinc base casting, silver
refineries, storage battery, and electroplating industries. Nickel is also released to
the atmosphere by volcanoes, combustion of fuel oil, windblown dust, municipal
incineration, nickel refining, and steel production. It adversely affects depending on
the exposure route being inhalation, oral or dermal causing systemic, developmental,
immunologic, carcinogenic, neurologic, reproductive effects. Dermatitis (Ni itch) is
caused by frequent exposure to Ni, such as in coins and jewelry. Higher concentration of Ni causes bone, lungs and nose cancer, dermatitis, acute poisoning causes
headache, chest pain, dizziness, cyanosis, nausea and vomiting, tightness of the
chest, dry cough and shortness of breath (Duvnjak and Al-Asheh 1997).
3.8 Silver
Silver (Ag) occurs as elemental silver and monovalent silver ion +l, 2, and +3
oxidation state naturally. Silver is used in the manufacture of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and higher aldehydes by the catalytic dehydrogenation of the corresponding
primary alcohol and photography industry. When silver-containing dust is inhaled, it
is most toxic causing “argyria.” Silver dust precipitates in the tissues and cannot be
eliminated from the body and can cause skin and nasal septum ulcers.
11 Toxic Metals in Industrial Wastewaters and Phytoremediation Using. . .
267