7 Carcinogenic Nature of Emerging Contaminants: Havoc for Present …
161
Table 7.1 Anthropogenic sources for common heavy metal pollutants along with their provisional
guideline limits according to WHO and their toxicity (Kobielska et al. 2018)
Heavy metal Anthropogenic sources
Toxicity
Cu
Water pipes, chemicals and
pharmaceutical equipment,
kitchenware, roofing, alloys, pigments
Relatively not detrimental, narrow
tolerance for plants
Hg
Amalgamation(the process of metal
extraction), electrical and measuring
apparatus, catalysts, dental fillings, Hg
vapour lamps, solders, X-ray tubes,
pharmaceuticals, fungicides scientific
instruments, electrodes, rectifiers,
oscillators, chloralkali cell’s mobile
cathode
Biomagnification in aquatic
environments, Minamata disease
As
Animal feed additive, algaecides,
herbicides, insecticides fungicides,
pesticides, rodenticides sheep dip,
tanning and textile, pigments,
veterinary medicine, ceramics, special
glasses, metallurgy, electronic
components, non-ferrous smelters,
electrical generation(coal and
geothermal), light filters, fireworks
Phytotoxic(toxic to plants),
arsenicosis (i.e. blackfoot disease),
keratosis, possible vascular
complications, carcinogenic
Cr
Data storage, plating, ferroalloys
manufacturing, textiles and leather
tanning, wood treatment, passivation
of corrosion cooling circuits, pigments
Cr3 + not detrimental to mammals,
Cr6 + very toxic, carcinogenic
Zn
Zn alloys, PVC stabilizers, gold
precipitation from cyanide solution, in
chemicals and medicines,
anti-corrosion coating, cans, barriers,
rubber industry, welding and soldering
fluxes, paints
Relatively not detrimental to
mammals (may affect cholesterol
metabolism in humans)
Pb
Alloys, ceramics, plastics, glassware,
lead–acid batteries, cable sheathings,
sheets, solder, pipes and tubing,
sheets, ordinance, antiknock agents,
tetraethyllead, pigments
Pb poisoning (a worldwide issue)
through gasoline, plumbing and paints
Cd
Neutron absorbers(within nuclear
reactors), nickel–cadmium batteries,
anti-corrosive metal coatings, alloys,
plastic stabilizers, coal combustion,
pigments
Phytotoxic, bio-accumulative, itoi-itoi
disease, carcinogenic
Ni
An alloy in the steel industry,
computer components, catalysts,
ceramic and glass moulds,
electroplating, nickel–cadmium
batteries, dental and surgical
prostheses, arc-welding, pigments
Contact dermatitis, asthma, chronic
respiratory infections carcinogenic
161
Table 7.1 Anthropogenic sources for common heavy metal pollutants along with their provisional
guideline limits according to WHO and their toxicity (Kobielska et al. 2018)
Heavy metal Anthropogenic sources
Toxicity
Cu
Water pipes, chemicals and
pharmaceutical equipment,
kitchenware, roofing, alloys, pigments
Relatively not detrimental, narrow
tolerance for plants
Hg
Amalgamation(the process of metal
extraction), electrical and measuring
apparatus, catalysts, dental fillings, Hg
vapour lamps, solders, X-ray tubes,
pharmaceuticals, fungicides scientific
instruments, electrodes, rectifiers,
oscillators, chloralkali cell’s mobile
cathode
Biomagnification in aquatic
environments, Minamata disease
As
Animal feed additive, algaecides,
herbicides, insecticides fungicides,
pesticides, rodenticides sheep dip,
tanning and textile, pigments,
veterinary medicine, ceramics, special
glasses, metallurgy, electronic
components, non-ferrous smelters,
electrical generation(coal and
geothermal), light filters, fireworks
Phytotoxic(toxic to plants),
arsenicosis (i.e. blackfoot disease),
keratosis, possible vascular
complications, carcinogenic
Cr
Data storage, plating, ferroalloys
manufacturing, textiles and leather
tanning, wood treatment, passivation
of corrosion cooling circuits, pigments
Cr3 + not detrimental to mammals,
Cr6 + very toxic, carcinogenic
Zn
Zn alloys, PVC stabilizers, gold
precipitation from cyanide solution, in
chemicals and medicines,
anti-corrosion coating, cans, barriers,
rubber industry, welding and soldering
fluxes, paints
Relatively not detrimental to
mammals (may affect cholesterol
metabolism in humans)
Pb
Alloys, ceramics, plastics, glassware,
lead–acid batteries, cable sheathings,
sheets, solder, pipes and tubing,
sheets, ordinance, antiknock agents,
tetraethyllead, pigments
Pb poisoning (a worldwide issue)
through gasoline, plumbing and paints
Cd
Neutron absorbers(within nuclear
reactors), nickel–cadmium batteries,
anti-corrosive metal coatings, alloys,
plastic stabilizers, coal combustion,
pigments
Phytotoxic, bio-accumulative, itoi-itoi
disease, carcinogenic
Ni
An alloy in the steel industry,
computer components, catalysts,
ceramic and glass moulds,
electroplating, nickel–cadmium
batteries, dental and surgical
prostheses, arc-welding, pigments
Contact dermatitis, asthma, chronic
respiratory infections carcinogenic