Publications

Elements denser than water are known as heavy metals, and they are a major global dangerto the environment and human health. The ubiquity of each metal in diverse environmentalmatrices is highlighted by its existence in both natural and industrial sources. Humanexposure pathways include everything from food consumption to work environments, andthey all contribute to a variety of health effects and organ system damage. Notably, longtermexposure to these metals is associated with increased cancer incidence rates, which canimpact the neurological systems, lungs, kidneys, skin, liver, and other organs. The moleculardetails of the toxicity and carcinogenicity of individual metals reveal a variety of processes,such as DNA damage, oxidative stress induction, disruption of cellular respiration,disruption of signal transduction pathways, and changes in gene expression. Priority heavymetals (cadmium, chromium, arsenic, lead, and mercury) have distinct toxicological profiles,but this review emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to reduceenvironmental contamination and human exposure. It does this by highlighting the complexinteractions between environmental events, anthropological sources, and the molecular basisof heavy metal-induced carcinogenicity and toxicity.Keywords: Environmental Contamination, Heavy Metals, Environmental Health Impacts,Molecular Mechanisms, Metal Toxicity