7 modern metals Flashcards
what have humans disrupted the natural cycles of?
-humans have greatly disturbed the natural cycles of many metals
what are the pathways of environmental metal exposure?
-food
-air
-water
-soil
what is the pathway of food?
-some metals bioaccumulate in the food chain (ex; mercury)
-commonly eaten “staple” foods can deliver high doses
what is the pathway of water?
-metals can be water-soluble
what is the pathway of air?
-metals associate with dust
-inhalation
what is the pathway of soil?
-hand to mouth behaviour in children
how toxic are metals?
what happens when we’re exposed to excess metals?
-it can cause cancer
-it can affect the brain
-it can mess up your kidneys
how does excess metals cause cancer?
-direct binding to DNA: strand breaks, chromosomal damage (Cr)
-metal-catalyzed production of reactive oxygen species: direct (Fe and Cu) or indirect (Pd, Cd, Ni, Al, Mn, Zn)
how can excess metal affect the brain?
aluminium and Alzheimer’s
-although initial studies linked aluminium toxicity with Alzheimer’s disease, the link has not been proven
lead, mercury
how can excess metal mess up your kidneys?
what is chronic and acute cadmium?
what are the four case studies?
-wildfires
-samut sakton factory
-giant mine
-beethoven
what is the wildfire case study?
-industry or source: wildfires (around chromium-rich soils)
-compound: hexavalent chromium
-exposure pathway: inhalation
-symptoms: cancer
what is the samut sakhon case study?
-industry or source: metal factory (smuggle waste from ore smelter)
-compound: cadmium
-exposure pathway: inhalation (groundwater?)
-symptoms: lung damage, death, cancer, anaemia
calculate the number of lethal human dose present on-site of giant mine case study? (70 to 200 mg= lethal)
is gold the only metal issue in gold mines?
there are other off-site problems and other metals
