Knowra Metal toxicity Metal toxicity Metal toxicity is harm caused when exposure to metals disrupts biological processes. Its effects depend on the metal, its chemical form, dose, exposure route, and organism.
Oxidative stress : Cellular damage caused when reactive oxygen species exceed antioxidant defenses. Some toxic metals promote reactive oxygen species or weaken the defenses that normally control them.
Lead poisoning : Illness caused by lead exposure, which can damage the nervous system, kidneys, blood, and other tissues. Lead is a persistent toxicant with well-established developmental and neurological effects.
Dose–response relationship : The relationship between the amount of an exposure and the magnitude or probability of an effect. Metal harms generally vary with dose, though thresholds and response patterns differ by metal and outcome.
Neurotoxicity : The damaging effects of substances on the structure or function of the nervous system. Several metals cause lasting changes to brain development, cognition, or movement.
Metal : An element or alloy characterized by properties such as electrical conductivity, metallic bonding, and malleability. This broader category includes elements with widely different biological effects.
Metallothionein : A family of small, cysteine-rich proteins that bind metals and help regulate or sequester them. These proteins can buffer metal ions, but their binding capacity may be overwhelmed during exposure.
Mercury poisoning : Illness caused by exposure to elemental, inorganic, or organic mercury compounds. Mercury’s chemical form determines its absorption, target organs, and characteristic harms.
Chemical speciation : The identification and measurement of the distinct chemical forms of an element in a sample. Speciation distinguishes forms of the same metal that differ in toxicity, mobility, and absorption.
Nephrotoxicity : Kidney damage caused by a chemical, drug, or other exposure. The kidneys accumulate and excrete many metals, making them common targets of toxicity.
Metalloid : An element with properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals, including arsenic and antimony. Arsenic is often discussed alongside toxic metals despite being chemically classified as a metalloid.
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