Contamination of Heavy Metals (Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead) in Groundwater and their Toxic Effects Singhania Shrisha1, Dwivedi Achala2, Agrawal Prashant3,*, Chandrawanshi Lalit4, Kumar Sudhir5 1Department of Forensic Science, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, U.P, India 2Department of Forensic Science, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, U.P, India 3Department of Forensic Science, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, U.P, India 4Department of Forensic Science, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, U.P, India 5Forensic Science Lab, Lucknow, U.P, India *Corresponding Author, Dr Prashant Agrawal, Department of Forensic Science, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, U.P, India, Email: prashant.agrawal@sharda.ac.in
Online Published on 12 January, 2024. Abstract Heavy metals can be defined as metals having relatively high densities, atomic weights. Generally heavy metals are naturally occurring substances that further accumulate and causes environmental toxicity as well as different health hazards to human population. There are different sources of heavy metals some are natural like weathering of rocks, volcanic eruption, forest fire and a number of anthropogenic sources which include fossil fuel burning, harmful gases released from industry, industrial effluent in waterways, sewage sludge, irrigation done with waste water. Water plays an essential role in the environment for both flora and fauna. Water is obtained generally from two sources naturally which include surface water like fresh water lake, streams, rivers and second is groundwater from wells and boreholes. The heavy metal accumulation in groundwater makes it imperfect to drink. Consuming this water will cause different health hazards like Arsenic particularly inorganic arsenic, may raise the chances of cancer in the body. While high amounts of Cd can harm the liver also causes kidney dysfunction, Osteoporosis, Decalcification. Long term exposure to cadmium also leads to neurological disorders. Excessive amounts of Pb can cause the problem of autoimmunity in which one’s body cells start attacking its own cells. Lead can also cause irreversible brain damage. The purpose of this study is to review previous researches done on heavy metal contamination in groundwater and their adverse health effects on human. Top Keywords Heavy metal, Contamination, Groundwater. Top |