Abstract

Elements denser than water are known as heavy metals, and they are a major global danger
to the environment and human health. The ubiquity of each metal in diverse environmental
matrices is highlighted by its existence in both natural and industrial sources. Human
exposure pathways include everything from food consumption to work environments, and
they all contribute to a variety of health effects and organ system damage. Notably, longterm
exposure to these metals is associated with increased cancer incidence rates, which can
impact the neurological systems, lungs, kidneys, skin, liver, and other organs. The molecular
details 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 heavy
metals (cadmium, chromium, arsenic, lead, and mercury) have distinct toxicological profiles,
but this review emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to reduce
environmental contamination and human exposure. It does this by highlighting the complex
interactions between environmental events, anthropological sources, and the molecular basis
of heavy metal-induced carcinogenicity and toxicity.
Keywords: Environmental Contamination, Heavy Metals, Environmental Health Impacts,
Molecular Mechanisms, Metal Toxicity