ISBN-13: 9786139916382 / Angielski / Miękka / 2018 / 60 str.
Groundwater contamination by heavy metals is a major concern in soil and water environments. They have harmful effects on the life of a human being and the environment. Heavy metal pollution can arise from many sources but most commonly arises from the purification of metals, e.g., the smelting of ores and the preparation of nuclear fuels. The major concern with heavy metals is their ability to accumulate in the environment causing heavy metal poisoning. Unlike some organic pollutants, heavy metals are not biodegradable and cannot be metabolized or decomposed. Wastewater from many other industries, such as metallurgical, tannery, chemical, mining, and battery manufacturing industries, contains one or more toxic heavy metals. The discharge of such solutions not only causes environmental pollution but also effects aquatic and human life. Moreover, heavy metals can easily enter the food chain through a number of pathways causing progressive toxic effects with gradual accumulation in living organisms over their lifespan.