Toxic metal

Part of a series on

Toxicology and poison
Toxicology (Forensic) * Toxinology
History of poison
(ICD-10 T36-T65, ICD-9 960-989)
Concepts
Poison * Venom * Toxicant (Toxin)  * Antidote
Acceptable daily intake * Acute toxicity
Bioaccumulation * Biomagnification
Fixed Dose Procedure * LD50 * Lethal dose
Toxic capacity * Toxicity Class
Toxins and venoms
Neurotoxin * Necrotoxin * Hemotoxin
Mycotoxin * Aflatoxin * Phototoxin
List of fictional toxins
Incidents
Bradford * Minamata * Niigata
Polonium * Bhopal
2007 pet food recalls
List of poisonings
Poisoning types
Elements
Toxic metal (Lead * Mercury * Cadmium * Antimony * Arsenic * Beryllium * Iron * Thallium) * Fluoride * Oxygen
Seafood
Shellfish (Paralytic * Diarrheal
Amnesic) * Ciguatera * Scombroid
Tetrodotoxin
Other substances
Pesticide * Organophosphate * Food
Nicotine * Theobromine * Carbon monoxide * Vitamin * Medicines
Living organisms
Mushrooms * Plants * Venomous animals
Related topics
Hazard symbol * Carcinogen
Mutagen * List of Extremely Hazardous Substances * Biological warfare * Food safety

Template:Tnavbar

WikiDoc Resources for Toxic metal

Articles

Most recent articles on Toxic metal

Most cited articles on Toxic metal

Review articles on Toxic metal

Articles on Toxic metal in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Toxic metal

Images of Toxic metal

Photos of Toxic metal

Podcasts & MP3s on Toxic metal

Videos on Toxic metal

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Toxic metal

Bandolier on Toxic metal

TRIP on Toxic metal

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Toxic metal at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Toxic metal

Clinical Trials on Toxic metal at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Toxic metal

NICE Guidance on Toxic metal

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Toxic metal

CDC on Toxic metal

Books

Books on Toxic metal

News

Toxic metal in the news

Be alerted to news on Toxic metal

News trends on Toxic metal

Commentary

Blogs on Toxic metal

Definitions

Definitions of Toxic metal

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Toxic metal

Discussion groups on Toxic metal

Patient Handouts on Toxic metal

Directions to Hospitals Treating Toxic metal

Risk calculators and risk factors for Toxic metal

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Toxic metal

Causes & Risk Factors for Toxic metal

Diagnostic studies for Toxic metal

Treatment of Toxic metal

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Toxic metal

International

Toxic metal en Espanol

Toxic metal en Francais

Business

Toxic metal in the Marketplace

Patents on Toxic metal

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Toxic metal

## Overview[edit | edit source]

Toxic metals are metals that form poisonous soluble compounds and have no biological role, i.e. are not essential minerals, or are in the wrong form[1]. Often heavy metals are thought as synonymous, but lighter metals also have toxicity, as exemplified by beryllium, and not all heavy metals are particularly toxic and some are even essential (such as iron). The definition may also include trace elements when considered in abnormally high, toxic doses. A difference is that there is no beneficial dose for a toxic metal with no biological role.

Toxic metals imitate the action of an essential element in the body, distorting the metabolic process to cause illness. Many metals, particularly heavy metals are toxic, but some heavy metals are essential, have a low toxicity, and bismuth is even non-toxic. Most often the definition includes at least cadmium, lead, mercury and the radioactive metals. Metalloids (arsenic, polonium) may be included in the definition. Radioactive metals have both radiation toxicity and chemical toxicity. Metals in an oxidation state abnormal to the body may also become toxic: chromium(III) is an essential trace element, but chromium(VI) is a carcinogen.

The toxicity is a function of solubility, so that as insoluble salts or even in the metallic form, toxic metals may have negligible toxicity. On the other hand, organometallic forms, such as dimethyl mercury and tetraethyl lead, are extremely toxic.

Toxic metals bioaccumulate in the body and in the food chain. The exceptions are barium and aluminum. Therefore, a common characteristic of toxic metals is the chronic nature of their toxicity.

Toxic metals:

* Barium
* Beryllium
* Aluminum
* Cadmium
* Lead \- lead poisoning
* Mercury \- mercury poisoning
* Thallium
* Antimony
* Radioactive metals:
* Thorium
* Uranium
* The transuraniums, such as plutonium, americium, etc.
* Polonium (a metalloid)
* Radioactive isotopes of lighter elements, e.g. cobalt-60.
* Arsenic (see arsenic poisoning) is a metalloid.

Trace elements with toxicity:

* Chromium as hexavalent Cr(VI)
* Nickel
* Copper
* Iron

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/TX.shtml

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Dartmouth Toxic Metal Research Facility [1]

Template:WikiDoc Sources