Metal Toxicity and Speciation: A Review

Essential metal ions play a specific and fundamental role in human metabolism. Their homeostasis is finely tuned and any concentration imbalance in form of deficiency or excess could lead to a progressive reduction and failure of normal biological function, to severe physiological and clinical outcomes till death. Conversely, non-essential metals are not necessary for life and only noxious effects could arise after their exposure. Large environmental amounts of such chemicals come from both natural and anthropogenic sources, with the latter being predominant because of human activities. The dissipation of toxic metals contaminates water, air, soil, and food, causing a series of chronic and acute syndromes.