Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Removal from Aqueous Solutions: Kinetics and Equilibrium Modeling - Advanced Materials for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Safety - page 294

Pollutants Major Sources Typical Ef ects References

Hg Mining and rei ning of mercury, organic

mercurials used in pesticides, laboratories
using mercury

Inhalation of mercury vapours may cause
toxic ef ects and protoplasmic poisoning.
Organo-mercurials are highly toxic and
may cause irreversible damage to nervous
system and brain

[17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23,
24, 25]

Cu Iron and steel industry, fertilizer industry

and burning of wood, discharge of mine
tailings, disposal of l y ash and disposal
of municipal and industrial wastes are the
sources of copper in the atmosphere

Defects in pigmentation, bone formation,
reproduction, myelination of the spinal
cord, cardiac function and connective tissue
formation, in addition to defects in growth
and hematopoiesis were found to be the
manifestations of copper dei ciency

[37]

Co h e primary anthropogenic sources of cobalt

in the environment are from the burning of
fossil fuels, application of cobalt-containing
sludge or phosphate fertilizers, mining and
smelting of cobalt-containing ores, process-
ing of cobalt-containing alloys, and indus-
tries that use or process cobalt compounds.

Inhalation exposure to cobalt-containing par-
ticles, the primary target of exposure is the
respiratory tract. Occupational exposure
of humans to cobalt metal or cobalt-con-
taining hard metal have reported primarily
respiratory ef ects, including decreased
pulmonary function, asthma, interstitial
lung disease, wheezing, and dyspnea. Many
of the respiratory tract ef ects are believed
to be the result of the generation of oxidants
and free radicals by the cobaltion.

[29]