We at Tritania often refer to the health risks caused by the bioaccumulation of heavy metals.
But what are heavy metals? Why are they harmful to health?
The term 'heavy metals' refers to those metals with an atomic number higher than that of iron. They are natural components of the earth's crust. Natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and tides contribute to the natural cycling of these metals. However, technological development and exploitation of environmental resources have progressively increased their emissions, leading to a rise in their presence in the environment.
Heavy metals are not biodegradable and therefore remain in the environment for a very long time; those most responsible for environmental damage and toxic effects on living beings are: cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel.
The increasing spread in the environment has led to a rise in the percentage of these pollutants that come into direct or indirect contact with our body. Heavy metals can enter the food chain through the consumption of food or water containing high concentrations of them. Livestock, for example, can accumulate these elements in their bodies if they graze on contaminated land or consume feed containing high amounts.
Repeated exposure over time to these pollutants, combined with the slow elimination by the organism itself, causes the phenomenon of bioaccumulation, that is, the increase in concentration in the organism well beyond the tolerance threshold.
The 'bio-concentration factor' (BCF) refers to the index that measures the ability of a living organism to assimilate a substance present in the environment. It can be expressed as the ratio between the concentration of that pollutant in the organism and its concentration in the environment. Some pollutants are assimilated by organisms to a greater extent than others: if a metal has a high bio-concentration factor for humans, it means it is assimilated quickly and released slowly, thus potentially being more dangerous to our health.
Once inside a living organism, heavy metals can bind to cellular structures damaging the performance of essential biological functions.
The accumulation of heavy metals in the human body is considered responsible for multiple harmful effects on our health: kidney and bone problems, neurobehavioral and developmental disorders, increased blood pressure, and potentially lung cancer as well.
Since it is difficult if not impossible to control the intake of heavy metals present in the water we drink or in the environment we live in, in order to preserve our health, it would be good practice to try to reduce exposure to those sources that are under our control, avoiding where possible the use of tools that contain them, especially when they are used for contact with food.
https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_2060_allegato.pdf
https://www.mite.gov.it/sites/default/files/archivio/allegati/reach/progetto_PFAS_sintesi.pdf
