heavy metal pollution
Lead and mercury
Heavy metal pollution is environmental contamination by toxic metallic elements—lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and others that persist in soil, water, and living tissue.
These metals accumulate in the food chain, causing neurological damage, organ failure, and cancer.
Heavy metal pollution from the old smelter still affects groundwater decades later.
- neurotoxicityHarmful effects on nerves
- brain damageHarm to neural tissue
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- mining wasteByproduct of ore extraction
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
soil contamination · electronic waste · carcinogenicity · cadmium · coal combustion · arsenic · Minamata disease · fish kills · chromium · kidney damage · bioaccumulation · safe drinking water · acidification · blood testing · nickel · respiratory issues · vehicle emissions · zinc
- pollutionsmog, toxic waste, emissions, factory emissions, sewage
- mine reclamationreclamation, revegetation, ecological restoration, mine tailings, tailings
- quicksilverquicksilver, mercury, cinnabar, vermilion
heavy metal pollutionorganic waste
Decomposable natural refuse
sewage contamination · agricultural runoff · eutrophication · radioactive contamination
heavy metal pollutionpristine environment
Unspoiled natural area
clean water · ecological health · pristine wilderness · natural ecosystem · pure water
heavy metal pollutionenvironmental cleanup
Restoring polluted areas
bioremediation · ecological restoration · water purification · ecosystem restoration · detoxification
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