There are many types of heavy metals, and quite a few can be seen around us. If water quality is polluted by heavy metals, the water source is very likely to be undrinkable. Why? In this chapter, the manufacturer of online water quality monitoring instruments will explore together with everyone the hazards caused by excessive heavy metals in water!
In fact, the proportion of heavy metals in water pollution is not small. Heavy metal pollution is prone to accumulate and expand in the biological chain, and they are also highly toxic. Here we mainly aim to understand the hazards caused by excessive levels of four heavy metals – lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium – in water.
1.Lead in water mainly comes from the discharge of industrial pollutants and industrial wastewater, as well as the application of pesticides and insecticides in agricultural production. However, the primary source is still the release of lead caused by the corrosion of urban water supply networks. Once the lead level in water exceeds the standard, the harm to the human body is certain! Just like adults, if they are addicted to money, they may experience symptoms such as fatigue, depression and kidney deficiency. If one is exposed to lead for a long time, it can lead to anemia, nerve damage in the limbs, high blood pressure and other consequences. If it is children or pregnant women, it may cause abnormal behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity, poor learning ability and easy anger in children. It can cause situations such as miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth in pregnant women.
2.Mercury is one of the most toxic elements in heavy metal pollution. Both inorganic mercury salts and organic compounds can be harmful to the human body, but their hazards are different. Inorganic mercury salts can inhibit the activity of various enzymes due to the combination of mercury ions and enzyme proteins, thereby causing functional disorders in cells. As for organic mercury compounds, methylmercury is highly toxic. Once it enters the human body, it is absorbed and not easily excreted. If it accumulates in the body, it can invade the central nervous system, thereby damaging cerebral blood vessels and causing symptoms such as numbness in the limbs and speech disorders.
3.Cadmium is not like lead. Lead is an essential element for the human body, but cadmium is not. Newborn babies have almost no cadmium in their bodies. All the cadmium in the human body enters the body later due to the external environment. Cadmium poisoning can cause arteriosclerosis, renal atrophy, nephritis and other conditions. In addition, cadmium can replace part of the calcium in bones, which can cause osteoporosis and softening of bones. In severe cases, natural fractures may occur. Besides, it also contains carcinogenic and teratogenic substances.
4.Chromium, like the one in point 3, is also called “ge”, but they are two different substances. Chromium mainly comes from industrial wastewater, chemical industry, electroplating and other industrial pollution. It can enter the human body through nitrification, respiratory tract, skin and other means. When passing through the digestive tract, it can cause symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain. If it passes through the skin, it can cause dermatitis and eczema. If inhaled for a long time, there is a high risk of causing cancer.
Warm Reminder: If you want to know whether the heavy metal content in water exceeds the standard, a water quality detector is a good helper at this time. Different parameters require different detection instruments, so it needs to be determined according to the user’s own needs.
