ABSTRACT
Heavy metals contamination in the environment is a major global concern, because of toxicity and threat to the human life and ecosystem. Industrial wastewater has been considered as the major sources of heavy metal pollution in the environment, which create serious toxic effects in living beings (Bharagava et al. 2008, 2014; Chandra et al. 2009, 2011, 2015; Saxena and Bharagava 2015, 2016; Saxena et al. 2016). The levels of metals in environments are increasing in some cases to toxic levels, with contributions from a broad range of industrial and domestic sources. Metal-contaminated environments pose a significant threat to health and ecosystems. Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, silver, etc., cause hypophosphatemia, heart disease and liver damage, cancer and neurological and cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system damage, and sensory disturbances. One of the leading reasons for the abatement of the Roman Empire is believed to be lead poisoning that resulted because of the extensive use of wine stored in pottery lined with lead and lead water pipes. Another example of heavy metal poisoning is the Minamata Bay incident of Japan, which was caused by consumption of fishes and shellfishes contaminated with methylmercury in their body. Metals concentration is linked to congenital disabilities, cancers, skin lesions, retardation leading to disabilities, liver and kidney damage, and a host of other maladies (ATSDR 2001). Hence, almost all heavy metals are called toxic metals.
