Environmental behavior, human health effect, and pollution control of heavy metal(loid)s toward full life cycle processes

Haoyu Deng; Yuling Tu; Han Wang; Ziyi Wang; Yanyu Li; Liyuan Chai; Wenchao Zhang; Zhang Lin

doi:10.1016/j.eehl.2022.11.003

Environmental behavior, human health effect, and pollution control of heavy metal(loid)s toward full life cycle processes

Eco Environ Health. 2022 Nov 29;1(4):229-243. doi: 10.1016/j.eehl.2022.11.003. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Haoyu Deng¹, Yuling Tu¹, Han Wang^{1

2}, Ziyi Wang¹, Yanyu Li¹, Liyuan Chai^{1

2}, Wenchao Zhang^{1

2}, Zhang Lin^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
² Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
³ School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangdong 510006, China.

Abstract

Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) have caused serious environmental pollution and health risks. Although the past few years have witnessed the achievements of studies on environmental behavior of HMs, the related toxicity mechanisms, and pollution control, their relationship remains a mystery. Researchers generally focused on one topic independently without comprehensive considerations due to the knowledge gap between environmental science and human health. Indeed, the full life cycle control of HMs is crucial and should be reconsidered with the combination of the occurrence, transport, and fate of HMs in the environment. Therefore, we started by reviewing the environmental behaviors of HMs which are affected by a variety of natural factors as well as their physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the related toxicity mechanisms were discussed according to exposure route, toxicity mechanism, and adverse consequences. In addition, the current state-of-the-art of available technologies for pollution control of HMs wastewater and solid wastes were summarized. Finally, based on the research trend, we proposed that advanced in-operando characterizations will help us better understand the fundamental reaction mechanisms, and big data analysis approaches will aid in establishing the prediction model for risk management.

Keywords: Environment; Full life cycle; Heavy metal(loid)s; Pollution control; Toxicity.

Publication types

Review