Question

At what concentration do heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead pose a significant threat?

• A. High concentrations only
• B. Low concentrations
• C. Moderate concentrations
• D. Only when combined with other pollutants

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Low concentrations

• Heavy metal contamination which poses a serious threat to living organisms of aquatic and soil ecosystems.

• Heavy metals are a distinct group of metals that possess comparatively high densities, atomic numbers, and atomic weights within the periodic table.

• Heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) are considered to pose a significant threat to untargeted living entities due to their toxicity character, even at low concentrations.

• Heavy metals are released into the environment from various sources including mining, urbanization, chemical industry, sewage plants, pesticide plants, biomedical and unsafe agricultural practices.