Question

What characteristic makes heavy metals a significant threat to living organisms?

• A. Their low density
• B. Their high atomic weight
• C. Their toxicity even at low concentrations
• D. Their rapid biodegradability

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Their toxicity even at 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.