Heavy Metals Contamination in Water and Their Hazardous Effect on Human Health-A Review

The levels of heavy metals contaminations in water like, Pb, As, Cd, Hg, Cr, Ni etc. in various water sources as ground, surface, tap water etc. Variety of heavy metals, some of them are potentially toxic and are transferred to the surrounding environment through different pathways. The concentrations determined were more than the maximum admissible and desirable limit when compared with the National and International organizations like WHO (2008), USEPA, EUC, EPA. Water may become contaminated by the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids through emissions from the rapidly expanding industrial areas, mine tailings, disposal of high metal wastes, leaded gasoline and paints, land application of fertilizers, animal manures, sewage sludge, pesticides, wastewater irrigation, coal, Electronic waste. Heavy metal toxicity has proven to be a major threat and there are several health risks associated with it. The toxic effects of these metals, even though they do not have any biological role, remain present in some or the other form harmful for the human body and its proper functioning.