heavy metal

A very imprecise term, never defined by any authoritive body, used loosely to refer to both the element and its compounds. It is based on categorization by density, which is rarely a biologically significant property. It is often used as a group name for metals and metalloids that have been associated with contamination and potential toxicity or ecotoxicity. However, the assumption that all so-called "heavy metals" and their compounds have highly toxic or ecotoxic properties is not supported by facts. Even further, the list of "heavy metals" is not clearly defined and has no basis in their chemistry. Even the term "metal" is commonly misused in both toxicological literature and in legislation to mean the pure metal and all the chemical species in which it may exist.

Very often, ther term "heavy metals" is used, based on one of the following "definitions":

The use of the term "heavy metals"  is highly discorouged  by IUPAC.




The term "heavy metal" was found in the following pages:

Fractionation as a first step towards speciation analysis | EVISA's News
Study links high levels of cadmium and lead in blood to pregnancy delay | EVISA's News
Link database: EFSA: Cadmium in food - Scientific opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain
Instrument database: Beijing Rayleigh Analytical Instrument Corporation (BRAIC) - AF-610A Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometer
Link database: Blacksmith Institute: Industrial Estates - Lead Pollution
TraceSpec 2016: 15th Workshop on Progress in Trace Metal Speciation for Environmental Analytical Chemistry | EVISA's Agenda of Events
Link database: eMedicine: Toxicity, Heavy Metals
Link database: Life Extension: Heavy Metal Toxicity
Uptake of mercury species by fruit flies | EVISA's News
Link database: CBI: The Netherlands legislation: Packaging and packaging waste
Link database: Mercury concentrations in the Canadian population, 2007 to 2009
Quantification of copper chlorophylls in green table olives | EVISA's News
ICBTECE 2021: 15. International Conference on Biogeochemistry, Trace Elements and Chemical Engineering | EVISA's Agenda of Events
Scientific publications citing EVISA | EVISA's News
ISBOMC' 08: 4th International Symposium on Bioorganometallic Chemistry | EVISA's Agenda of Events
How mercury gets into the sea | EVISA's News
EU ratification propels global Minamata Convention on Mercury into force | EVISA's News
Link database: Blacksmith Institute: mercury pollution
Dietary mercury exposure: Mercury isotopes can tell the source | EVISA's News
Arsenic-absorbing fern may soak up toxic metal to repel hungry bugs, UF researchers say | EVISA's News