Heavy Metals in the Environment – Causes and Consequences

Dear Colleagues,

One of the consequences of industrial and transport development is the increase of heavy metal content in the environment. Human activity is manifested in the creation of new migration routes for these elements, accelerating their circulation and releasing such elements as Pb, Zn, and Cd, which until now have been immobilized in the rocks. The intensification of these negative phenomena was brought about by the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, which initiated a period of irreversible changes, often of a global nature. The highest heavy metal emissions in industrialized countries occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. However, these emissions remain high in developing countries. Heavy metals are found in the air we breathe and the food we eat. This contributes to an increased incidence of many diseases.

Therefore, determining the contemporary levels of heavy metal pollution of air, water, soil, and sediments; trends in concentration changes; determinants of these processes; and threats to living organisms associated with increased levels in the environment becomes extremely important. It is particularly crucial to investigate elements that are toxic to humans, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. The thematic scope of this SI includes the assessment of the pollution level and the associated health risk, determining the main sources of heavy metal emissions into the environment, spatial conditions for the diversity of their concentration in the environment, contemporary trends in content changes, methods for reducing the environmental risk associated with these elements, and remediation of contaminated components. Studies involving more than one element of the environment will be particularly valuable.

Prof. Dr. Wojciech Zgłobicki
Guest Editor

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