People’s exposure to such heavy metals as zinc and copper leads to diverse negative effects on their health due to the toxicity of these metals. Copper is classified as moderately toxic, while zinc is highly toxic, but both of them negatively influence people’s health (Bhargava, Gupta, Vats, & Goel, 2017). For instance, if a considerable amount of copper is ingested, people may develop liver toxicity and anemia that can lead to human death (Mahurpawar, 2015). Karim (2018) emphasizes that this heavy metal is specifically dangerous during prenatal development and for the newborn. It has been found that pregnant women’s exposure to copper and zinc through ingestion or inhaling can lead to various developmental abnormalities and the incidence of hereditary disorders in their children (Titma, Shimmo, Siigur, & Kahru, 2016).
People’s exposure to these heavy metals through inhaling is common for neighborhoods located in proximity to e-waste recycling zones or other industrial facilities and results in a high incidence of cancer in adults and children (Huang et al., 2016; Zeng, Xu, Boezen, & Huo, 2016). People living near busy roads are also exposed to zinc and copper, which leads to the development of respiratory disorders (for instance, asthma) (Dietrich, Wolfe, Burke, & Krekeler, 2019; Zhou et al., 2014).
Moreover, zinc and copper that can be found in house dust or water also contribute to the development of cancer (Neisi et al., 2016; Izah, Chakrabarty, & Srivastav, 2016). The prolonged inhale of copper and zinc particles leads to the development of neurodegenerative and neurological diseases, and children and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups (Heusinkveld et al., 2016). Therefore, it is clear that people’s exposure to zinc and copper is associated with adverse health outcomes that can affect all systems including the immune, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive (Fortoul et al., 2015; Xu, Zeng, Boezen, & Huo, 2015).
References
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