Recent Trends in Heavy Metal Poisoning and Management: A Concise Review

Heavy metal poisoning is a global challenge, causing a major threat to public health and safety. It captures specific regional and national problems, such as arsenic contamination in India and parts of Asia, and lead contamination in urban soils from road construction and related activities in both developing and developed countries. These metals are linked to several pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. This review explores emerging trends in the incidence, routes of exposure, risk assessment, and management of heavy metal toxicity, with particular focus on vulnerable populations and geographic hotspots. New routes of exposure include the addition of mercury to skin-lightening creams, industrial emissions, contaminated nanomaterials, food and supplements contaminated with heavy metals, and inhalation of airborne particles from industrial activities such as rock blasting and waste incineration. These have increased exposure to these toxic metals at very harmful concentrations. Additionally, the influence of environmental factors such as climate change, advances in detection, and novel analytical techniques is being explored. The current review also highlights novel strategies for managing these toxicities in clinical and environmental settings. Strategies include optimized approaches in nanotechnology, e.g., coating nanoparticles with red blood cell membranes and loading them with di-mercaptosuccinic acid; the development of more targeted and effective chelating agents; phytotherapy; and nanotechnology-based detoxification through the microbial community. Overall, this review highlights the importance of scientific innovation, education, and environmental safety policies as tools for reducing the risks posed by exposure to toxic metals and ensuring the sustainable management of heavy metal poisoning.

Key Words: Heavy metals, exposure pathways, mechanisms, chelating therapy, nanotechnology-based therapy