Dynamics and clinical effects of nonferrous metals in the human body

Pollution from toxic metal fumes and dusts occurs in many industrial situations. Exposed workers may experience occupational diseases directly related to poisoning from metallic elements. Studies have shown that the major route of absorption of metals is by inhalation. Once absorbed, distribution to various tissues and excretion from the body differ between metals. Multiphasic retention times have been described for many metals with a proportion of the body burden being eliminated very slowly. Biological half-lives range across many years. Whilst blood or urine levels of metals may reflect current exposure, once exposure ceases these levels may not be good indicators of remaining body burden. Acute and chronic health effects occur after exposure. A wide range of chronic disease including many respiratory diseases (emphysema, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosis and asthma), together with neurological, haematological, hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects, has been reported.