Toxicity of heavy metals and bioremediation

Heavy metals, such as uranium, chromium, and murcury, can elicit various acute and chronic toxicities influencing almost all organs throughout the body. For example, the toxic effects of heavy metals can impact the gastrointestinal system, the kidneys, the nervous system, the skin, the heart and lungs, and the immune system. In addition, exposure to toxic heavy metals can result in birth defects and cancer. Bioremediation details the process of cleaning up a polluted environment, particularly when applying microbes or enzymes to toxic heavy metals to convert them into a less toxic form.