A review on the ecotoxicological effects of heavy metals on aquatic organisms-siftdesk

Abstract

In recent years, with the rapid development of the global economy, heavy metals have been widely used in industrial production and daily life because of their unique properties. This, however, has simultaneously led to heavy metal pollution due to various reasons. After entering the aquatic environment, heavy metals are not easily decomposed by microorganisms and become toxic when they reach a certain concentration. Heavy metals can easily enter the liver and other vital organs of aquatic organisms, where they accumulate and severely affect the growth and reproduction of these organisms. They can also threaten human health through the food chain. Therefore, heavy metal pollution has potential ecological and health risks. This paper summarizes the sources and hazards of heavy metals in water, the pattern of enrichment of heavy metals in aquatic organisms, the toxic effects of heavy metals on aquatic organisms, the tolerance mechanism of aquatic animals to heavy metals, and the factors affecting the toxicity of heavy metals. The authors put forward three feasible suggestions for the study of ecotoxicological effects of heavy metals on aquatic organisms in the future. The results of this study have considerable significance for aquaculture and environmental management and even for humans.