Sources of Various Heavy Metal Ions

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in the environment has been of serious concern due to the risk they pose to the bioata. The environmental fate of these metals still remains a discussion of continuous research in the scientific community. Understanding the different sources from which these metals are introduced into the environment becomes necessary so as to help the environmentalist and industrialist quantify their presence in the environment and as such propose possible and suitable remediation/abatement technology for their removal. Natural and anthropogenic sources are the main means of their release into the environment. Weathering of rocks and minerals, volcanic activity, and soil erosion brought on by living organisms are some of the basic natural ways through which they are being released into the environment. They are also dispersed in the environment through transport and power generation, industrial effluents, domestic effluents, organic wastes and burning of refuse. This chapter provides an overview of the sources of heavy metals in the environment.