Heavy metals as toxicants in big cities

Heavy Metals (HMs) can exert detrimental effects on human health and on the environment. Their ecotoxicological properties are generally well known. As regards human toxicology, new aspects should be taken into consideration-gender and age dependence. The HMs chemical risk can be estimated and in this context, city demography data help to evaluate today's ecological situation (including HMs) and to predict the dynamics of future urbanization. As regards urban atmosphere, motor vehicles (Pb) and industry (V, Ni, Cr, Cd) exert the greatest influence; water, soil, vegetation also experience menace caused by HMs. Urban environments should be protected against contamination posed by HMs: the health status of big cities is dependent on adequate and safe supply of water. Vegetation plays a helpful role in reducing HM content in the atmosphere and the soil. Awareness of the inhabitants regarding the risks posed by HMs also counts as critical factor today. Ecoeducation at the beginning of the new century can be taken into consideration. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.