Toxicity and Electrochemical Detection of Lead, Cadmium and Nitrite Ions by Organic Conducting Polymers: A Review

Water pollution by heavy metals and nitrite ions is a public health concern around the world because they can degrade the quality of drinking water and cause serious diseases. Lead and cadmium are probably the most dangerous heavy metals. Indeed, lead contamination can affect fertility and pregnancy, cause infantile diseases and other mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Exposure to cadmium can cause death in mammals, and nitrite ions are also very harmful. For all these reasons, it is necessary to find effective techniques to quantify the levels of these pollutants. Recently, there is great hope in the use of organic conducting polymers in the field of heavy metals detection. In this review, we presented studies of the toxicity of several heavy metals and nitrite ions and on their impact on the environment and human health. Also, the recent developments in the use of OCPs and their application in the detection of heavy metals and nitrite ions have been examined.