The Pros And Cons Of Heavy Metal

Heavy metals of interest
As mentioned in the Background chapter, only 5 heavy metals are selected for study in the thesis. The heavy metals were selected because of their availability and the low level of hazards associated with them. For example, even though initially the study of the removal of arsenic (As) was the objective of the thesis, it was not feasible to perform due to of the dangers associated while working with arsenic. Similarly cadmium (Cd) is another heavy metal whose removal from wastewater is as vital as the removal of any other metals chosen for study but because cadmium is so highly carcinogenic and banned from all over Europe, it is not easily available for experiments.

Manganese, as many other heavy metals, is mostly used in alloys such as steel to increase strength and durability. Other uses include additive in gasoline, in paint pigments, in batteries and coloring in ceramics and paints. Manganese also plays an important role in the human body in making bones stronger; it also helps in proper functioning of liver and kidneys. However, high level of exposure to manganese is extremely dangerous causing neurological disorders, toxicity to the nervous system and is associated to syndromes resembling Parkinsonism especially in children (Department of public health). Infants and young kids are more fragile to manganese poisoning as their bodies are constantly growing and accumulate manganese at a much higher rate than excrete it. Manganese usually get into groundwater streams after being in contact with manganese rich rocks in the aquifer or when naturally present manganese in soil erodes into these water (EPA, 2004). The major anthropogenic sources of environmental manganese include municipal wastewater discharges, sewage sludge, 11mining and mineral processing, emissions from alloy, steel, and iron production, combustion of fossil fuels, and, to a much lesser extent, emissions from the combustion of fuel additives. (World Health Organization,

Copper is used in many industries and in daily life. Because of its good electrical conductivity, copper is mainly used in electrical appliances and wirings, like nickel it is also used in alloying of other metals and is used in coins in combination with nickels. Not only in industries but copper can also help in protecting lakes, ponds and rivers as copper sulphate are used to get rid of fungi and algae from the streams. However, like any other heavy metal, long term exposure to copper can be hazardous causing vomiting, nausea, cramps and in some extreme cases it has been associated with liver and kidney damage. Infants and young children have been associated being more vulnerable to hazards of copper. Copper gets into the drinking water as a result of copper pipes used in the distribution network or 12 household plumbing. When the water sits idle in the corroded copper pipes, it tends to leach the copper and contaminate the tap water. Naturally copper is present in very low amounts in either surface or groundwater. However, as a result of mining, excessive use of agricultural pesticides, manufacturing operations, smelting, industrial discharge and untreated or poorly/treated wastewater released into the water bodies leads to the high concentration of copper in