Atmospheric heavy metals and human health

Abstract

This study aims to increase our knowledge on the concentrations of heavy metals and health risks associated with human exposure to indoor and outdoor dust. Several anthropogenic activities are the source of heavy metals and potential toxic elements, which in excess quantities may be harmful for human health, respiratory, immune, and neurological systems or even cause cancer. Heavy metals carried with dust may enter indoors, resulting in even higher concentrations than outdoors, with deleterious effects for residents, especially for sensitive groups of population. Mitigation strategies should focus more on reduction of heavy metals exposure for better living conditions.