INTRODUCTION

Definition of a Heavy Metal

"Heavy metals" are chemical elements with a specific gravity that is at least 5 times the
specific gravity of water. The specific gravity of water is 1 at 4C (39F).
There are 35 metals that concern us due to occupational or residential exposure; 23 of these
are the heavy elements or "heavy metals": antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cerium,
chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum,
silver, tellurium, thallium, tin, uranium, vanadium, and zinc (Glanze,1996). In small
quantities, certain heavy metals are nutritionally necessary for a healthy life. Some of these
are referred to as the trace elements (e.g., iron, copper, manganese, and zinc).Although small
amount of these metals are beneficial, large number of them are toxic. Heavy metals become
poisoning when they are not metabolized by the body and store in the soft tissues. When they
come in contact with humans in agriculture and in manufacturing, pharmaceutical, industrial,
or residential settings, heavy metals may enter the human body through food, water, air, or
absorption through the skin (Roberts,1999). One of these heavy metals poisoning is zinc
toxicity which is our topic.

ZINC
Zinc which is a metallic chemical element is found very easy around the world. Pure zinc
is a bluish white and shining metal. Even though it is extremely brittle at average room
temperature, when it is heated it becomes malleable, soft, and easily worked . It is classified
in the transition metals. Zinc is identified with the symbol Zn on the periodic table, and the
metal has an atomic number of 30.
Where Found

Compounds used to make paint, rubber, dyes, wood preservatives, and ointments

Rust prevention coatings

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Zinc chloride

Zinc oxide (relatively nonharmful)

Zinc acetate

Zinc sulfate

Heated or burned galvanized metal (releases zinc fumes)

HISTORY OF ZINC

'False silver' (pseudargyras in Greek) was the first description given of zinc, by Strabos
in the passage describing Andriera in Mysia(Mathewson,1970,p-1). Humans have been
using zinc for thousands of years. In the 1500s, it began to be imported into Europe, where a
costly metal. The biggest zinc mine in the world is the Red Dog mine, located in
Alaska(Mukherjee,2011,para-5).

ZINC POISONING: