A.A. Sherstneva1,
A.V.
Galchenko2
1 Nelyubin
Institute of Pharmacy of Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of
Higher Education,
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University),
Trubetskaya st., 8/2, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
2 Melodia Vitae, Earth
(Download)
ABSTRACT. Technological
progress is rapidly growing, but the side effect of this process is an increase
in the anthropogenic impact on the environment. These factors can cause serious
ecological problems. Uncontrolled hunting and exploitation of animals leads to
the extinction of many species. The widespread use of plastic products results
in large amounts of plastic waste that is not biodegradable and breaks up into
micro- and nanoplastics. These particles accumulate in living organisms and can
cause toxicity. Deforestation (especially of tropical forests) to the needs of
urbanization and agriculture leads to climate change and extinction of many
species of plants and animals. Industrial development and farming cause the
large production of greenhouse gases (CO2,
CH4). This leads to a
greenhouse effect and climate change. Waste of metallurgical, chemical,
pharmaceutical industries, as well as household waste, enters the environment
in large quantities, contaminating it. A large number of chemical elements,
including post-transition metals, can be considered as anthropogenic
pollutants. The purpose of this manuscript was to overview the facts of
environmental pollution with post-transition metals.
These
metals are naturally present in the Earth's crust, however, their use in the
industrial cycle has significantly increased their release into the
environment. Many of them are emitted to the environment during the combustion
of coal and oil, use and disposal of products, as the
waste from industrial plants. Extensive pollution of water, soil, and air has
been discovered. The accumulation of metals in living organisms is risky since
in this way they become a component of the food chain and have a toxic effect
on organisms. To date, some sources of pollution are already being restricted,
e.g., more environmentally friendly alternatives are chosen, the use of leaded
gasoline, Pb or Sn paints in many countries are limited. Some elements, such as Ga, In,
Tl, became especially widespread with
the development of the electronics. Given the exponential growth of this
industry and the lack of eco-friendly recycling ways, severe environmental
pollution by these metals may develop. To date, it already occurs in areas of
e-waste in some countries, such as Ghana, Nigeria, India, where the
accumulation of Ga, In, Tl
is found not only in the environment, but also in plants, animals, and people.
Increased emissions of industrial untreated waste can lead to acute toxic
stress for the entire planet. The development of optimal methods for the
production and utilization of these metals and their compounds is crucial in
order to preserve the biosphere.
KEYWORDS:
environment, ecological crisis, biogeochemistry, biohazard, aluminum, gallium,
indium, tin, thallium, lead, bismuth.