heavy metal contamination
HEV-ee MET-ul kon-tam-ih-NAY-shun
ˈhɛvi ˈmɛtəl kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃənListen
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Dictionary meaning
the presence of metallic elements with high atomic weight and density, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium, in soil, water, or air at concentrations that exceed natural background levels and cause harm to living organisms; heavy metals enter the environment through mining, smelting, industrial discharge, agricultural use of contaminated fertilisers, and the burning of fossil fuels; unlike organic pollutants they cannot be broken down and persist indefinitely, accumulating in food chains; heavy metal contamination of soil and groundwater poses severe public health risks and requires costly remediation
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