HEAVY METALS AND ANIMAL HEALTH: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF TOXICOLOGICAL IMPACTS

zoology

Heavy metal contamination is a significant global challenge affecting animal health, livestock productivity, environmental sustainability, and food safety. Both essential metals (e.g., copper, zinc, iron, manganese, and selenium) and non-essential toxic metals (e.g., lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic) can cause adverse health effects when present at excessive concentrations. Animals are exposed through contaminated feed, water, soil, and air, leading to bioaccumulation and toxicity in vital organs. Heavy metals induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, apoptosis, and disruption of normal metabolic processes, resulting in acute and chronic disorders involving the nervous, hepatic, renal, reproductive, and immune systems. This review summarizes the sources, toxicokinetics, mechanisms of toxicity, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, biomarkers, and pathological effects of heavy metals in animals. It also discusses their impact on animal production, welfare, and food safety, along with current prevention and mitigation strategies, including environmental management, nutritional interventions, chelation therapy, antioxidant supplementation, phytoremediation, and regulatory measures. Emphasizing the One Health concept, this review highlights the need for integrated monitoring, sustainable management practices, and continued research to reduce heavy metal exposure and protect animal, human, and environmental health.

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