Study on the Effect of Excess of Lead, Cadmium and Nickel on Plants and Humans

Departamento de Química e Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Brazil

Abstract: The contamination of the soil by the disposal of toxic substances has acquired, in recent years, a greater attention of the scientific community that has alerted the population of the countries, in general, to the consequences, especially, the pathologies that can occur when these substances enter our food chain. The aim of this study was to present the sources of contamination and toxicity of cadmium, lead and nickel, when these are at high levels in plants, especially when cultivation is carried out in previously contaminated soil. The high dosage of these metals can cause in humans different types of cancer, lesions in the stomach and lungs, as well as important changes in the immune and central nervous systems. On the other hand, in the attempt to decontaminate the soils bearing these metals, the researchers try to develop several remediation methodologies, even using plants with recognized absorption power.