Progress in the Research of the Toxicity Effect Mechanisms of Heavy Metals on Freshwater Organisms and Their Water Quality Criteria in China

Table 1

Potential toxic effects of heavy metals and the current maximum harmful concentration levels (MCL) and GB3838-2002 in China.

Heavy metal	Hazards	MCL (mg/L)	GB3838-2002 in China (mg/L)	References
As	Cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder, and kidneys; cancer and other internal tumor diseases; vascular diseases and diabetes; infant mortality and weight loss of newborns; hearing loss; developmental abnormalities and neurobehavioral disorders	0.05	0.05	[18–20]
Pb	Anemia; cancer; kidney disease; neurological impairment; mental retardation; mental impairment; and behavioral problems in children	6.0 × 10^−3	0.05	[21–23]
Hg	Damage to the immunity of the renal reproductive system; damage to the blood, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems and the brain	3.0 × 10^−5	1.0 × 10^−4	[24–26]
Cd	Renal cancer damage; bronchiolitis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; emphysema; fibrotic bone damage	0.01	5.0 × 10^−3	[27–29]
Cr	Severe diarrhea; vomiting; pulmonary congestion; liver and kidney damage	0.05	0.05	[30–32]
Cu	Increased blood pressure and breathing; kidney and liver damage; convulsions, spasms, vomiting, and even death	0.25	1.0	[21, 33, 34]
Zn	Gastric nausea; skin irritation; spasms; vomiting; and anemia	0.8	1.0	[21, 35]
Se	Gastrointestinal discomforts; hair and nail loss; fatigue; cardiac arrhythmia; and nerve injuries	/	0.01	[36]
Ni	Dry coughing; bone, nose, and lung cancer; shortness of breath; chest tightness and chest pain; nausea and vomiting; dizziness and headache	0.2	/	[37–39]
Sb	Damage to tissue; cancer; inhibition of enzyme activities	6.0 × 10^−3	5.0 × 10^−3	[6, 40]