Mecanismos de toxicidad de metales considerados como contaminantes atmosfe'ricos en Me'xico.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Mecanismos de toxicidad de metales considerados como contaminantes atmosfe'ricos en Me'xico.
Alternate Title: Toxicity Mechanisms of Metals Classified as Atmospheric Pollutants in Mexico.
Authors: Bizarro-Nevares, Martha Patricia1, Rojas-Lemus, Marcela1, González-Villalva, Adriana1, López-Valdez, Nelly1, Casarrubias-Tabarez, Brenda1, Cervantes-Valencia, María Eugenia1, Ustarroz-Cano, Martha1, Rodríguez-Zepeda, Armando1, Morales-Ricardes, Guadalupe2, Villafaña-Guillén, Nancy3, van der Goes, Teresa I. Fortoul1 fortoul@unam.mx
Source: Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM. ene/feb2026, Vol. 69 Issue 1, p9-21. 13p.
Subjects: METALS, AIR pollutants, INDUSTRIAL pollution, ION transport (Biology), POISONS, OXIDATIVE stress
Geographic Terms: MEXICO
Abstract (English): Uncontrolled industrialization in cities has led to a global environmental pollution problem. Industrial emissions of toxic compounds in gases and vapors, together with the burning of fossil fuels, are the main sources of pollution. Many metallic elements and their compounds contaminate the air, soil and bodies of water. Some of these elements, such as copper, iron and manganese, act as cofactors for enzymes that perform vital functions. However, exposure to concentrations higher than recommended can be toxic. It has been proven that other metals do not perform metabolic functions in cells, rather, they are toxic, as is the case with lead, chromium and cadmium, to name a few. The toxic effects of metals lead to health deterioration and can even generate different types of cancer. Various organs are reported to be targets of metal toxicity; for example, publications describe respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, digestive, and immunological, as well as reproductive issues. Once metals enter the body, they are distributed through the bloodstream via ion channels or essential metal transporters. Cellular damage caused by metals includes generating oxidative stress, mimicking essential metals, causing genotoxic damage, modifying the cell cycle, inhibiting or inducting of gene expression, and modulating signaling pathways. This work outlines the primary toxic mechanisms of action of chromium, nickel, copper, lead, cobalt, manganese, cadmium and vanadium, which are among the metals reported as atmospheric pollutants at Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): La industrialización descontrolada en las urbes ha generado un problema de contaminación ambiental en todo el mundo. La emisión industrial de gases y vapores con compuestos tóxicos, aunado a la quema de combustibles fósiles son las principales fuentes de contaminación. Gran parte de los elementos metálicos y sus compuestos contaminan el aire, el suelo y los cuerpos de agua; algunos de ellos, como el cobre, el hierro o el manganeso, sirven de cofactores para enzimas que realizan funciones vitales, pero cuando los organismos se exponen a concentraciones mayores a las recomendadas, son potencialmente tóxicos. De otros metales se ha comprobado que no tienen funciones metabólicas en las células; por el contrario, son tóxicos, como son los casos del plomo, del cromo y del cadmio. Los efectos tóxicos de los metales conducen al deterioro de la salud e incluso pueden generar diferentes tipos de cáncer. Existe evidencia reportada de que diversos órganos son blancos de la toxicidad de los metales; por ejemplo, hay publicaciones que describen alteraciones respiratorias, neurológicas, cardiovasculares, hepáticas, renales, digestivas, inmunológicas, reproductivas, etc. Una vezque los metales ingresan al organismo se distribuyen por el torrente sanguíneo y entran a las células por canales iónicos o transportadores de metales esenciales. El daño celular por metales incluye la generación de estrés oxidante, mimetizar a los metales esenciales, producir daño genotóxico, modificar el ciclo celular, inhibir o inducir la expresión de genes y modular vías de señalización. En este trabajo se incluyen los principales mecanismos tóxicos de acción del cromo, del níquel, del cobre, del plomo, del cobalto, del manganeso, del cadmio y del vanadio, que son algunos de los metales reportados como contaminantes atmosféricos en México. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: MedicLatina
Description
Abstract:Uncontrolled industrialization in cities has led to a global environmental pollution problem. Industrial emissions of toxic compounds in gases and vapors, together with the burning of fossil fuels, are the main sources of pollution. Many metallic elements and their compounds contaminate the air, soil and bodies of water. Some of these elements, such as copper, iron and manganese, act as cofactors for enzymes that perform vital functions. However, exposure to concentrations higher than recommended can be toxic. It has been proven that other metals do not perform metabolic functions in cells, rather, they are toxic, as is the case with lead, chromium and cadmium, to name a few. The toxic effects of metals lead to health deterioration and can even generate different types of cancer. Various organs are reported to be targets of metal toxicity; for example, publications describe respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, digestive, and immunological, as well as reproductive issues. Once metals enter the body, they are distributed through the bloodstream via ion channels or essential metal transporters. Cellular damage caused by metals includes generating oxidative stress, mimicking essential metals, causing genotoxic damage, modifying the cell cycle, inhibiting or inducting of gene expression, and modulating signaling pathways. This work outlines the primary toxic mechanisms of action of chromium, nickel, copper, lead, cobalt, manganese, cadmium and vanadium, which are among the metals reported as atmospheric pollutants at Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00261742
DOI:10.22201/fm.24484865e.2026.69.1.02