Lecture outline: 1. Environment of the Czech Republic - Historical development with regard to inorganic pollutants. 2. Characteristics of heavy metals and their influence on human health. 3. Selected metals in the environment: Fe, Hg, As, Cd, Pb.

Heavy metals have accompanied mankind throughout its existence. By human activity, however, they are getting into the environment at an unprecedented rate. For most individuals, food and diet are the most important sources of these potentially toxic elements. Some may be necessary and beneficial (e.g. chromium, iron or copper), while others (such as cadmium, lead and mercury) show no useful biological function.