Heavy metals: cadmium, lead, arsenic, tin and mercury

Certain metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, tin and mercury are naturally occurring chemical compounds. They can be present at various levels in the environment, particularly in soil, water and the atmosphere. Some metals may also be present as residues in foodstuffs as a result of their presence in the environment, which may be caused by human activities such as agriculture, industry or vehicle exhaust, or as a result of contamination during the processing or storage of foodstuffs. Humans can be exposed to these metals through the environment or by consuming contaminated food or water. The accumulation of these metals in the body can have harmful effects over time.