[Woody]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A heavy metal is a member of an ill-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties, which would mainly include the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight, and some on chemical properties or toxicity.[1] The term heavy metal has been called "meaningless and misleading" in an IUPAC technical report due to the contradictory definitions and its lack of a "coherent scientific basis".[1] There is an alternative term toxic metal, for which no consensus of exact definition exists either.

It commonly refers to any element in the d-block of the periodic table, including zinc, cadmium and mercury. This corresponds to groups 3 to 12 on the periodic table. "

No matter what you call them, the toxic effects of ingesting or inhaling too much zinc or other "heavy metals" are well documented. One would be better served to be more concerned with what effects "heavy metals" have while they are in the body rather than the rate at which they are excreeted from the body.