Heavy metal absorption

Heavy metal absorption is the process by which living organisms take up and accumulate heavy metals from their environment through specific and non-specific transporters and binding proteins. In higher organisms (including humans), absorption primarily occurs across the intestinal tract, where heavy metals may exploit native metal transport pathways (such as via Divalent Metal Transporter 1 [DMT1], ZIP14, ATP7A, and specific ABC transporters)[1][2]. Once absorbed, metals may bind to proteins like metallothioneins or glutathione, which sequester and detoxify them to varying extents[1][2][4]. Disruption of these processes contributes to metal toxicity, as heavy metal ions can mimic or displace essential metals, perturb enzyme activity, damage DNA and membranes, and induce oxidative stress[4][5]. Absorption and storage mechanisms vary considerably by organism and metal species, with substantial involvement of cytosolic and membrane-associated proteins[1][2][4][5]. "Heavy metal absorption" is therefore a complex physiological process involving numerous specific molecular targets, rather than a single defined molecular entity.

Chelation and enhanced excretion of absorbed heavy metals by chelating agents Competitive inhibition or blockade of metal transporters to limit uptake