The genotoxic burden of toxic metals: bridging molecular mechanisms, biomonitoring, and multidisciplinary interventions

Abstract

We review the genotoxic effects of trace metal exposure and evaluate an efficient treatment strategy. Toxic metal(loid)s cause significant risks to animal health and ecosystems because of their toxicity and bioaccumulation potential. We then examine the mechanisms of genotoxicity, which include direct DNA damage, oxidative stress, epigenetic alterations, and interference with DNA repair mechanisms. This review highlights the health implications of toxic metal exposure: symptoms like increased cancer risks, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and chronic health disorders. Various assessment and biomonitoring techniques for toxic metal genotoxicity, including biomarkers like DNA adducts and chromosomal aberrations, and analytical methods such as the comet assay and PCR-based molecular assays, are discussed. We evaluate treatment strategies, including chelation therapy, antioxidant supplementation, and phytoremediation, emphasizing their efficacy and limitations. The importance of regulatory frameworks, public health interventions, and environmental remediation programs in mitigating toxic metal exposure is also discussed. We identify research gaps in understanding the long-term effects of low-dose chronic exposure and interactions between multiple toxic metals. This comprehensive review contributes to the field by synthesizing current knowledge on toxic metal genotoxicity and treatment strategies. We provide valuable insights for researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers toward the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies. We emphasize challenges and future directions and highlight the importance of continued research in this critical area of public health and environmental science.