This can lead to anemia, a reduction in the number of red blood cells. Disruption of subcellular organelles Another type of damage often caused by metals occurs when they disrupt the function of organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, lysozymes or mitochondria. This can happen when metals interfere with the enzymes in the organelle or sometimes by the presence of metal inclusion bodies. In the kidney tubules, mercury causes problems by interfering with the work of the cell membrane. Mercury binds to membrane proteins, disrupting their regular work of reabsorbtion of water and important solutes.
Some metals can cause cancer.
Arsenic, for example, has been linked to lung cancer and skin cancer. Corrosion Lastly, because metals can be in several different charge states, they become easily involved with oxidation and reduction reaction and this can lead to corrosion or oxidative damage. All rights reserved.