How do heavy metals impact aquatic ecosystems?

Heavy metals can be particularly harmful to aquatic ecosystems because they can be toxic even at low concentrations. This toxicity arises from their ability to bioaccumulate in organisms. As aquatic organisms, such as fish and invertebrates, absorb these metals from their environment, the concentration of heavy metals can increase in their tissues over time, leading to detrimental health effects.

At low concentrations, heavy metals can interfere with biological processes, impair reproduction, damage gills and nervous systems, and lead to decreased growth rates in aquatic organisms. This disruption can cascade through the food web, affecting the entire ecosystem, including predators that rely on these organisms for food.

Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, do not break down in the environment like organic pollutants; instead, they persist in sediments and continue to pose risks to aquatic life and, consequently, to human health when these organisms are consumed. Thus, understanding the potential impacts of heavy metals is crucial for the management and protection of aquatic ecosystems.