典型的有毒重金属是镉、汞和铅,[4]它们被收录在世界卫生组织(World Health Organization)发布的要求公众关注的十大化学品名录中。名录中其他化学品是锰、铬(六价铬)、钴、镍、铜、锌、银、锑、铊。[6]
A 25-英尺(7.6-米) wall of coal fly ash contaminated with toxic heavy metals, resulting from the release of 5.4 million cubic yards of coal fly ash slurry into the Emory River, Tennessee, and nearby land and water features, in December 2008.[7] 在泥浆和河水样本中检测出了高剂量的砷、铜、钡、铬、镉、铅、汞、镍、铊。[8] 清除污染的成本要超过十二亿美元。[9]
Zhang, Hongling; Walker, Tony R.; Davis, Emily; Ma, Guofeng. Ecological risk assessment of metals in small craft harbour sediments in Nova Scotia, Canada. Marine Pollution Bulletin. September 2019, 146: 466–475. PMID 31426182. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.06.068.
Pourret, Olivier. On the Necessity of Banning the Term "Heavy Metal" from the Scientific Literature. Sustainability. August 2018, 10 (8): 2879. doi:10.3390/su10082879.
Qureshi, Shabnam; Richards, Brian K.; McBride, Murray B.; Baveye, Philippe; Steenhuis, Tammo S. Temperature and Microbial Activity Effects on Trace Element Leaching from Metalliferous Peats. Journal of Environmental Quality. 2003, 32 (6): 2067–75. PMID 14674528. doi:10.2134/jeq2003.2067.