Rest easy, metalheads. This article will not be expounding the harmful decibel levels or dubious lyrics of your favorite bands. Instead, it will present a concise overview of a serious health hazard — workplace exposure to heavy metals — and provide practical, relatively simple ways to help guard against their potentially harmful effects.
“Heavy metals” is a term used to describe over a dozen elements that are classified as either metals or metalloids (elements that have both metal and nonmetal characteristics). Examples include arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and manganese. The permanency of these elements (they cannot be degraded or destroyed) means that heavy metals are persistent in all parts of the environment.