title: Metal Ions in Toxicology: Effects, Interactions, Interdependencies: RSC (Metal Ions in Life Sciences)
author: Astrid Sigel
description: 'Overall this volume provides a quick and comprehensive reference with in-depth analysis and provocative discussion of the roles of normal and aberrant metal ion and metalloid function in various aspects of human health. It is sue reo prove a valuable resource for the discipline and will help spur new research initiatives in the field'.'should be useful for students and researchers in academia and industry, risk assessors and physicians alike'. (<i>Barry Lever</i>)<br /><br />'The volume continues the reputation for excellence established by the editors.''The volume provides a definitive and comprehensive compendium of topics with sufficiently broad detail for the understanding of a wide range of toxicological principles relevant to metal ions and metalloids.''It is sure to prove a valuable resource for the discipline and will helpspur new research initiatives in the field, It should be useful for students and researchers in academia and industry, risk assessors and physicians alike.' (<i>Michael Aschner</i>)
zlib_text: # Part 1  
  Introduction
  
  
  Gaspar Banfalvi (ed.)Cellular Effects of Heavy
  Metals10.1007/978-94-007-0428-2_1(C) Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011
  
  # 1. Heavy Metals, Trace Elements and Their Cellular Effects
  
  Gaspar Banfalvi1
  
  (1)
  
  Department of Microbial Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of
  Debrecen, 1 Egyetem Square, 4010 Debrecen, Hungary
  
  Gaspar Banfalvi
  
  Email: [bgaspar@delfin.klte.hu](mailto:bgaspar@delfin.klte.hu)
  
  Abstract
  
  The book starts with the brief review of chapters. In this chapter heavy
  metals have been redefined as those trace elements that have ≥ 3 g/cm3
  densities and may cause harmful biological effects. The chapter arrived to
  this definition by clarifying first the light elements on the basis of their
  electronic configurations and compatibility with those of bioelements (CHNOPS
  group) in constructing biomolecules. As compatibility criteria the chemical
  bond formation between s-p electrons and p-p electrons were taken, allowing
  the tetrahedral three d