TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Metals and Metalloids A1 - Long, Heather A1 - Nelson, Lewis S. A2 - Tintinalli, Judith E. A2 - Stapczynski, J. Stephan A2 - Ma, O. John A2 - Yealy, Donald M. A2 - Meckler, Garth D. A2 - Cline, David M. Y1 - 2016 N1 - T2 - Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e AB - Acute metal and metalloid toxicity is uncommon but can cause significant morbidity and mortality if unrecognized and inappropriately treated. Metals are chemical elements that possess three general properties: (1) they are a good conductor of heat and electricity, (2) they are able to form cations, and (3) they can combine with nonmetals through ionic bonds. The term heavy metal has a historical tradition in clinical medicine, but has been criticized by chemists as lacking in a precise definition or scientific merit. An alternative term, toxic metal, which also lacks firm definition, is sometimes used instead. In clinical toxicology, the following metals, noted in ascending atomic weight, are usually considered under the concept of "heavy" or "toxic" metal poisoning: beryllium, vanadium, cadmium, barium, osmium, mercury, thallium, and lead, with lead and mercury being the metals most clinically significant concerning human poisoning. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1121500517 ER -