Unraveling the health effects of heavy metal exposure in women through biological fluid biomonitoring.

Heavy metal exposure is a major public health concern owing to its environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects on human health. Women are particularly susceptible to heavy metal toxicity because of physiological and hormonal factors that influence reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic functions. Exposure to metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic has been linked to reproductive disorders, hormonal imbalance, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and chronic diseases. For instance, elevated blood lead levels have been consistently associated with low birth weight and preterm delivery, while chronic cadmium exposure, measured through blood and urine, has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and bone demineralization in women. Biological fluid biomonitoring, including the analysis of blood, urine, saliva, and other biofluids, provides a reliable approach for assessing internal metal burden and exposure-related health risks. This review examines the application of biological fluid analysis in detecting heavy metal exposure in women and highlights the associated health effects and gender-specific toxicological responses. The findings emphasize the importance of biomonitoring in early risk assessment, disease prevention, and the development of targeted public health interventions to mitigate the impact of heavy metal toxicity on women's health.