Assessment of Heavy Metals and Related Impacts on Antioxidants and Physiological Parameters in Oil Refinery Workers in Iraq.

Background: Some heavy metals can be harmful to human health in elevated doses such as zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg), while others such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and copper (Cu) have harmful consequences to health even in small doses. Heavy metals and additives are incorporated into crude oil to enhance performance.3,4,5 Crude oil is well known to contain heavy metals like Cu, Cd, Ni and Pb.