The article "Heavy Metal Exposure: Molecular Pathways, Clinical Implications, and Protective Strategies" by Hajime Koyama, Teru Kamogashira, and Tatsuya Yamasoba discusses the significant threat posed by heavy metals to human health. Heavy metals, including lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, are often found in soil and drinking water, leading to various health issues. The authors explore the molecular pathways through which heavy metals cause cellular damage, such as apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondrial stress, which are also implicated in cellular senescence and aging. Recent studies have shown that antioxidants can effectively mitigate heavy metal-induced damage, shifting the focus to understanding the interplay between antioxidants and heavy metals. The article reviews the clinical implications of heavy metal exposure, including acute and chronic toxicity, and the resulting diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, hepatitis, reproductive problems, and cancer. It also discusses the pathophysiology of these clinical disorders, highlighting the complex interactions between different organs and the cumulative effects of multiple heavy metals. In terms of protective strategies, the article covers both post-treatment and pretreatment approaches. Post-treatment methods include chelation therapy, which uses chelating agents to bind and remove heavy metals from the body, and stoichiometric antioxidants to counteract oxidative stress. Pretreatment strategies involve using antioxidants to prevent heavy metal overload and protect against oxidative stress. The article also mentions senolytic drugs, which induce apoptosis in senescent cells, as a promising approach to protect against heavy metal toxicity. The authors conclude that advancements in understanding heavy metal toxicity can inform the development of anti-aging and anti-cancer agents, emphasizing the importance of further research in this area.The article "Heavy Metal Exposure: Molecular Pathways, Clinical Implications, and Protective Strategies" by Hajime Koyama, Teru Kamogashira, and Tatsuya Yamasoba discusses the significant threat posed by heavy metals to human health. Heavy metals, including lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, are often found in soil and drinking water, leading to various health issues. The authors explore the molecular pathways through which heavy metals cause cellular damage, such as apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondrial stress, which are also implicated in cellular senescence and aging. Recent studies have shown that antioxidants can effectively mitigate heavy metal-induced damage, shifting the focus to understanding the interplay between antioxidants and heavy metals. The article reviews the clinical implications of heavy metal exposure, including acute and chronic toxicity, and the resulting diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, hepatitis, reproductive problems, and cancer. It also discusses the pathophysiology of these clinical disorders, highlighting the complex interactions between different organs and the cumulative effects of multiple heavy metals. In terms of protective strategies, the article covers both post-treatment and pretreatment approaches. Post-treatment methods include chelation therapy, which uses chelating agents to bind and remove heavy metals from the body, and stoichiometric antioxidants to counteract oxidative stress. Pretreatment strategies involve using antioxidants to prevent heavy metal overload and protect against oxidative stress. The article also mentions senolytic drugs, which induce apoptosis in senescent cells, as a promising approach to protect against heavy metal toxicity. The authors conclude that advancements in understanding heavy metal toxicity can inform the development of anti-aging and anti-cancer agents, emphasizing the importance of further research in this area.