**6. Acute health risks associated with dietary exposure of individuals to heavy metals**

Heavy metal contamination is a health menace to both adults and children [52]. When HMs build up in human tissues internally, for instance, when legumes polluted with HMs are eaten for some time, they may harm the central nervous system, and produce seizures, headache and coma [8].

There is scientific evidence that lead may engender neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and impaired haeme synthesis [53]. When children have contact with cadmium through a range of routes, for example the oral route (by feeding on legumes such as chickpeas, cowpea, etc.), they become exceedingly prone to lead intoxication and permanent neurological abnormalities may ensue [54]. Other acute impacts of lead exposure documented in children are inattention, hyperactivity, increased dullness, irritability, headache, convulsion, coma and death [55, 56].

Copper is important for the normal functioning of the brain, but it can be noxious if the cellular concentration surpasses the metabolic requirement [57]. Elevated levels of copper can cause dysfunctions in the working memory of individuals [58], while short-term exposure to copper through dietary and other routes have been linked with stomach pain, haematemesis, melena, jaundice, anorexia

*Health Risks Associated with the Consumption of Legumes Contaminated with Pesticides… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99673*

and vomiting [59]. Moreover, rhabdomyolysis, cardiac and renal failure, hepatic necrosis, haemolysis, methemoglobinemia, encephalopathy, as well as mortality can occur in severe copper toxicity [60]. These harmful acute impacts of high copper levels may be attributed to its induction of oxidative stress, DNA damage and lessening of cell proliferation [61].

Moreover, the distortion of the concentrations of high-density lipoproteins and impairment of the immune system have been ascribed to excessive concentrations of zinc in the bodies of human beings [62]. People are usually exposed to zinc through the ingestion of contaminated food, for instance, legumes, pulses, among others [63].
