Trace elements concentrations in drinking water – is there a risk for neurological or psychiatric disorders?

Introduction: Drinking water contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury, chromium, zinc, lead, etc. is becoming a major health concern. Some trace elements have been linked to neurotoxic effects and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, although there is still an area for further investigations on how they may affect neurological and psychiatric illnesses. It is widely acknowledged that the generation of reactive oxygen species causes oxidative damage and other detrimental health effects, and is the main mechanism underlying heavy metal-induced toxicity in contaminated drinking water. The aim: The main objective of this narrative review was to summarize the current knowledge regarding the concentrations of chosen trace elements in drinking water and their possible relationship with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Material and method: The available literature was reviewed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences platforms. The analysis included both reviews and original studies. Discussion: Some elements such as aluminum, arsenic, lithium, or nickel have been suggested to be risk factors for psychoneurological disorders. Further, studies suggest that some neurobehavioral disorders might be due to the collective action of metals in drinking water. Keywords: trace elements; drinking water; contamination; neurological disorder; psychiatric disorder