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Carcinogenesis induced by environmental metal exposure is a major public health concern. The exact mechanisms underlying metal carcinogenesis remain elusive. In the past few decades, the relationship between metal-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the mechanism of metal carcinogenesis has been established. The carcinogenic process is a very complex one. In the early stage of metal carcinogenesis or cell transformation, high levels of ROS are oncogenic by causing DNA damage, genetic instability, epigenetic alteration, and metabolic reprogramming, leading to malignant transformation. In the second stage of metal carcinogenesis or the cancer development of metal-transformed cells, low levels of ROS are carcinogenic by promoting apoptosis resistance. The metal-transformed cells have the property of autophagy deficiency, resulting in accumulation of p62 and …