APES U8: Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution

• what groups of chemical toxins are part of the Dirty Dozen?

  PCBs, DDT, Dioxins
• what are the sources of PCBs?

  pesticides

  fire-retardent materials
• what are the sources of DDT?

  pesticides (insecticides)
• what are the human impacts of PCBs?

  neurotoxin -> brain damage to fetus

  endocrine disruptors -> reproductive cancers
• what are the ecological impacts of DDT?

  biomagnifies -> damages egg shells of predatory birds
• what are the sources of phthalates?

  plastics

  cosmetics (hairspray, perfume, nail polish)
• what are the human/ecological impacts of phthalates?

  endocrine disruptor -> feminization of males

  reproductive cancers
• what does the feminization of males mean?

  low sperm count
• PCBs are banned internationally
• what are the sources of atrazine?

  pesticide (herbicide)
• what are the ecological/human impacts of atrazine?

  endocrine disruptor -> feminization of males
• what are the sources of bisphenol A?

  building block in plastics
• what does BPA stand for?

  Bisphenol A
• what are the ecological/human impacts of bisphenol A?

  neurotoxin

  carcinogen -> reproductive cancers
• what are some examples of heavy metals?

  lead, mercury
• what are the sources of lead?

  paint, gasoline, pipes
• what are the sources of mercury?

  coal burning, consumption of contaminated fish
• what are the ecological/human impacts of heavy metals like lead and mercury?

  neurotoxin

  mercury biomagnifies
• what are the sources of benzene?

  emissions from burning coal and oil

  tobacco smoke
• what are the ecological/human impacts of benzene?

  liver + reproductive damage

  cancer + birth defects
• what are the sources of vinyl chloride?

  used to make PVC

  used in building materials
• what are the ecological/human impacts of vinyl chloride?

  carcinogen -> liver cancer

  teratogen
• what are the sources of PBDE?

  fire-retardant materials
• what are the ecological/human impacts of PBDE?

  endocrine disruptor -> thyroid

  teratogen
• what are the sources of dioxins?

  incineration of waste
• what are the ecological/human impacts of dioxins?

  bioaccumulates

  carcinogen

  reproductive damage
• what are the sources of cadmium?

  batteries

  zinc byproducts
• what are the ecological/human impacts of cadmium?

  carcinogen

  lung damage
• what are the sources of aldicarb?

  pesticides
• what are the ecological/human impacts of aldicarb?

  respiratory failure
• what are 12 chemical toxins?

  1. PCBs
  2. DDT
  3. phthalates
  4. atrazine
  5. bisphenol A (BPA)
  6. heavy metals (lead, mercury)
  7. benzene
  8. vinyl chloride
  9. PBDE
  10. dioxins
  11. cadmium
  12. aldicarb
• what are the different types of water pollutants?

  pathogens

  oxygen demanding wastes

  plant nutrients

  organic chemicals

  inorganic chemicals

  sediments

  heavy metals

  thermal
• what do pathogens do?


  cause disease
• what do oxygen-demanding wastes do?


  deplete oxygen for organisms
• what does plant nutrient water pollution do?

  cause excessive algal growth
• what do organic chemical water pollutants do?


  add toxins to water system
• what do inorganic chemical water pollutants do?

  add toxins to water systems
• what two water pollutants add toxins to water systems?

  organic chemicals

  inorganic chemicals
• what do sediment water pollutants do?

  block light and disrupt aquatic photosynthesis
• what do heavy metal water pollutants do?

  cause cancer

  disrupt immune systems

  endocrine disruptors