Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary concern related to fertilizer use in biogeochemical cycles?
What is the primary concern related to fertilizer use in biogeochemical cycles?
What is a potential negative impact of using phosphate fertilizers?
What is a potential negative impact of using phosphate fertilizers?
How has human activity altered the nitrogen cycle?
How has human activity altered the nitrogen cycle?
What happens to most of the phosphorus from fertilizers applied to food production?
What happens to most of the phosphorus from fertilizers applied to food production?
Signup and view all the answers
What is indicated by the term 'Planetary Boundaries'?
What is indicated by the term 'Planetary Boundaries'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common consequence of nitrate accumulation in plants?
What is a common consequence of nitrate accumulation in plants?
Signup and view all the answers
What has been the approximate global nitrogen fertilizer use as of 2010?
What has been the approximate global nitrogen fertilizer use as of 2010?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant factor negatively impacts the future of life in relation to biogeochemical cycles?
What significant factor negatively impacts the future of life in relation to biogeochemical cycles?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary reason for MeHg formation in Neurospora crassa?
What is the primary reason for MeHg formation in Neurospora crassa?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements best describes the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?
Which of the following statements best describes the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the biological half-life of MeHg in the body?
What is the biological half-life of MeHg in the body?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following conditions can be caused by mercury poisoning?
Which of the following conditions can be caused by mercury poisoning?
Signup and view all the answers
What environmental source contributes significantly to mercury exposure?
What environmental source contributes significantly to mercury exposure?
Signup and view all the answers
Minamata disease resulted from what type of event?
Minamata disease resulted from what type of event?
Signup and view all the answers
What cumulative dose of mercury can make a person unable to work?
What cumulative dose of mercury can make a person unable to work?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a recognized source of organic mercury exposure?
Which of the following is NOT a recognized source of organic mercury exposure?
Signup and view all the answers
What term describes the increase in concentration of persistent pollutants as they move up the food chain?
What term describes the increase in concentration of persistent pollutants as they move up the food chain?
Signup and view all the answers
How many synthetic chemicals are reportedly used in everyday products?
How many synthetic chemicals are reportedly used in everyday products?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the global annual production of petroleum-based liquid fuel oil approximately?
What is the global annual production of petroleum-based liquid fuel oil approximately?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT considered a form of air pollution?
Which of the following is NOT considered a form of air pollution?
Signup and view all the answers
What phenomenon involves the transport of persistent organic pollutants from warmer to colder regions of the Earth?
What phenomenon involves the transport of persistent organic pollutants from warmer to colder regions of the Earth?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term refers to substances that resist environmental degradation?
Which term refers to substances that resist environmental degradation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the estimated global production of anthropogenic substances today?
What is the estimated global production of anthropogenic substances today?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following represents an example of endocrine disrupting chemicals?
Which of the following represents an example of endocrine disrupting chemicals?
Signup and view all the answers
What are some health issues linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?
What are some health issues linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?
Signup and view all the answers
Which chemical is NOT mentioned as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC)?
Which chemical is NOT mentioned as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC)?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a consequence of lead (Pb) pollution?
Which of the following is a consequence of lead (Pb) pollution?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of all global disease burden is lead exposure suspected to cause?
What percentage of all global disease burden is lead exposure suspected to cause?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant change occurred in testicular cancer rates over the last 60 years?
What significant change occurred in testicular cancer rates over the last 60 years?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements is true regarding the effects of toxic metals?
Which of the following statements is true regarding the effects of toxic metals?
Signup and view all the answers
What event does the expert Ake Bergman imply is necessary for society to act against chemical threats?
What event does the expert Ake Bergman imply is necessary for society to act against chemical threats?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of births in 2007 were a result of artificial insemination techniques?
What percentage of births in 2007 were a result of artificial insemination techniques?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the maximum recommendation by the FDA for parts per trillion of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in fish and shellfish?
What is the maximum recommendation by the FDA for parts per trillion of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in fish and shellfish?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of the mass of toys do phthalates constitute for softening purposes?
What percentage of the mass of toys do phthalates constitute for softening purposes?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a known effect of oestrogen derivatives at ng/L concentrations?
Which of the following is a known effect of oestrogen derivatives at ng/L concentrations?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of chlorinated parabens regarding wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs)?
What is a characteristic of chlorinated parabens regarding wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs)?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following substances is known for its high endocrine disrupting activity at very low doses?
Which of the following substances is known for its high endocrine disrupting activity at very low doses?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of properties do phthalates possess that are of concern?
What type of properties do phthalates possess that are of concern?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of chemicals is described as extremely persistent and endocrine disruptors?
Which type of chemicals is described as extremely persistent and endocrine disruptors?
Signup and view all the answers
What impact do alkyl phenols like nonyl-phenol have on the endocrine system?
What impact do alkyl phenols like nonyl-phenol have on the endocrine system?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of health issue can exposure to carbaryl insecticide cause in children?
What type of health issue can exposure to carbaryl insecticide cause in children?
Signup and view all the answers
Which insecticide was banned in Europe in 2018 due to its environmental impact?
Which insecticide was banned in Europe in 2018 due to its environmental impact?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential consequence of using pyrethroids in gardening?
What is a potential consequence of using pyrethroids in gardening?
Signup and view all the answers
Which chemical is the latest and most widely used herbicide mentioned?
Which chemical is the latest and most widely used herbicide mentioned?
Signup and view all the answers
What serious environmental issue is associated with neonicotinoids like imidacloprid?
What serious environmental issue is associated with neonicotinoids like imidacloprid?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is true about glyphosate herbicide?
Which of the following is true about glyphosate herbicide?
Signup and view all the answers
Which group of insects is particularly threatened by the use of pyrethroids?
Which group of insects is particularly threatened by the use of pyrethroids?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a consequence of applying imidacloprid at extremely low levels?
What is a consequence of applying imidacloprid at extremely low levels?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Environmental Chemical Pollution
- Anthropogenic substances (man-made chemicals) production has increased dramatically, exceeding 500 million tons per year, contrasting with 5 million tons fifty years ago.
- Over 100,000 synthetic chemicals are present in everyday products, including solvents, detergents, dyes, hormones, antibiotics, surfactants, pesticides, and mineral oil products.
- Global annual petroleum-based liquid fuel production reaches approximately 3 billion tonnes annually, with some quantity released as accidents or leaks and the rest being converted to combustion byproducts.
- Over 300 man-made chemicals have been detected in human blood samples from around the world.
Impact of Chemicals
- Air Pollution and Climate: Ozone depletion, photochemical smog, acid rain, greenhouse gases, and global warming and dimming are consequences of chemical pollutants.
- Land and Water Pollution: Polymers and plastic pollution, toxic metals (e.g., Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Se), and organic anthropogenic chemicals (e.g., BTEX compounds, pesticides) contribute to pollution of land and water.
Key Terms
- Persistent pollutant: Resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, or photolytic processes.
- Bioaccumulation: Occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than the rate at which the substance is lost.
- Biomagnification: The increasing concentration of persistent pollutants as they move up a food chain.
- Global Distillation: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are transported from warmer to colder regions of the Earth (e.g., poles and mountain tops).
Natural Elemental Cycles
- Biogeochemical cycles (e.g., Carbon, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Sulphur) describe the path atoms take between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the Earth.
- Human activities are significantly altering these cycles, particularly with nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers becoming reactive forms that are emitted into the atmosphere, rather than being absorbed by crops.
Examples of Impacts
- Phosphorus cycle: Anthropogenic contributions from phosphate fertilizers disrupt the phosphorus cycle.
- Nitrogen cycle: Human activities convert more atmospheric nitrogen into reactive forms than all terrestrial processes combined, leading to pollution of waterways.
- Fertilizer drawbacks: Fertilizers increase the growth of harmful insects, decrease plant root strength, leading to nitrate accumulation in plants, which can cause the formation of nitrosamines when the plants are consumed.
- Plastic Pollution: Plastic production has grown from 5 million tonnes in 1950 to over 300 million tonnes today. Significant amounts of plastic waste accumulate in the environment and ocean. Plastics are persistent and can accumulate in various environments impacting organisms.
Toxic Metal Pollution
- Heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Se) are persistent, accumulate in organisms, and biomagnify. Some exhibit strong endocrine properties.
- Arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury are among the top ten chemicals causing public health concerns.
Lead Pollution
- Lead is a bioaccumulative pollutant, potentially interfering with enzyme function, and causing acute and chronic toxicity, including issues related to the developing brain.
- Historic releases (e.g., lead in gasoline) still impact human populations today.
- Exposure to lead can have long-term impacts, with possible links to Alzheimer's disease.
Mercury Pollution
- Mercury is released naturally and by human activities (e.g., coal burning, gold mining). MeHg is highly toxic.
- Biomethylation processes in aquatic environments convert inorganic mercury into methylmercury (MeHg), which bioaccumulates in food chains.
Other Pollutants
-
BTEX compounds: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Carcinogenic constituents found in petroleum products and used in various manufacturing processes.
-
Pesticides: Organochlorines (e.g., DDT), organophosphates (e.g., chlorpyrifos), carbamates (e.g., carbaryl), and neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid) - often persistent and bioaccumulative, causing various environmental and health concerns and some are banned.
-
Dioxins/PCDDs/PCDFs: Products formed during incomplete combustion of organic matter. Multiple toxic effects with diverse impacts on human biological systems.
-
Phthalates: Widely used as plasticizers in various products, including toys and cosmetics. Known endocrine disruptors with potential multiple cancer risks.
-
PCBs: Polychlorinated biphenyls. Widely used in various applications, but now banned owing to their extreme persistence and bioaccumulation.
-
Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs): Persistent and bioaccumulative, used as flame retardants in plastics and other materials causing numerous neurobehavioral problems and cancers.
Medical Chemicals
- Female hormone estrogen derivatives and compounds, such as 17ß-estradiol, can cause multiple deformations in fish and frogs, including feminization of male fishes and frogs.
- Parabens are commonly found as preservatives in personal care products and can cause endocrine disrupting issues.
Other Ubiquitous Anthropogenic Chemicals
- Polyfluorinated organic substances (e.g., PFOS) are exceptionally persistent and accumulate in organisms causing multiple impacts.
- Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is another ubiquitous pollutant with adverse effects on the nervous system.
- Alkyl phenols and bisphenol-A (BPA) are found as endocrine disruptors in various products.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores the intricate relationships between fertilizer use and biogeochemical cycles, particularly focusing on nitrogen and phosphorus. It also examines the consequences of human activity on these cycles and the implications for ecosystems. Test your understanding of these critical environmental issues.
