COMMON TOXICCOMMON TOXICPOLLUTANTSPOLLUTANTS

I. BIOCIDESI. BIOCIDES

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES PesticidesPesticides InsecticidesInsecticides HerbicidesHerbicides

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS Carcinogenic … meaning??Carcinogenic … meaning?? Nerve damageNerve damage Liver damageLiver damage

I. BIOCIDESI. BIOCIDES

C.C. EXAMPLESEXAMPLES Dioxins …ingredient in insecticidesDioxins …ingredient in insecticides

• Used by paper mills in bleaching processUsed by paper mills in bleaching process

• Used in PVC plasticsUsed in PVC plastics

• An ingredient in agent orangeAn ingredient in agent orange

Agent Orange … herbicideAgent Orange … herbicide• Widely used in Vietnam as a defoliantWidely used in Vietnam as a defoliant• Caused cancer, birth defects, sterilityCaused cancer, birth defects, sterility

I. BIOCIDESI. BIOCIDES

C.C. EXAMPLESEXAMPLES 24D … common herbicide24D … common herbicide

• Causes lymphoma (cancer) in dogsCauses lymphoma (cancer) in dogs

DDT … insecticideDDT … insecticide• Caused egg shell thinningCaused egg shell thinning• Blamed for the near extinction of eagles, falcons Blamed for the near extinction of eagles, falcons

and pelicansand pelicans

DDTDDT ((ddichloroichloroddiphenyliphenylttrichlorethane)richlorethane)

• Insecticide used very effectively against Insecticide used very effectively against mosquitoes, which cause malariamosquitoes, which cause malaria

• Builds up in plants and fatty tissue in Builds up in plants and fatty tissue in fish, birds and other animalsfish, birds and other animals

• Banned in the US in 1972Banned in the US in 1972– Still used in other countriesStill used in other countries

BIOMAGNIFICATIONBIOMAGNIFICATION

• A chemical becomes concentrated as it A chemical becomes concentrated as it passes through a food chainpasses through a food chain

DDTDDT

• The concentration effect occurs The concentration effect occurs because DDT is metabolized and because DDT is metabolized and excreted much more slowly than the excreted much more slowly than the nutrients that are passed from one nutrients that are passed from one trophic level to the next. So trophic level to the next. So DDT DDT accumulates in the bodyaccumulates in the body (especially (especially in fat). in fat).

DDTDDT

• This is why the hazard of DDT to This is why the hazard of DDT to nontarget animals is particularly nontarget animals is particularly acute for those species living at the acute for those species living at the top of food chains. top of food chains.

DDT: A Threat to America’s Bald DDT: A Threat to America’s Bald EaglesEagles

II. FOSSIL FUELS II. FOSSIL FUELS (coal, oil & gas)(coal, oil & gas)

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES NONO22 + H + H22O O HNO HNO33

(process occurs when burning (process occurs when burning gasgas))

SOSO22 + H + H22O O H H22SOSO44

(process occurs when burning (process occurs when burning coalcoal))

II. FOSSIL FUELS II. FOSSIL FUELS (coal, oil & gas)(coal, oil & gas)

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS Respiratory problemsRespiratory problems Sterile lakesSterile lakes Kills forestsKills forests Damage to monuments, cars, buildingsDamage to monuments, cars, buildings Global warmingGlobal warming Acid rainAcid rain

II. FOSSIL FUELS II. FOSSIL FUELS (coal, oil & gas)(coal, oil & gas)

C.C. SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS Burn higher grade fuelsBurn higher grade fuels ScrubbersScrubbers Others??Others??

III. Hg (III. Hg (mercury)mercury)

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES Paper mills to treat logs Paper mills to treat logs Agriculture to treat seedsAgriculture to treat seeds Occurs naturally in minesOccurs naturally in mines Acid rain releases it naturally from Acid rain releases it naturally from

sedimentary rocksedimentary rock Latex paintLatex paint

III. Hg (III. Hg (mercury)mercury)

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the

brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages.system of people of all ages.

high levels of mercury in the bloodstream of high levels of mercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies and young childrenunborn babies and young children may harm may harm the developing nervous system, making the the developing nervous system, making the child less able to think and learnchild less able to think and learn

III. Hg (III. Hg (mercury)mercury)

C.C. Our inland fish are unsafe to eat Our inland fish are unsafe to eat due to high levels of Hgdue to high levels of Hg

Hg cannot be eliminated from the body Hg cannot be eliminated from the body in any wayin any way

Found in muscle tissueFound in muscle tissue

IV. Pb IV. Pb (lead)(lead)

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES Water pipesWater pipes GasolineGasoline PaintsPaints BatteriesBatteries Ceramic potteryCeramic pottery SolderingSoldering

IV. Pb (IV. Pb (lead)lead)

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS HyperactivityHyperactivity ParalysisParalysis Brain damageBrain damage Birth defectsBirth defects High BPHigh BP

IV. Pb (IV. Pb (lead)lead)

4% of preschool children have below 4% of preschool children have below normal IQnormal IQ

20% of Americans drink too much 20% of Americans drink too much HH22O containing PbO containing Pb

2 million waterfowl each year die of 2 million waterfowl each year die of lead poisoninglead poisoning

V. PCB V. PCB ((PPolyolycchlorinated hlorinated BBiphenyls)iphenyls)

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES Insulators for electrical transformersInsulators for electrical transformers Sealants for wood and cementSealants for wood and cement Hydraulic fluidsHydraulic fluids Paper mills for carbon paperPaper mills for carbon paper pigments, dyespigments, dyes as plasticizers in paints, plastics and as plasticizers in paints, plastics and

rubber productsrubber products

V. PCB (Polychlorinated V. PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)Biphenyls)

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS CarcinogenCarcinogen including effects on the immune including effects on the immune

system, reproductive system, system, reproductive system, endocrine system and nervous systemendocrine system and nervous system

V. PCB:Contaminating the Hudson V. PCB:Contaminating the Hudson RiverRiver

V. PCB (Polychlorinated V. PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)Biphenyls)• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a

family of 209 chemical compounds for family of 209 chemical compounds for which there are no known which there are no known naturalnatural sources. sources.

• Even though PCBs are no longer Even though PCBs are no longer commercially produced in the United commercially produced in the United States, high levels of the chemicals remain States, high levels of the chemicals remain in various parts of the country, in poultry, in various parts of the country, in poultry, and in fish. and in fish.

V. PCB (Polychlorinated V. PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)Biphenyls)• The very characteristic of the PCBs that made The very characteristic of the PCBs that made

them wonderful for use in manufacturing makes them wonderful for use in manufacturing makes them problematic in the environment. them problematic in the environment. PCBs are PCBs are very persistent: they are generally unalterable by very persistent: they are generally unalterable by microorganisms or by chemical reaction, so they microorganisms or by chemical reaction, so they do not readily degradedo not readily degrade. .

• The stable nature of PCBs also lends to The stable nature of PCBs also lends to accumulation in the fatty tissues of animals once accumulation in the fatty tissues of animals once the PCBs are released into the environment. the PCBs are released into the environment. These accumulations increase as the tissue from These accumulations increase as the tissue from contaminated animals moves through the food contaminated animals moves through the food web. Because of _________, the concentration of web. Because of _________, the concentration of PCBs found in fish tissues is expected to be PCBs found in fish tissues is expected to be considerably higher that the average considerably higher that the average concentration of PCBs in the water from which the concentration of PCBs in the water from which the fish were taken.fish were taken.

VI. CFC VI. CFC ((cchlorohloroffluoroluoroccarbon)arbon)A.A. SOURCESSOURCES

aerosol-spray propellantsaerosol-spray propellants refrigerantsrefrigerants SolventsSolvents Styrofoam (pre, CFC-free styrofoam)Styrofoam (pre, CFC-free styrofoam) foam-blowing agentsfoam-blowing agents

They are well-suited for these applications They are well-suited for these applications because they are nontoxic and nonflammable and because they are nontoxic and nonflammable and can be readily converted from a liquid to a gas can be readily converted from a liquid to a gas and vice versa. and vice versa.

VI. CFC VI. CFC ((cchlorohloroffluoroluoroccarbon)arbon)B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS

Destruction of the ozone layer which Destruction of the ozone layer which protects us from ???protects us from ???

UV rays from the sunUV rays from the sun

How does this happen?How does this happen?

VI. CFC VI. CFC ((cchlorohloroffluoroluoroccarbon)arbon)

VII. PBB (VII. PBB (PPolyolybbrominated rominated BBiphenyls)iphenyls)

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES PBBs are manufactured chemicals PBBs are manufactured chemicals

They are added to the plastics used to make products They are added to the plastics used to make products like computer monitors, televisions, textiles, plastic like computer monitors, televisions, textiles, plastic foams, etc. to make them difficult to burn. PBBs can foams, etc. to make them difficult to burn. PBBs can leave these plastics and find their way into the leave these plastics and find their way into the environment.environment.

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS CarcinogenCarcinogen More will be observed in the movieMore will be observed in the movie Bitter HarvestBitter Harvest

VII. PBB (Polybrominated VII. PBB (Polybrominated Biphenyls)Biphenyls)

• Exposure to PBBs is most likely to occur by Exposure to PBBs is most likely to occur by ingesting contaminated foods and drinks. ingesting contaminated foods and drinks.

• People living in the People living in the lower peninsula of Michiganlower peninsula of Michigan, , where animal feed was accidentally where animal feed was accidentally contaminated with PBBs in 1973, may still be contaminated with PBBs in 1973, may still be exposed by eating contaminated fish, dairy exposed by eating contaminated fish, dairy products, and meat.products, and meat.

• If you don't live in Michigan, exposure to PBBs is If you don't live in Michigan, exposure to PBBs is likely to be very low. likely to be very low.

• You can be exposed to PBBs in the air if you live You can be exposed to PBBs in the air if you live near a waste site that contains PBBs.near a waste site that contains PBBs.

C.C. The movie The movie Bitter HarvestBitter Harvest … … PBB contamination resulted in the most PBB contamination resulted in the most

devastating disaster in agricultural devastating disaster in agricultural historyhistory

In 1973 in St. Louis, MIIn 1973 in St. Louis, MI The government did not eliminate PBB from The government did not eliminate PBB from

the food chain until 1977the food chain until 1977 Farmers sold cows to an area baby food Farmers sold cows to an area baby food

companycompany Firemaster (flamestar) vs. Nutrimaster Firemaster (flamestar) vs. Nutrimaster

(MgO)(MgO) All livestock had to be killedAll livestock had to be killed

30,000 cattle30,000 cattle 1,470 sheep1,470 sheep

5,900 pigs5,900 pigs 1.5 million chickens1.5 million chickens

VIII. NOVIII. NO3 3 and POand PO44 (nitrates & phosphates) (nitrates & phosphates)

A.A. SOURCESSOURCES Soil … background concentrationsSoil … background concentrations Fertilizers … agricultural & residentialFertilizers … agricultural & residential Sewage … wastewater treatment plantsSewage … wastewater treatment plants

remove 90-95% of P & N remove 90-95% of P & N inin

solids, and the sludge is solids, and the sludge is thenthen

land applied as fertilizerland applied as fertilizer

VIII. NOVIII. NO3 3 and POand PO44 (nitrates & phosphates) (nitrates & phosphates)

B.B. EFFECTSEFFECTS EutrophicationEutrophication Algae bloomsAlgae blooms Decreasing light and ODecreasing light and O22 levels levels

C.C. Currently in the news …Currently in the news … Allegan, Ottawa, and Muskegon Allegan, Ottawa, and Muskegon

Counties all have baned the use of Counties all have baned the use of fertilizers containing phosphorusfertilizers containing phosphorus