Pollution Any substance added to the environment that is harmful to organisms.

Types…. 1) Toxic Chemicals 2) Air Emissions (Acid Rain, Smog, Ozone Depletion, Greenhouse Gases) 3) Sewage 4) Garbage 5) Fertilizers 6) Pesticides 7) Soil erosion and run-off 8) Ground Water Contamination 9) Thermal Pollution 10) Urban and Rural Pollution can poison the air, water, soil.

Point vs Non-point Sources

Our Focus Bio-accumulation or Bio-magnification of Persistent Chemicals and Heavy Metals Bio-accumulation or Bio-magnification of Persistent Chemicals and Heavy Metals Eutrophication or Nutrient Pollution of Water Eutrophication or Nutrient Pollution of Water

Persistent Chemicals They are toxic They are toxic They resist bio-degradation They resist bio-degradation They bio-accumulate They bio-accumulate They can be transported through air, water, and species far from their place of release They can be transported through air, water, and species far from their place of release

Examples of Persistant Chemicals Pesticides - Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrine, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene (Camphechlor), Hexachlorobenzene Pesticides - Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrine, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene (Camphechlor), Hexachlorobenzene Produced unintentionally as a result of combustion - Dioxins, Furans Produced unintentionally as a result of combustion - Dioxins, Furans Used in manufactured goods - Polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Used in manufactured goods - Polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Heavy Metals Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Chromium, Uranium, Nickel Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, Chromium, Uranium, Nickel

Bio-accumulation or Bio-magnification

Persistant toxic chemicals accumulate in organisms higher up the food chain, because they live longer and eat more.

Lake Ontario Contamination

Lake Ontario - Don’t eat the fish!

Toxic Chemicals in Breast Milk, Sweden

Lake Ontario Pollution pics/1390/ pics/1390/ (Scroll to video #18 “IJC warns against eating Great…”) Or go to digital video archives…environment…

Eutrophication

Oligotrophic Lakes (most lakes) - Clear water (low turbidity) - High O 2 - High O 2 concentration - Good light penetration - Nutrient deficient - Higher fish biodiversity Eutrophic Lakes (unnatural) - Cloudy water due to lots of algae and plankton (high turbidity) - Low O 2 concentration - Poor light penetration - Nutrient enriched - Lots of decomposition - Lower fish biodiversity

Cultural Eutrophication Sequence 1. Humans add nutrients to a water system. eg. Fertilizers (nitrates, phosphates) eg. Fertilizers (nitrates, phosphates) eg. Soaps and detergents eg. Soaps and detergents eg. Sewage and manure eg. Sewage and manure 2. Phytoplankton and algae (plants) thrive on the nutrients (algal bloom). 3. Increased algae growth causes more decomposition by bacteria and decomposers. 4. Increased bacteria lowers the dissolved O 2 concentration in the water. Result = Kills species, especially fish that need a higher concentration of dissolved O 2 to survive.

Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen (D.O.) needed by decomposers (bacteria) to break down organic matter in a water system. (measured over a 5 day period)

Eutrophication of Lake Erie

Lake Erie Recovery Ban on phosphates in soaps and detergents Ban on phosphates in soaps and detergents Reduced use of fertilizers Reduced use of fertilizers Better sewage treatment Better sewage treatment Better manure storage Better manure storage Zebra mussels Zebra mussels onment/habitats-environment/freshwater/lake- erie.html onment/habitats-environment/freshwater/lake- erie.html