Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals of concern due to their potential for long-range transport and persistence in the environment as well as their significant negative effects on the health of organisims in ythe environment.
Certain chemicals and heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium, and mercury) are considerd POPs and can enter the environment and therfore into a food chain via the air, water, and soil. Plants take up some of these chemicals which are eaten by other animals such as herbivores. These chemicals bioaccumulate in the fat tissue of the herbivores as they can not easily be processed. These animals are then eaten by other orgamisims such as carnivores. As you should recall, as you move up the food chain the animal has less energy available to it (Food Pyramid) it has to eat 'more'. as a result the toxins become biomagnified in food pyramids and harm organisms. |
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Water run-off is one way that pollutants can enter into a Food Chain. Water pollution is any physical, biological or chemical change in the water quality that has an adverse effect on organism’s or that makes that water unsuitable for a desired use.
There are two basic types of pollution, be it water or air. Point source pollution and Non-point source pollution.
A point source of pollution is a single identifiable source of that pollution Examples would include factories, power plants, sewage treatment plants, oil wells. Point source of pollution is easier to monitor and regulate as you can identify what or who is creating the pollution.
Nonpoint source pollution is pollution resulting from many diffuse sources (not one single ealsiy identifiable source). It can be difficult to monitor, regulate, and treat since pollution is periodic and the direct source difficult to identify.
Non-point source examples include run-off from farms, lawns, construction sites, logging areas, roads, parking lots. Using run-off from farms as an example, how do you identify which farm put too much fertilizer on its field that polluted a lake 100 km away?
There are two basic types of pollution, be it water or air. Point source pollution and Non-point source pollution.
A point source of pollution is a single identifiable source of that pollution Examples would include factories, power plants, sewage treatment plants, oil wells. Point source of pollution is easier to monitor and regulate as you can identify what or who is creating the pollution.
Nonpoint source pollution is pollution resulting from many diffuse sources (not one single ealsiy identifiable source). It can be difficult to monitor, regulate, and treat since pollution is periodic and the direct source difficult to identify.
Non-point source examples include run-off from farms, lawns, construction sites, logging areas, roads, parking lots. Using run-off from farms as an example, how do you identify which farm put too much fertilizer on its field that polluted a lake 100 km away?
Scientists are working to find ways to remove harmful environmental chemicals. Methods include bioremediation in which organisms are used to help clean up chemical pollution.