8.3 - Endocrine Disruptors And Industrial Water Pollutants

Question 1

Endocrine Disruptors

Answer 1

• Chemicals that interfere with t endocrine )hormonal) systems of animals
• bind to cellular receptors meant for hormones, blocking the hormone from being received, or amplifying its effects
• Human medications that pass through urine and into sewage or are flushed down the toilet are a common source

Question 2

Types of Endocrine Disruptors

Answer 2

Atrazine - broad spectrum herbicide used to control weeds and prevent crop loss
- applies to ag fir less run off into local surface or groundwater or is carried by the wind
- can contaminate human well-water or enter body visa unwashed produce

DDT - broad spectrum insecticide that was phased out, but still persists in the environment
- applied to ag fields, runs off into local surface or groundwater or is carried by wind

Phthalates - compounds used in plastic and cosmetic manufacturing
- enter surface and groundwater via intentional dumping of trash or chemical waste from plastic/cosmetic factories improperly disposing of waste, landfill leaching
- also found in some cosmetics and plastic food containers

Lead, arsenic, mercury - heavy metals

Many human medications that enter sewage vis human urine or flushed medication

Question 3

Mercury

Answer 3

• naturally occurring in coal, released by anthropogenic activities:
  - coal combustion, trash incineration, burning medical waste, heating limestone for cement
  - attached to PM released by burnoing and deposits in soil/water wherever PM settles
  - can be released if coal ash stored in ponds overflow and runoff
• Endocrine Disruptors: inhibits estrogen and insulin (interferes with menstrual cycle and ovulation)
• Teratogen: Chemical harmful to developing fetuses can accumulate in fetus brain
  - pregnant women can reduce risk by eating less seafood
• Mercury itself isn’t toxic, but bacteria in water sources convert it to methylmercury which is highly toxic to animals (neuro toxic ant that damages central nervous system)

Question 4

Arsenic and Lead

Answer 4

Arsenic - naturally occurring element in rocks underground that can dissolve into drinking water; natural release into groundwater can be worsened by mining
- anthropogenic sources: formerly in pesticides applied to ag fields (can still linger in soil, wood treatment chemicals to prevent rot, coal combustion and ash)
- carcinogenic (lungs, bladder, kidneys) and endocrine disrupting
- endocrine Disruptor specifically glucocorticoid system, can be removed with water filters

Lead - found in old paint, old water pipes, and soils contaminated by PM from vehicles exhaust before lead was phased out of gas in 70s
- released by fly ash (PM) of coal combustion
- neurotoxicant - damages central nervous system, especially in children)
- Endocrine disruptor - can be removed with water filters

Question 5

Coal Ash

Answer 5

Coal ash can be a source of mercury, lead, and arsenic
- can attach to fly ash (PM) from smokestack and be carried by wind, deposited in ecosystems far away
- both fly and bottom coal ash are often stored on site in ponds, dug into soil and lined with plastic
- ponds can leach into groundwater, contaminating it with arsenic, lead, mercury
- pons can overflow and runoff into nearby surface waters and agricultural fields