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Ecotoxicology > Ch 1 & 2a > Flashcards

Ch 1 & 2a Flashcards

1
Q

what 2 heavy metal poisoning incidents led to the replacement of the dilution paradigm with the boomerang paradigm ?

A
  1. Methyl mercury in Minamata Bay

2. Itai-Itai disease in Japan

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2
Q

What is the boomerang paradigm ?

A

What you throw away can come back & hurt you

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3
Q

What was the dilution paradigm ?

A

the solution to pollution is dilution

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4
Q

Explain what happened in regards to the Minamata Bay

A

mercury poisoned hundreds - chronic symptoms which included headaches, fatigue, loss of smell & taste & forgetfulness

  • in utero effects like lac of neurological development, poor speech & walking, poor muscular coordination all seen in babies from healthy mothers
  • resulted in 2 million square meters of the bad being dredged & land filled to clean up areas with >25 ppm of mercury
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5
Q

Describe the Itai-Itai (ouch-ouch) disease

A

named for the expression of excruciating pain

  • very brittle bones that can break during movement
  • mining in the jinzu river basin for zinc, copper & lead began in 1500s
  • mining company built a holding pond, the waste rock contaminated the river
  • cadmium from metal mine wastes contaminated irrigation water used for rice
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6
Q

when did radionuclides become a cause for concern and why did they ?

A

1945-present

  • because fission products begin to rapidly accumulate in food chains
  • Human body burdens go 137Cs increased rapidly between 1960-65
  • cause for concern due to deposition in developing bones
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7
Q

How is radiation measured ?

A

measured in curies or in Becquerels

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8
Q

what does dpm and dps stand for ?

A 
dpm = disintegrations per minute 
dps = disintegrations per second
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9
Q

what is the conversion for curries to dpm and dps and Becquerels

A

1 curie = 2.2 x 10^6 dpm
1 curie = 3.7 x 10^4 dps
1 curie = 3.7 x 10^4 Bq
1 Bq = 1 dps

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10
Q

what did The Curies discover ? and what did Henri Becquerel discover ?

A

Curies = radium

Henri Becquerel = radioactivity

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11
Q

Example of an accidental release of radioactive elements

A

Plutonium processing - Windscale Fire (1975) England, 20,000 curies 131 I released during an attempt to control heat build up in air cooled graphite controlled reactor pile.
- Radioactivity was released during the fire & fighting the fire

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12
Q

How did the windscale fire incident affect the food and how was it dealt with ?

A

food chain bioaccumulation, vegetables –> cows milk –> humans –> cancer
over 2 million L of milk dumped into ocean or rivers

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13
Q

Name 3 of the accidental/intentional releases from the Hanford, Washington States reactor complex

A
  1. In a span of 3 years released 440,000 curies of 131 I to atmosphere
  2. 1963 20,000 curies into Columbia River
  3. Cooling water releases at may points
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14
Q

in 2002, who conducted the Columbia River Basin Fish Contaminant survey & why ?

A

Conducted by First Nations & EPA, because there was nonradioactive contamination like PCBs in fish & highest amounts were found in section of the river that runs through the site, Fish is a major part of First Nations diet, children eating fish from river had 100 tines the risk of immune diseases & central nervous system disorders compared to other children.
1 in 50 chance of contracting cancer among First Nations people eating fish from river

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15
Q

What was the final event that pushed towards the paradigm shift & why ?

A

Pesticide DDT
because
-it accumulates as it moves up the food chain
- relatively degradation resistant
- inhibits Ca2+ dependent ATPase in bird shell glands leading to the shell thinning, damage to eggs after laying (eggs can’t support the weight of parents)
- reproductive failure for raptors and fish eating birds

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16
Q

What does DDT do to birds?

A

by products of DDT such as DDD & DDE resulted in negative impacts to birds by accumulating in the brain of Western Grebes and resulted in Axon dysfunction in birds which caused their death

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17
Q

Why do we need ecotoxicology

A

because despite the regulations in place, transnational & global scale problems still occur.
The US gov for example still deals with high level radioactive waste storage sites
AND ecotox & environment are converging as more research is done

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18
Q

why do we need a to have good knowledge of ecotoxicology

A

because expertise in it is essential for cost benefit analysis of technology & industries

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19
Q

Define Environmental Toxicology (1995 definition)

A

The study of the impacts of pollutant upon the structure and function of ecological systems (molecular to ecosystems)

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20
Q

Define Ecotoxicology (1998 definition)

A

The science of contaminants in the biosphere & their effects on constituents of the biosphere including humans

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21
Q

Name 2 examples of “points of view” on a molecular scale in the field of ecotoxicology

A
  1. enzyme inactivation

2. dissolved metal speciation

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22
Q

Name 2 examples of “points of view” in terms of the biosphere related to the field of ecotoxicology

A
  1. global warming

2. global movement of pesticides

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23
Q

Define pollutant

A

substance that occurs in the environment at least in part due to human activities & which has a deleterious effect on living organisms

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24
Q

Define contaminant

A

A substance released by human activity

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25
Q

Define xenobiotic

A

A foreign, usually manufactured, chemical or material not produced in nature and not normally considered a constitutive component of a specified biological system

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26
Q

Define stress

A

A response to or an effect of a recent disorganizing or detrimental factor at any level of ecological organization. This can be cellular stress or “fight or flight” responses.

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27
Q

Define Stressor

A

Anything that produces stress

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28
Q

Define: The Lorax Incongruity

A

The delusion of selfless motivation in environmental stewardship & advocacy

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29
Q

Why can the Lorax incongruity lead to problems

A
  • decisions are generally based on the perceived value of services provided by intact ecosystems relative to technological goods & services
  • May produce well-intentioned narrow-mindedness
  • May create problems based on differential views
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30
Q

What are the 3 goals of ecotoxicology

A
  • Scientific goals
  • Technical goals
  • Practical goals
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31
Q

What do these 3 goals result in

A

Results in different methodologies & assessments being used for different purposes

32
Q

What is the scientific goal

A

to organize knowledge based on explanatory principles about contaminants in the biosphere

33
Q

Scientific goals are based on the development of scientific method, what historical explanation was used

A

precipitate explanation used

  • facts fit into a ruling theory
  • as the “expert”
  • uncritical method
34
Q

after the historical explanation, moved towards the working hypothesis, list 3 facts

A
  • never accepted as true
  • provides a focus for the falsification procedure
  • weakness: Tends to favor a central theory
35
Q

After the working hypothesis, it moved towards the multiple working hypothesis, list 5 facts

A
  • consider all plausible ideas simultaneously
  • useful in questions with multiple interactions
  • although a hypothesis is never assumed true, survival tends to enhance its status
  • must avoid weak testing of the hypothesis
  • must avoid imprecise or biased measurements
36
Q

Define a hypothesis as a paradigm

A

defined as a generally accepted concept that have survived vigorous testing

37
Q

Define Normal Science

A

Incremental increase in facts & ideas which reaffirm, revise or replace paradigms, methodical fact gathering

38
Q

Define Innovative Science

A

It questions paradigms & formulates new ones, it requires normal science. Balance between both forms is required

39
Q

What are Technological goals

A

overall: to develop & apply tools & methods to acquire a better understanding of contaminant fate & effects in the biosphere
- Benefits tend to be more immediately apparent.

40
Q

What could Technological goals include the development of (3)

A
  1. analytical instrumentation
  2. standard methods
  3. computation/ analytical methods
41
Q

what are 2 examples of a technological goal

A
  1. application of biomarkers
    - using changes in biochemistry as early warnings or to detect pollutants
  2. GIS systems for study of non point source contamination over large areas
42
Q

what are the (7) qualities aimed for by technological goals

A
  1. effectiveness
  2. precision
  3. accuracy
  4. appropriate sensitivity
  5. consistency
  6. clarity of results
  7. ease of use
43
Q

What are practical goals (regulatory goals)

A

overall: the application of available knowledge, tools & procedures to solving or documenting specific problems

44
Q

What are some (3) tools involved with practical goals

A
  1. guidelines
  2. quality standards & criteria
  3. step-by-step approaches
45
Q

Define criteria

A

estimated [toxicant] based on current literature, that are considered protective for organisms or a defined purpose, if not exceeded.

46
Q

Define Standards

A

legal limits thought sufficient to protect the environment

47
Q

In practical goals, what (10) things are value placed on

A
  1. effectiveness
  2. precision
  3. accuracy
  4. sensitivity
  5. consistency
  6. clarity
  7. ease of use
  8. unambiguous results
  9. safety
  10. clear documentation of progress
48
Q

give (9) reasons why toxicity tests on organisms may be done

A
  1. determine if conditions are suitable for life
  2. determine favourable/unfavourable conditions (DO, pH, salinity, temp etc..)
  3. determine the effect of environment on toxicity
  4. Determine the toxicity to a given species
  5. determine relative sensitivities of organisms
  6. determine amount & type of waste treatment necessary to meet control requirements
  7. monitor effectiveness of treatments
  8. monitor discharge rates
  9. check compliance
49
Q

What do standards methods & analysis ensure ? (3)

A
  1. uniformity
  2. reproducibility
  3. utility of results
50
Q

what do quality assurance & quality control procedures include (4)

A
  1. guidelines for sampling/handling samples
  2. source/condition of test organisms
  3. use of reference tests
  4. test procedures
51
Q

Define Acclimate

A

at accustom test organisms to different environmental conditions

52
Q

Define Response

A

the measures biological effect of the variable tested

ex - for acute toxicity, the response is usually death or immobilization

53
Q

Define Control

A

treatment that duplicates all the conditions of the test but does not contain the test material

54
Q

Define Range-finding Tests

A

preliminary tests to establish approximate toxicity

- single replicates, multiple widely spaced concentrations & exposure 8 to 26 hours

55
Q

Define screening test

A

Toxicity test to determine if an impact is likely to be observed
- use 1 concentration, multiple replicates & exposure 24 to 96 hours

56
Q

Define Definitive test

A

Toxicity test to establish concentration at which an end point occurs
- longer exposures, multiple concentrations, close intervals & multiple replicates

57
Q

Define Dose

A

The amount of toxin entering an organism

58
Q

Define Toxicity
What its a result of
& what may effect it

A

Potential of a test material to cause adverse effects on living organisms

  • result of dose or exposure concentration & exposure time
  • may be effected by temperature, chemical form & availability
59
Q

Define Exposure time

A

Time that test organism is in contact with the test solution

60
Q

Define acute toxicity

A

Relatively short term lethal or other effect test

61
Q

Define chronic toxicity

A

Stimulus lasts 1/10 life span or longer

- may involve reduced growth, reproduction & death

62
Q

Lethal Concentration (LCp)

A

Toxicant concentration estimated to produce deat in a given proportion of organisms
- ex - LD50 kill 50% of organisms, time limit often attached 24h or 48h

63
Q

Effective concentration (ECp)

A

Toxicant concentration estimated to cause a specific effect in a given proportion of the population
- ex - EC25, time limit given, usually a su lethal effect lie a change in respiration or loss of equilibrium

64
Q

Inhibition Concentration (LCp)

A

Toxicant concentration estimated to cause a specified percentage inhibition or impairment of a qualitative biological function
Ex - reduction in growth of larva - use for any test which measures a change in rate

65
Q

Define NOEC

A

No observed effect concentration - the highest toxicant concentration in which the values are not significantly different from the control

66
Q

Define LOEC

A

Lowest observed effect concentration - lowest toxicant concentration in which the values for the measured response are significantly different from the control

67
Q

Define a static test

A

Solutions + the organism in a container stay there for the duration of the test
Ex- copepod assay

68
Q

Define renewal test

A

Organisms are exposed to solutions of the same composition which are renewed at intervals (24hour)

69
Q

Define a flow through test

A

Solutions are continuously replaced during the test

70
Q

When preparing for toxicity testing, selection of organisms should consider what (8) things ?

A
  1. Sensitivity of toxicant
  2. Geographical distribution, abundance, availability
  3. Recreational, economic & ecological importance
  4. Abiotic requirements
  5. Culture methods
  6. Knowledge of life cycle, nutrition
  7. Physical condition
  8. Health
71
Q

What is a typical test in Experimental design

A

Typical test is 5 concentrations + at least one control, need duplicates for analysis and QA/QC

72
Q

How should organisms be distributed into test solutions

A

RANDOMLY

  • distribute 1 at a time if <11/container
  • distribute 2 at a rime if >12/container
73
Q

How should organisms be distributed for a short term static test

A

should be in an intermediate container & should all be moved to test solution all at once

74
Q

how many organisms in the control must survive the entire test period (for fish & invertebrates)

A

90% must survive

75
Q

TRUE or FALSE if long exposures or life stages are used, lower survival rates may be acceptable

A

TRUE

76
Q

What is the recommendation for 95% confidence interval

A

Should be less than plus or minus 30% of mean

77
Q

For what kind of organisms will a 95% confidence interval less than plus or minus 30% of the mean not be attainable

A

for organisms without a culture method

Ecotoxicology (8 decks)

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