Ch 10 Pollution Flashcards
why co toxic?
Carbon monoxide
-binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells, prevents o2 being carried
why pb toxic?
lead
inhibits enzyme action in nerve cells
inhibits enzyme action involved in aerobic respiration
cyanide
why acids toxic?
inhibit protein action by changing molecular shape, eg the active sit of the enzyme
low persistence exampkes
sewage
pyrethroid insecticides
high persistence examples
CFCs
Organochlorine insectisides eg DDT
how can persistence be measured
environmental half life
how does density affect dispersal
denser= more kinetic energy required, more likely to be deposited near to source
primary pollutant?
released by human activities
secondary pollutant?
produced from the reaction on one or more primary pollutants
adsorption?
when pollutants attatch to surface of materials eg soil or quatic sediments- immobilises them- stop pollution problems, but can cause problems if released later- eg ddisturbed by storms eg phosphates in lakes
bioaccumulation
long term ingestion- build up- volume increase
biomagnification
become more concentrated as travel through trophic levels and into progressively smaller biomass
