Hydrophobic Inorganic Contaminants (POPs) Flashcards
A pollutant is considered to have toxicity if: (2)
evidence of adverse health effects (humans/animal/environment)
or indication of potential damage
How are POPs different from other PBTs?
POPs are also LONG RANGE TRANSPORT: able to travel far from pollution source and accumulate
What are the criteria for persistence in water and soil?
water: half life > 2 months
soil: half life > 6 months
The bioaccumulative properties of a chemical can be measured in: (3)
Bio Concentration Factor (BCF)
Bio Accumulative Factor (BAF)
log Kow (hydrophobicity; partition coefficient)
The defining characteristics of POPs: (4)
Persistent
Bioaccumulative
Toxic
Long Range Transport
POPs stands for:
Persistent Organic Pollutants
The higher the Kow, the more ____ the substance is.
hydrophobic
At what levels of BCF/BAF or Kow is the substance considered bioaccumulative?
BCF/BAF higher than 5000
log Kow >5
Kow is used instead of BCF or BAF when _____
data is unavailable
What is Kow and how is it determined?
Octanol-Water partition coefficient (measure of HYDROPHOBICITY)
add compound into 2 phase media (octanol and water)
allow to partition (move in/out freely of each phase until reach equilibrium)
measure conc of compound in each phase
Kow = (conc in octanol)/(conc in water)
How are POPs dispersed through the environment? (2)
Oceanic transport
Global Distillation effect (evaporation + deposition) - known as “grasshopping”
Where do hydrophobic bioaccumulative compounds accumulate in organisms?
fatty tissue
The concentration of pollutants can be millions of times higher than the environment in top predators due to what effect?
biomagnification
Why are mountains/lakes/polar regions particularly at risk from pollution by POPs?
global distillation effect; evaporate in warmer climates and condense down and deposit in cool regions of Earth
Define and differentiate BAF and BCF:
BCF: only consider 1 route of exposure (water):
(conc organism)/(conc in water)
rate of uptake vs rate of elimination from body (accumulation)
BAF: consider multiple exposure routes (water, air, food) - result of both accumulation + magnification:
(conc organism)/(conc in surrounding medium)
The 3 annexes of the stockholm convention:
Annex A: ELIMINATION: phase out use of chemicals
Annex B: RESTRICTION: Limit use of irreplaceable chemicals (DDT)
Annex C: UNINTENTIONAL PRODUCTION: properly dispose waste, eliminate pollutant byproducts
What POPs can be produced both intentionally and as a chemical byproduct?
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
What are 2 notable POPs produced unintentionally?
Dioxins
PCBs
(also: dibenzofurans, polychlorinated naphthalenes, pentachlorobenzene)
What program was implemented by the UN to reduce/regulate POPs?
Stockholm convention
Give the general formula for PCBs:
C(12)H(10-n)Cl(n)
Describe the structure of PCBs and PCDDs:
flat, planar chlorinated hydrocarbons
multi-ringed structures
What do PCDD and PCDF stand for, and in what industries are these produced?
PCDD: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
PCDF: polychlorinated dibenzofurans
Produced as byproducts in pulp/paper, chem industry, heat/power generation, metal industry, waste incineration
What compound is found in treated wood, and could lead to dioxin production?
PCPs (polychlorophenyls): incomplete combustion, generates dioxins and fumes (leads to contamination/toxicity)
True/False: since the Stockholm convention, changes in the industry have led to PCB levels in organisms and the environment to drop significantly
False: levels are still high due to persistant nature of chemical. Can take many decades to have a significant reduction
Does organic or conventional meat have a higher level of POPs? Why?
Organic: more exposure routes (conventional farm animals are limited from outside environment, controlled diet)
What were PCBs once widely used in?
electric transformers (good dielectric fluid)
What is a congener?
variation of the chemical; amount/position of chlorination or bromination