Lab Exam 2

Question 1

What are some things mined in MB?

Answer 1

Tin, nickel, tantalum, gold, zinc

Question 2

Gold in MB is usually bound in a form called ______

Answer 2

arsenopyrite

Question 3

What is an open pit mine?

Answer 3

Huge scar in the surface of the Earth

Question 4

What does it mean to say that mines can enter “exploration” phases?

Answer 4

It means there are no environmental rules applies to the mine because they are just “exploring” the ore

Question 5

how is mining effluent monitored in MB?

Answer 5

by the mining company themselves. so not at all

Question 6

how are effluent regulations super shitty in MB?

Answer 6

Concentrations of compounds in effluent are laid out but volumes are not (people can just dilute them)

Question 7

What as the case with industrial effluent of the smelter in Flin Flon?

Answer 7

they consistently exceeded guidelines and reported completely farcical data. when asked to clean up their act they would say they were bankrupt, and the government would let them get away with it because the whole town would be destroyed

Question 8

How did the Flin Flon smelter act as an incinerator

Answer 8

we got stuff shipped here from the U.S. that it was illegal to smelt there

Question 9

What did the Flin Flon smelter produce?

Answer 9

Mostly copper, but also zinc, and a few others

Question 10

What came out of FLin Flon smelter?

Answer 10

Liquid effluent, sulphur dioxide gas,

Question 11

how are water and sewage moved in Flin Flon and why?

Answer 11

Moved in tubes that are surrounded by a wood casings - because there is no soil!

Question 12

Lead levels in Flin Flon are over ___x higher than normal levels

Answer 12

10x

Question 13

Why is there no soil in Flin Flon?

Answer 13

Soil all erodes

Question 14

Why are there no small mammals in Flin Flon?

Answer 14

small mammals would consume so much heavy metal from the vegetation that they would die from heavy metal poisoning

Question 15

Flin flon has the highest rate of what health problems in MB?

Answer 15

Injuries due to work, cancer, and respiratory illness

Question 16

What stopped workers in Flin Flon from getting tested for plumbism?

Answer 16

They were being demoted if they did it

Question 17

Males in Flin Flon are more likely to die from ___ and ___ than elsewhere in MB

Answer 17

homicide, suicide

Question 18

Pesiticides often break down - does that make them safe?

Answer 18

Not necessarily, sometimes the breakdown products are even MORE toxic

Question 19

Why is it that pesticides are often approved despite being unsafe?

Answer 19

Companies are responsible for performing their OWN toxicity testing - this is because pesticide products are complex formulations of several chemicals (not listen on label because of Canada Trade Secrets Act)

Question 20

What are some inorganic pesticides?

Answer 20

Heavy metals, arsenicals, cyanides, borates, and miscellaneous ones such as antimony and fluorine

Question 21

Borates are used in what kind of pesticides?

Answer 21

used against ants because it tastes sweet

Question 22

What are the types of organic pesticides?

Answer 22

naturally produced (biodegradable), synthetic (usually don’t degrade at all)

Question 23

Pesticides derived from plants are called ____

Answer 23

botanicals

Question 24

ORganophophate pesticides include what compounds?

Answer 24

Gylphosate, diazinon

Question 25

Carbamates are primarily ____icides

Answer 25

insecticides

Question 26

Organophosphates are typically ____icides

Answer 26

herbicides

Question 27

Acetaldehyde polymers are used to kill what:?

Answer 27

Slugs, mostly

Question 28

Neonicotinoid pesticides are made of what/

Answer 28

Chlorinated nicotine molecules

Question 29

What plants are treated with neonicotinoids?

Answer 29

corn, soy, canola, sunflower, sugar beats

Question 30

What are neonicotinoids toxic to?

Answer 30

Humans (neurotoxin), 100% toxic to bees, butterflies, birds, fish, aquatic invertebrates

Question 31

What are some effects of neonicotinoids in humans?

Answer 31

Brain damage to fetus, learning disabilities in children

Question 32

What causes colony collapse disorder?

Answer 32

Bees get amnesia after consuming neonicotinoids, then they can’t find the way back home

Question 33

Are neonicotinoids used for homes?

Answer 33

Yes, on lawns, gardens, ornamentals with HUGE application rates

Question 34

___% of albertan/sask. farmers showed symptoms of pesticide poisoning

Answer 34

10%

Question 35

Farmers using 2,4-D and MCPA in Alb. and Sask. have higher rates of what diseases?

Answer 35

Lymphatic cancers, particularly non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Question 36

Why are pesticides a bigger problem in ground water than in surface water?

Answer 36

No sunlight or O2 to break down products

Question 37

Toxicity ratings of substances in Canada are based on ____ exposures?

Answer 37

Acute

Question 38

What are the main things that toxicity guidelines do not take into account?

Answer 38

Only use active ingredient - do not account for other ingredients in the formation, do not include toxicity of breakdown products

Question 39

What additional compound is added to roundup as a surfactant? Why is this an issue?

Answer 39

Mono-818, it is a “trade secret” product that actually causes poisoning in humans (not on label)

Question 40

More than ____ pesticide ACTIVE ingredients are used in Can

Answer 40

600

Question 41

The PMRA re-evaluation program resulted in changes to what?

Answer 41

Labels on pesticides, use/availability, application rates (though no guarantee people will follow), requirement of additional protective gear for applicator

Question 42

IS organic food pesticide free?

Answer 42

No, in MB to be called “organic” food must be grown on land that hasn’t had pesticides in 3 years - but synthetic pesticides do not degrade in soil. Also, pesticides from nearby farmers may screw things up

Question 43

What factors increase pesticide exposure toxicity?

Answer 43

Smoking, being a woman, alcohol consumption, age (young = risk increase for chronic exposure), lack of fiber, antioxidants in body

Question 44

How can one reduce pesticide exposure?

Answer 44

be patient, pesticides don’t work overnight. Use separate bottles and stuff. idk