Metal Flashcards
Name the essential and non essential metals found in water
Essential - copper - zinc - iron Non-essential - cadmium - lead - aluminium - silver
Points on copper in waterways
Necessary for he function of many enzymes Important in formation of bone and brain tissue Toxic in excess causes - damage to sense of smell - Gill damage - ionoregulatory disruption Main sources - mining - copper plumbing - prophylactic treatment in fish culture
Points on cadmium in waterways
Toxic, in fish causes - interference with calcium regulation - damage to sense of smell - neurological disruption Main sources - mining - nickel-cadmium batteries - metal plating - paints
Points on zinc in waterways
Necessary for the function of many enzymes Important in binding CO2 in cells Important in bone formation and wound healing Toxic in excess causes - interference with calcium regulation - interference with CO2 excretion Five fold less toxic than copper Main sources - mining - steel manufacturing - electroplating - galvanising
Points on lead in waterways
Toxic, in fish causes - spinal deformities - interference with calcium regulation Main sources - lead acid batteries - lead pipes - lead based paints - glass manufacturing
Points on iron in waterways
Major component of haemoglobin
Toxic in secs causes
- damage to gills
- respiratory disruption due to damaged gills
Main sources
- most used of all metals, cars washing machines, boats
- steel manufacturing
Points on aluminium in waterways
Toxic, in fish causes - respiratory toxicity - irritation and mucus production at gills - interference with ionoregulation at low pH Sources - many food sources - aluminium pans - water treatment
Points about silver in waterways
Toxic, in excess - main toxic mechanism is interference with sodium uptake at the Gill surface Main sources - mining - electroplating plants - photoprocessing industry
Why is groundwater not always safe?
Natural arsenic poisoning- global threat to 140 million people in 70 countries on all continents
Arsenic in half of Bangladeshi well water due to wells not being dug deep enough
Additional reading copper - aquatic plants
Fernandes & Henriqeus (1991)
Excess copper highly detrimental to aquatic plants
- inhibits respiration and N fixation
- interferes with fatty acid & protein metabolism
- effective inhibitor of vegetative growth and induces general symptoms of senescence
Additional reading copper - fish
Baker (2011) Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectus americanus) experiments - high copper levels cause fatty metamorphosis in liver, kidney necrosis, hemopoetic tissue destruction, changes in gill architecture
Additional reading copper - importance
Solomon (2009)
Important in carbohydrate metabolism, function of ~30 enzymes, formation of haemoglobin and haemocyanin
Ideal levels 5-20 micrograms >20micrograms = toxic
Additional reading zinc - importance and toxic mechanism
Hogstrand and Wood (1996)
Important in enzyme function
- over 300 proteins and counting require zinc to function
2 principal methods of toxicity, both can be fatal
- high doses = hypoxia by gill damage
- moderately polluted areas = impairment of calcium uptake which may become fatal
Additional reading zinc - defficiency
Watanabe et al. (1997)
Deficiency leads to growth retardation, cataracts and fin erosion
Additional reading iron - deficiency
Watanabe et al. (1997)
Deficiency can lead to anaemia in fish
