Q 2: metals- mines and other meses

Question 1

Nimby stands for

Answer 1

Not in my back yard

Question 2

Pathways of environmental

metal exposure

Answer 2

. Food
• Some metals bioaccumulate in the food chain
(e.g. mercury)
• Commonly eaten “staple” foods can deliver
high doses(Rice In China)
• Air
• Metals associate with dust
• Inhalation
• Water
• Metals can be water-soluble
• Soil
• Hand to mouth behaviour in children

Question 3

What happens when we’re exposed to excess

metals?

Answer 3

• It can cause cancer
• Direct binding to DNA
• Strand breaks, chromosomal damage (Cr)
• Metal-catalyzed production of reactive oxygen species
• Direct (Fe and Cu)
• Indirect (Pb, Cd, Ni, Al, Mn, Zn)

It can affect the brain
• Aluminium and Alzheimer’s?

“Although initial studies linked aluminium toxicity with
Alzheimer’s disease, the link has not been proven despite
continuing investigation. Importantly, there is no evidence
to suggest that aluminium exposure increases your risk of
dementia.”
-Alzheimer’s Society website
• Lead, mercury
.• It can mess up your kidneys( Lead to Gout: Sri Lanka has problem with Kidney issues because of high Cadnium(calcium mimic) in rice)
Lead: 10 mg/dl

Question 4

Children should have less then __mg/dl in blood.

Answer 4

10

Question 5

Mount Isa Children

Answer 5

Lead Smelter and Copper Smelter

- All the children have well above recommended maximum lead level in blood.

Question 6

“Hazardous Hazaribagh” case study

Answer 6

Industry or source=
.Tanneries, Leather Processing

Compund=
.hexavalent Chromium

Exposure Pathway=
.Inhalation, Water

Symptoms=
. Cancer, Eye damage, sores

Question 7

China Agriculture case study

Answer 7

Industry or source=
. Factories, Mines, megacities

Compound=
.Cadmium

Exposure pathway=
.Food

Symptoms=
.Cancer, nerve damage, diabetes, kidney damamge.

Question 8

Giant Mine Case Study

Answer 8

Industry or Source=
. Gold Mine

Compound=
.Arsenic Trioxide: As203 (237 thousand tonnes)
. 70-200 mg needed to kill a person
. Enough to kill entire human population 170 times over.

Exposure Pathway=
.Inhalation(Air), Dust, Water

Symptoms=
. Headache, diarrhea, Coma,

Question 9

Franklin Expedition case study

Answer 9

Industry or Source=
.Food Cans

Compound=
.Lead(Solder)

Exposure Pathway=
food, water

Symptoms=
Confusion