BIOMAGNIFICATION OF TOXINS IN THE ARCTIC REGION BY-ARYAN, FREYA, HETA, RHEA, VEDANT

WHAT IS BIOMAGNIFICATION BIOMAGNIFICATION IS THE INCREASING IN CONCENTRATION OF A SUBSTANCE SUCH AS A TOXIC CHEMICALS IN THE TISSUE OF ORGANISMS AT SUCCESSIVELY HIGHER LEVELS IN A FOOD CHAIN THE TOXINS ARE FOUND IN CONTAMINATED ENVIORONMENT THE TOXINS ARE STORED IN THE FATTY TISSUES OF THE ORGANISMS

HOW DOES BIOMAGNIFICATION IMPACT US BIOMAGNIFICATION WILL AFFECT THE TOP CONSUMERS THE TOXINS ACCUMULATED IN THE FOOD CHAIN WILL REACH US WHEN WE CONSUME OTHER ORGANISM THAT HAVE ACCUMILATED THESE ORGANISM THESE TOXINS CAN HAVE PROFOUND EFFECT ON PREGNANT WOMEN AND THE FETUS,WITH SOME CHILDREN BEING BORN WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND METAL RETARDATION SOME EXAMPLES OF TOXINS ARE DDT AND MERCURY

BIOMAGNIFICATION AND THE CURRENT EFFECT IN ARCTIC THE TOXINS CAN REACH THE ARCTIC BY A PROCESS CALLED GRASSHOPPEROR GLOBAL DISTILIATION UNFORTUNATELY FACTORS LIKE REDUCED SUNLIGHT,EXTENSIVE ICE COVER AND COLD TEMPRATURES,THE CONTAMINANTS WILL BREAK DOWN SLOWLY,THEREFORE INCREASING THE RISK AND THE RATE OF BIOMAGNIFICATION

CASE STUDY 1 Methyl Mecury is a potent and toxic chemical formed when microorganisms eat or absorb mercury and convert it into a compound Methyl  mercury can accumulate and biomagnifies in organisms in concentrations up to a million times more than naturally found in the environment. Scientists and environmentalists are concerned that mercury levels are increasing in some arctic species Because some countries like China are now emitting more mercury than before The Lena, Ob and yenisei Rivers in Arctic bring twice the mercury that comes in from atmosphere. The diet of the arctic locals or Inuit mainly consists of fish and marine mammals like seals, polar bears and whales. All of these are apex predators with high concentrations of mercury. Animals and humans can both suffer from neurological damage when exposed to high levels of methyl mercury. In humans it can cause long-term developmental delays in children and impair cardiovascular health in adults.

CASE STUDY 2 Methyl mercury has most effect on apex predators. Its burden amount on birds depends on the amount of ingestion relative to excretion Tests for MeHg are done using the feathers of birds as indicators of the overall amount of MeHg in the birds Ivory gulls in the arctic feed on ice associated prey and scavenge marine mammal carcasses These birds have been found to have the highest mercury concentrations of any arctic bird and the species has declined by more than 80% since the 1980s in Canada. Feathers from museum specimens were collected and tests were done on the gulls’ exposure to magnesium from 1877 to 2007. Although there was no significant change in the diet of these birds over this time,the amount of magnesium in their bodies increased 45 times. Magnesium affects the birds’ ability to reproduce and makes the eggs weaker and less likelyto hatch. It also seriously affects the health and immune system of the birds while increasing the rate of death.

Why is Arctic important Arctic sea ice keeps the polar regions cool and helps moderate global climate. Ice melting will have devastating effect on ozone layer, ocean currents and global climate. Arctic sea ice also helps us maintain sea level. More the glabal warming more will the arctic ice melt which will result into sea level rise and loss of massive amount of land Arctic has massive amount of Phytoplankton which are a crucial part of the ocean. Without them entire ocean life will be endangered

How are we trying to reduce Biomagnification By avoiding toxic chemical pesticides. By eating certified organic foods when possible By avoiding fishing or spending time in contaminated areas By reducing use of plastic, oil, DDT etc By spreading awareness about its ill effects

MY BIBLIOGRAPHY: www.wikipedia.com http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/62 /12/1014.full http://www.nbcnews.com/ http://www.upi.com/ www.sciencedaily.com http://www.livescience.com/ http://www.arctic-council.org/ http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/ http://www.amap.no/