AP Environmental Science Notable Toxins AP Environmental Science

Lead Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Old pipes, paint and old gasoline. Batteries Health Impacts Neurotoxinbrain damage and kidney problems Important Info Babies and toddlers can ingest paint chips in old houses and from toys

Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, formed the 'Mad Hatter' character in the 1800s.

Mad Hatter disease refers to the side effects of mercury poisoning. Mercury used in the manufacture of felt hats -19th century. “Mad as a Hatter” describes the chronic side effects of mercury exposure from the process of making felt hats. Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, formed the 'Mad Hatter' character in the 1800s. Symptoms include: red fingers, red toes, red cheeks, sweating, loss of hearing, bleeding from the ears and mouth, loss of appendages such as teeth, hair, and nails, lack of coordination, poor memory, shyness, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, and dizziness.

Mercury Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Coal burnedmercury airbornrainriversoceanbioaccumulation & biomagnification tuna and swordfish humans Health Impacts Same as lead Important Info Minimata Bay, Japan thousands died from Mercury dumped in Bay

Minamata Disease Minamata disease

Minamata disease, 1956 Neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto, Japan, in 1956. caused by the release of methyl mercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation’s chemical factory, (1932 to 1968)

timeline Chisso Corporation first opened a chemical factory in Minamata in 1908. Chisso reached two separate compensation agreements with the fishery cooperative in 1926 and 1943. ( fish were dying and catches rduced "epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system", marking the official discovery of Minamata disease in 1956 Cat, dog, pig, and human deaths continued over more than 30 years, the government and the company did little to prevent the pollution: fishermen of Minamata - protesting against Chisso Corporation in 1959 : demanding compensation, and that Chisso quit dumping toxic waste. Congenital Minamata disease first seen in1960’s discovered that children were suffering from an as yet unrecognised congenital form of Minamata disease. Chisso finally quit dumping in Minamata in 1968. Minamata disease

Causes of Mercury posioning Consumption: of fish, whale and dolphin meat Bioaccumulation Biomagnification Direct contact Human-generated sources: coal plants, Cement production Gold production Nonferrous metal production, waste disposal human crematoria caustic soda production pig iron and steel production mercury production (mostly for batteries) biomass burning Ontario Minamata disease, 1970’s-illegal dumping

Minamata disease

Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification “Bioaccumulation …..accumulation of chemicals in the tissue of organisms through any route, including respiration, ingestion, or direct contact with contaminated water, sediment, and pore water in the sediment.” – U.S. EPA, 2000 Bioaccumulation occurs within a trophic level bioaccumulation occurs within an organism “Result of the process of bioaccumulation and biotransfer by which tissue concentrations of chemicals in organisms at one trophic level exceed tissue concentrations in organisms at the next lower trophic level in a food chain.” – U.S. EPA, 2010 biomagnification occurs across trophic (food chain) levels, i.e. move up the food chain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5P-UoKLxlA

Asbestos Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Insulation in older buildings Health Impacts Lung Cancer (Mesothelioma) and scarring of the lungs (Asbestiosis)

PBDE Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Fire-retardant in computers, cars, TVs, plastics, pillows, mattresses etc. Health Impacts Possible endocrine disruptor Important Info Has been found in human breast milk

DDT Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Top predatory birds from persistent DDT/DDE Health Impacts Birds’ eggs crack Important Info Banned in the U.S. One of the dirty dozen

PCB Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Industrial chemical. Now banned, but persists a long time (POP) Arctic circle Health Impacts Neurotoxin. Same as lead Important Info Same as DDT https://edpuzzle.com/media/584ee5bedbcec33e26da03f8

Bisphenol-A (BPA) Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Plastics, lining of food cans, receipt tape. Health Impacts Probable endocrine disruptor Important Info CA law now bans it in baby products

Cadmium Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Rechargable batteries Health Impacts Neurotoxin-same as lead Important Info Can leak from batteries in a landfill into groundwater below the landfill.

Aldicarb Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info Pesticide used on crops Health Impacts Possible teratogen Causes respiratory problems, nausea and headaches Important Info One of the most toxic pesticides legal in the U.S.

Atrazine Where Found In Environment Health Impacts Important Info herbicide Health Impacts Endocrine disruptor Causes amphibians to become hermophrodites or sexually impaired. Important Info Very common. Manufacturer says no problem

Phthalates Where found in the Environment? Health Impacts Soft plastic children’s toys and many cosmetics Health Impacts Hormone-disrupting chemical. Birth defects, breast cancer Important Info Banned in Europe, but remains widespread in US. Banned in CA and WA in children’s toys

Mercury in Arcadia National Park ( maine) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRqAS4Eow-c