Back in 1987 there was some concern over the health of women in an industrial neighbourhood of Quebec City.

Some scientists from Laval University decided to conduct a study to see the health effects on women who lived around the industrial area in Quebec City.

To complete the study the scientists also needed to study another group of women who were not effected by pollution.

So.... In order to see what the effects of the pollution in the industrial area were they had to: Make records of toxicity levels of the group of women in the industrial area Make records of toxicity levels of the group of women not effected by the pollution. Compare records to see if the pollution is having an effect on the women in the industrial area.

So.... The researchers needed to find a population of women who were not effected by pollution. Where would they find a place not effected by pollution?

The researchers got a number of Inuit women to agree to be studied.

The belief was that the Inuit women would be the clean population. The Quebec City women would be the group suffering from the effects of pollution.

But.......

When the toxicity results came in from the two groups it turned out that the Inuit women had a much higher level of toxicity.

Women from this environment Were sicker than women from

This environment

Why?

Biomagnification

“You are what you eat”

“You are what you eat”..... ......but don't excrete.

Most of what you eat gets digested by your internal system. Energy is taken from the food you eat.

Some of the food materials goes towards creating new body tissue (bones, skin, organs.....)

They stay in your body. .....Also (unfortunately) certain toxins in what you eat and drink are also taken into your body. These are not transformed into energy. They are usually not excreted. They stay in your body.

Toxin: A poisonous substance that is produced by living cells or organisms and is capable of causing disease when introduced into the body tissues

How do we get toxins in our body?

How do we get toxins in our body? We can get toxins by eating or drinking something that is toxic.

How do we get toxins in our body? We can get toxins by eating or drinking something that has toxins in their body. Toxins enter the digestive system. They get separated from the other food material. Dangerous toxins do not get excreted.

http://www.kitses.com/animation/swfs/digestion. swf Toxins are usually fat soluble. meaning....

http://www.kitses.com/animation/swfs/digestion. swf Toxins are usually fat soluble. Meaning.... They stay in your body for a long time.

Different toxins stay for different lengths of time. Fat soluble toxins will probably stay with you for a couple months.

Different toxins stay for different lengths of time. Fat soluble toxins will probably stay with you for a couple months. Unless they get in your liver. Then you have them for much longer.

2 concepts you need to understand: Bioaccumulation Biomagnification

2 concepts you need to understand: Bioaccumulation Biomagnification (They are not the same thing)

Bioaccumulation – “.. a process by which chemicals are taken up by an organism either directly from exposure to a contaminated medium or by consumption of food containing the chemical.” – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010

Bioaccumulation happens within 1 organism.

A healthy shark

When you start accumulating more toxins you risk getting sick.

What does this mean for humans?

What does this mean for humans? If you eat lots and live long this might be a problem.

How much does the average human eat in 1 year? (kg)

227 kg a year

How much will the average person drink in 1 year.

On average people drink about 1.8 l a day.

On average people drink about 1.8 l a day. Or about 657 litres a year.

In a 70 year life span the average person: eats 227 x 70 kg of food consumes 657 x 70 litres of water

In a 70 year life span the average person: eats 227 x 70 kg of food 15890 kg of food consumes 657 x 70 litres of water 45990 litres of water

In your life how much toxins will you bioaccumulate?

In your life how much toxins will you bioaccumulate? It depends on what you eat.

Bioaccumulation: 1 organism collecting toxins by eating other organisms that have toxins in them.

"Biomagnification is the sequence of processes in an ecosystem by which higher concentrations of a particular chemical, such as the pesticide DDT, are reached in organisms higher up the food chain, generally through a series of prey-predator relationships." - Oxford University, 2008

Biomagnification is the process whereby the tissue concentrations of a contaminant increase as it passes up the food chain through two or more trophic levels.” - Nowell, Capel, and Dileanis; 1999

Biomagnification explains why it is that animals that are higher up on their food chain/food web have a much greater risk of having dangerous levels of toxins.

Follow the Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Manufactured in the U.S. from 1929 to 1977 Used in many industrial products and processes. Often disposed of into the water:

PCBs Used in making old electrical equipment

The old PCBs are very durable.

The old PCBs are very durable. Matter cycles PCBs have become a part of the matter that cycles through all living things.

Today..... people are still throwing out old PCB contaminated electrical equipment

When it rains the PCBs run off into the nearest water.

Who uses water to grow?

Who uses water to grow?

Inuit people in northern Canada were being affected by pollution in the water 1000's of km away.

Inuit people in northern Canada were being affected by pollution in the water 1000's of km away. Interconnectedness

At every step of the food chain bioaccumulation happens.

At every step of the food chain bioaccumulation happens. Which means everything is collecting the toxins accumulated at every trophic level below them.

The higher up the food chain an animal is, the more it is at risk of taking in toxins.

Major sources of toxins: Mercury Is a product of industrial waste. Is released with coal powered electric generators.

Batteries unleaded gasoline

DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

Used as a pesticide for farmers protecting their crops.

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High concentration on DDT in Eagle and Osprey (top level predator birds) caused their eggs to be too weak. This almost made the eagles extinct.

How Toxins Get Into Ecosystems

So..... How can people reduce their risk of collecting too many toxins?

Eat lower down the food chain.

Eat lower down the food chain. Promote clean environments that don't have toxins in the first place.

Puget Sound Orcas

PPM Parts per million the higher the ppm, the higher the concentration.

10 ppm in seals can cause problems

Orcas have an average of almost 150 ppm one was measured to have 1000 ppm of PCB

POP persistent organic pollutant

persistent: lasting or enduring tenaciously, continuing or permanent. Does not go away easily pollutant:

Organic: having the characteristics of an organism, developing in the manner of a living plant or animal

Pollutant: any substance, as certain chemicals or waste products, that renders the air, soil, water, or other natural resource harmful or unsuitable for a specific purpose.

POP Persistent Organic Pollutant

What are the health effects of PCBs in Rodents?

What are the health effects of PCBs in Rodents? Tumors cancers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoplankton

Water soluble = not a big problem

Water soluble = not a big problem Fat soluble = stay with you a while. Are a problem.

From Primary producer to Tertiary Consumer there was about a 1000x increase in concentration of DDT.

Hungry orcas must live off of their fat. When they do that what is in their fat enters into their blood stream.

What is stored in their fat cells?

What is stored in their fat cells? PCBs

PCBs cause damage when stored in fat cells. They cause more damage when in the bloodstream.

PCBs cause damage when stored in fat cells. They cause more damage when in the bloodstream. Hurt the immune system makes living in a unhealthy environment even more dangerous

Which means........

Which means........

Which means........ lots of dead orcas