Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost.
Year 9 Class work
Using the internet, on the designated sites, find definitions and answer the following questions. Your answers must be in your own words and you need to reference your sources.
Q1
Define ‘bioaccumulation’.
Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism.
Q2
Identify 3 examples of chemicals that might accumulate in living organisms.
Pesticides, led and mercury
Q3
Go to the following site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/MERCURY/EH/EN/eh-ec.cfm
Outline the steps in bioaccumulation of mercury.
Give 3 effects of mercury poisoning.
Death, birth defects and brain damage
Q4
Go to the following site: http://www.mercury.utah.gov/bioaccumulation.htm. This is a government site so the information should be reliable. Read to the bottom of the page. Are the steps for bioaccumulation the same as you already outlined above or can you add more information.
Q5
On the bar at the bottom of the page click on ‘mercury facts’. What is mercury? Where is it found? What are some uses of mercury and how does it get into the food chain?
Q6
Write a short paragraph about the Minamata Disaster, Japan.
Using the following sites:
http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=90, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/11/2241160.htm,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT
Do some research on the chemical DDT.
Find out: What is DDT? How does it get into the food chain? What are its effects on animals as it builds up in them? How can we prevent DDT getting into the environment? What steps have countries taken to reduce DDT in the environment?
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