How many times greater is the concentration of DDT in the large fish than in the seawater?

How many times greater is the concentration of DDT in the large fish than in the seawater?

The concentration of DDT is 4300 times higher in the fish than the seawater. The concentration of DDT is 5 200 000 higher in the dolphins than the seawater.

What happens to pollutants during biological magnification?

Biomagnification occurs when the concentration of a pollutant increases from one link in the food chain to another (i.e. polluted fish will contaminate the next consumer and continues up a tropic food web as each level consumes another) and will result in the top predator containing the highest concentration levels.

What does biomagnification of mercury have to do with concentration?

Because mercury is a persistent substance, it can build up, or bioaccumulate, in living organisms, inflicting increasing levels of harm on higher order species such as predatory fish and fish eating birds and mammals through a process know as “biomagnification”.

How does mercury affect the ecosystem?

When released into the environment, it accumulates in water laid sediments where it converts into toxic methylmercury and enters the food chain. Mercury contamination is a significant public health and environmental problem because methylmercury easily enters the bloodstream and affects the brain.

What are the main sources of mercury pollution?

Natural sources of mercury include volcanoes, forest fires, cannabar (ore) and fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. Levels of mercury in the environment are increasing due to discharge from hydroelectric, mining, pulp, and paper industries.

How can we prevent mercury pollution?

Prevent mercury pollution Make sure that you recycle mercury-containing products and bulk mercury; households can contact the local household hazardous waste collection program. A few products require mercury to function, such as fluorescent and high-intensity-discharge lighting.

What are the negative effects of mercury?

Health effects of mercury exposure The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.

What does mercury do to the brain?

Many studies show that high exposure to mercury induces changes in the central nervous system, potentially resulting in irritability, fatigue, behavioral changes, tremors, headaches, hearing and cognitive loss, dysarthria, incoordination, hallucinations, and death.

What items have mercury?

List of Common Consumer Products that Contain Mercury

• Antiques. Some antiques such as barometers, clock pendulums, mirrors, vases and organs contain mercury.
• Appliances.
• Automotive parts.
• Barometers.
• Batteries.
• Dental amalgam.
• Electronics.
• Jewelry.

What food are high in mercury?

King mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish, ahi tuna, and bigeye tuna all contain high levels of mercury.

Is there mercury in LCD screens?

Mercury exposure caused by lamps and liquid crystal display (LCD) devices. Compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent tubes (including cold-cathode fluorescent tubes used for backlighting LCD TV and monitor screens) contain small quantities of mercury.

Do LED TVs have mercury?

LED TVs are also thinner and weigh less than LCD TVs and generally create a brighter picture. For those who are environmentally concerned, LED TVs also contain no Mercury or Lead.

How much mercury is in a computer monitor?

Certain flat screen laptop displays may use mercury-containing back-lit bulbs for illumination; however, the mercury contained in these flat screen displays is in very small amounts. According to laptop manufacturers, the average amount of mercury contained in a laptop computer is 0.12 – 5 milligrams of mercury.

What computer component contains a lot of lead and must be recycled?

A typical computer monitor may contain more than 6% lead by weight, much of which is in the lead glass of the cathode ray tube (CRT).

Are laptops toxic?

Their report, Toxic Chemicals in Computers – Reloaded, showed bromine present in more than 40% of components tested, at concentrations of up to 10% by weight. Of the laptops tested, Sony were found to have the lowest number containing bromine, and Dell laptops had the highest number.

Is computer dust toxic?

“Toxic dust” found on computer processors and monitors contains chemicals linked to reproductive and neurological disorders, according to a new study by several environmental groups. “The chemical industry is subjecting us all to what amounts to chemical trespass by putting these substances into use in commerce.

How do I clean out my computer?

How to clean your computer, Step 1: Hardware

1. Wipe down your computer.
2. Clean Your keyboard.
3. Blow dust buildup out of computer vents, fans and accessories.
4. Run check disk tool.
5. Check surge protector.
6. Keep PC ventilated.
7. Back up your hard drives.
8. Get antivirus software to protect from malware.

Do computers give off carbon monoxide?

A computer that is on for eight hours a day uses almost 600 kWh and emits 175 kg of CO2 per year. A laptop uses between 50 and 100 W/hour when it is being used, depending on the model. A laptop that is on for eight hours a day uses between 150 and 300 kWh and emits between 44 and 88 kg of CO2 per year.

What toxic chemicals are in computers?

The primary hazardous chemicals present within almost all computerized devices are brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Various forms of BFRs are acknowledged toxins with a proven ability to accumulate within the human body.

Do laptops contain mercury?

Some laptop computers have mercury tilt switches. When you open and close the laptop, mercury swifts to one side either turning it on or shutting it off. Mercury is also used in backlighting in laptops and desktop computers. Again, as long as the product is intact there is no inherent risk.

Are old computers dangerous?

Your typical piece of electronic equipment — especially one like a PC with many circuit boards — may contain up to 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) of lead, along with lower levels of mercury, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium and other toxic chemicals [source: Downing]. These elements are all toxic at varying exposure levels.

What computer component contains a lot of lead?

The central processing unit in a computer contains toxic substances, and lead is found in circuit boards.

What harmful chemicals are contained in old computers?

Computers contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium, all carcinogenic and not easily degraded.