TOX 2000 Midterm: Environmental Toxicology midterm.docx
12 Nov 2012
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Document Summary
Persistent organic pollutants (pops)- organic compounds resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological or photolytic processes. United nations banned 16 chemicals: aldrin/dieldrin, endrin, ddt/dde, hch/lindane, chlordane, heptachlor, toxaphene, by-products- pcdds, pcdfs, hcb, pcbs. Environmental toxicology- multidisciplinary field in which effects of chemical, biological and physical agents on living organisms is studied. Ecotoxicology- focuses on effects of chemical on populations and communities. Keystone species- species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, functions can"t be replaced, function of community or ecosystem would be significantly changed in their absence ex. Elephants, sea otter; could be detrimental if lost; have ecological relevance. Societal relevance- paragon falcon- not a keystone species, ecosystem wouldn"t be affected if they were removed but society likes them. Wetlands- critical for bird migrations, buffers for toxins, very valuable- need more societal relevance. Basis for assessment endpoint- functional and structural responses, structural response can depend on if organism is keystone or food source.
