Influence of pesticides on marine ecosystems

1971 ◽  
Vol 177 (1048) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  

A bioassay programme undertaken in 1958 has evaluated the toxicity of about 240 pesticides to estuarine fauna. Studies indicate that chronic levels of sublethal amounts of pesticides may have more damaging effects than transitory changes due to acutely toxic levels of pollution. The first five years of a programme monitoring the incidence of synthetic pesticide residues in populations of North American shellfish has been completed. The results demonstrate the ubiquity of DDT and its metabolites. Levels of contamination, however, are not high enough to indicate a human health problem. The run-off of surface waters from agricultural districts is indicated as the chief source of this type of pollution; municipal and industrial wastes, and the control of noxious insects are regionally important sources. Observations of laboratory populations experimentally contaminated with DDT indicate, by extrapolation, that pesticide pollution is causing significant changes in mortality, growth rates, or resistance to disease in some marine populations.

Author(s):  
Manju Mahurpawar

Some heavy metals have bio-importance as trace elements but the biotoxic effects of many of them in human biochemistry are of great concern. Hence, there is a need for proper understanding of mechanism involved, such as the concentrations and oxidation states, which make them harmful. It is also important to know their sources, leaching processes, chemical conversions and their modes of deposition in polluting the environment, which essentially supports life. Literature sources point to the fact that these metals are released into the environment by both natural and anthropogenic means, especially mining and industrial activities, and automobile exhausts. They leach into the underground waters, moving along water pathways and eventually depositing in the aquifer, or are washed away by run-off into surface waters thereby resulting in water and subsequently soil pollution. Poisoning and toxicity in ecosystem occur frequently through exchange and co-ordination mechanisms. When ingested, they form stable biotoxic compounds, thereby mutilating their structures and hindering bioreactions of their functions. This paper reviews certain heavy metals and their impact and biotoxic effects on man.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6481
Author(s):  
Marianna Martinello ◽  
Chiara Manzinello ◽  
Nicoletta Dainese ◽  
Ilenia Giuliato ◽  
Albino Gallina ◽  
...  

Member states of the European Union are required to ensure the initiation of monitoring programs to verify honey bee exposure to pesticides, where and as appropriate. Based on 620 samples of dead honey bees—42 of pollen, 183 of honey and 32 of vegetables—we highlighted the presence, as analyzed by liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection, of many active substances, mainly tau-fluvalinate, piperonyl butoxide, chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, permethrin and imidacloprid. Among the active substances found in analyzed matrices linked to honey bee killing incidents, 38 belong to hazard classes I and II, as methiocarb, methomyl, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and permethrin, thus representing a potential risk for human health. We have shown that, at different times between 2015 and 2020, during implementation of the Italian national guidelines for managing reports of bee colony mortality or depopulation associated with pesticide use, pesticide pollution events occurred that could raise concern for human health. Competent authorities could, as part of a One Health approach, exploit the information provided by existing reporting programs on honey bees and their products, in view of the close correlation to human health, animal health and ecosystem health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (32) ◽  
pp. 3958-3967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilda Chiarello ◽  
Sidnei Moura

Nowadays, food contamination with pesticide residues is prevalent, which can cause problems to human health.


1995 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome O. Nriagu ◽  
Abdul Kabir

The widening use of chromium and its compounds by local industries has led to a growing concern about the effects of chromium contamination on the Canadian environment. This report summarizes the data on Canadian sources and the concentrations of chromium in air, water, sediments, soil, terrestrial wildlife and aquatic biota. It reviews what little is currently known about the cycling of chromium in Canadian ecoystems, and the need for measuring Cr(III) and Cr(VI) rather than total Cr in the environmental media is emphasized. The potential effects of elevated levels of chromium on plants, soil microorganisms, wildlife, and aquatic biota are discussed. The human health effects are not covered. The conclusion is reached that chromium pollution has become a threat to Canadian ecosystems, especially at the local scale where the ambient chromium concentrations in some surface waters, sediments, and soils are now close to or above the toxicity threshold for a number of the more sensistive organisms.Key words: chromium pollution, chromium toxicity, chromium chemistry, chromium emission, bioaccumulation of chromium.


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kasperek ◽  
Marian Mokwa ◽  
Mirosław Wiatkowski

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the contamination transport condition with sediment in the Widawa River, which inflows to the Odra River below Wrocław city. The transport simulations have been performed by means of HEC-RAS model, which was calibrated. Study and geochemical analyses indicate that pollutions are cumulated mainly in sediment of grain size, less than 0,20 mm. It was stated that the main sources of contaminations occurring in the Widawa River bottoms are: superficial run-off, municipal and industrial wastes. Sediment bed quality from the Widawa River in selected cross-sections has been analyzed. Samples of suspended load were collected and divided into eight fractions, for which the phosphorus concentration P was calculated. Deposit particles less than 0,20 mm contained most phosphorus, i.e. 73% (3,52 ppm), and particles greater than 0,20 mm about 27% (1,30 ppm) for the whole sample volume. Relationship between the phosphorus concentration P and the sediment grain size was determined. Analysis showed that the initiation of contamination-sediment suspension in the Widawa River is well described by Engelund criterion. Simulations of the migration of pollutions together with deposits in the Widawa River showed that during average flow discharge, the transport intensity of pollution was equal 2 mg/s, and sediments 6 kg/s. In the present work the water quality of the Widawa River has been also presented.


2012 ◽  
Vol 66 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Sasa Vasilev ◽  
Jelena Cvetkovic ◽  
Ivana Radovic ◽  
Ljiljana Sofronic-Milosavljevic

Serbia is country with a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in pigs, which continues to be a serious human health problem. In Serbia, only a few isolates of Trichinella found in pork have been genetically specified to date, and all were proven as T. spiralis. New data shows that in the sylvatic cycle in Serbia, at least in the Belgrade district, more than one Trichinella species co-exist (T. spiralis and T. britovi). Increased awareness of the possible overlap among sylvatic and domestic Trichinella cycles indicates the need for continuous monitoring of Trichinella species circulation and strongly points to the need that all isolates of Trichinella found in meat for human consumption should be subject to a determination of the Trichinella species (due to the risk of transmission of infection with T. britovi to domestic pigs and humans). This is why we examined using PCR the Trichinella larvae found in pig meat that caused a human outbreak (Trichinella infection) in Grocka (Belgrade district) during February 2011. The isolated larvae belonged to T. spiralis.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shraddha Karve ◽  
Devika Bhave ◽  
Dhanashri Nevgi ◽  
Sutirth Dey

AbstractIn nature, organisms are simultaneously exposed to multiple stresses (i.e. complex environments) that often fluctuate unpredictably. While both these factors have been studied in isolation, the interaction of the two remains poorly explored. To address this issue, we selected laboratory populations ofEscherichia coliunder complex (i.e. stressful combinations of pH, H2O2and NaCl) unpredictably fluctuating environments for ~900 generations. We compared the growth rates and the corresponding trade-off patterns of these populations to those that were selected under constant values of the component stresses (i.e. pH, H2O2and NaCl) for the same duration. The fluctuation-selected populations had greater mean growth rate and lower variation for growth rate over all the selection environments experienced. However, while the populations selected under constant stresses experienced severe tradeoffs in many of the environments other than those in which they were selected, the fluctuation-selected populations could by-pass the across-environment trade-offs completely. Interestingly, trade-offs were found between growth rates and carrying capacities. The results suggest that complexity and fluctuations can strongly affect the underlying trade-off structure in evolving populations.


Author(s):  
Vidushi Abrol ◽  
Sharada Mallubhotla ◽  
Sundeep Jaglan

Rising cases of environmental mercury hazards has led to a need for cost-effective mercury treatment techniques. Extensive use of mercury from ancient times has resulted in water contamination that may require remediation. Mercury contamination is tedious to treat and may pose a risk to human health and the environment. To deal with this threat of mercury contamination, industrial wastes and wastewaters containing mercury requires treatment for its removal and immobilization. This chapter provides a synopsis of the availability, performance, and technologies for management of mercury in water. It covers the innovative methods to treat the mercury contamination like biosorption. In this chapter, the technological aspects available for the mercury treatment technologies are reviewed. It describes the theory, design, and operation of the technologies; provides information on commercial availability and use; and includes data on performance, where available.


Author(s):  
Zakaria Mohamed

Cyanobacteria are a group of phytoplankton of marine and freshwaters. The accelerated eutrophication of water sources by agricultural and industrial run-off has increased the occurrence and intensity of cyanobacterial blooms. They are of particular concern because of their production for potent hepato-, neuro-, and dermatoxins, being hazardous to human health. Dissemination of knowledge about cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins assists water supply authorities in developing monitoring and management plans, and provides the public with appropriate information to avoid exposure to these toxins. This chapter provides a broad overview and up-to-date information on cyanobacteria and their toxins in terms of their occurrence, chemical and toxicological characteristics, fate in the environment, guideline limits, and effective treatment techniques to remove these toxins from drinking water. Future research directions were also suggested to fill knowledge and research gaps, and advance the abilities of utilities and water treatment plant designers to deal with these toxins.


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