Bioaccumulation and HG Flashcards
1
Q
Bioconcentration
A
substance accumulates in
tissues faster than it is excreted from contact with water only
2
Q
bioaccumulation
A
(exposure to water and food etc.)
result in an organism when a substance accumulates in
tissues faster than it is excreted
3
Q
How Does Hg get into Water?
A
- Burning of coal (atmospheric deposition);
- Flooded land (dams/hydroelectric developments);
- Metal refining – especially gold;
- Historic contamination from industry – such as pulp
and paper mills that used to bleach paper using
chlorine. Mercury was used in the process and was a
waste product. - In aquatic sediments, mercury is transformed to
methyl mercury, which makes it bioavailable and
toxic.