Lecture 2-___ Flashcards
1
Q
___% of water is in oceans, glaciers, and polar ice caps
A
97.2%
2
Q
___% of water is in oceans, glaciers, and polar ice caps
A
97.2%
3
Q
Differentiate between the progressive, regressive, and flat rate of water pricing?
A
Progressive: The higher quantities you use, the higher your rate
Regressive: Those using high quantities generally pay less (ex. businesses subsidized by municipal/provincial taxes)
Flat rates: Same price per unit water regardless of how much is used
4
Q
About ___% of the adult human body is water
A
70%
5
Q
What are some of the long term impacts of substances carried by drinking water?
A
Influencing immunity, behaviour, IQ, reproduction, life expectancy
6
Q
What are examples of some groups in Canada that may not have access to safe drinking water?
A
Aboriginal communities, rural residents, and northern communities
7
Q
People generally use (more or less) water when they have a water meter
A
Less!
8
Q
____% of all disease is spread by unsafe water
A
80%
9
Q
Why was the new Winnipeg water treatment plant developed?
A
To deal with Cryptosporidium, a protist which grows from fecal contamination and is found in shoal lake. It cannot be killed by chlorination but instead only filtration
10
Q
How does water quality influence deforestation?
A
When people need to boil their water, they often use wood, which contributes to global pollution and deforestation
11
Q
Approximately _____L per day is considered to be what you need for daily life (adequate standard of living). How does this differ from urban areas and why?
A
50L.
100L in urban areas for effective sewer transport
12
Q
____% of the global population has no access to safe water
A
26%
13
Q
Average residential water consumption per person per day in Winnipeg is approximately
A
approximately 300L/person/day
14
Q
Why was the new Winnipeg water treatment plant developed?
A
To deal with Cryptosporidium, a protist which grows from fecal contamination and is found in shoal lake. It cannot be killed by chlorination but instead only filtration
15
Q
What are the primary things that domestic water use is related to?
A
Household income/property value, and climate
16
Q
Approximately _____L per day is considered to be what you need for daily life (adequate standard of living). How does this differ from urban areas and why?
A
50L.
100L in urban areas for effective sewer transport
17
Q
____/___ of the world’s food is grown on irrigated land
A
1/3rd
18
Q
Average residential water consumption per person per day in Winnipeg is approximately
A
approximately 300L/person/day
19
Q
How does Canada rank globally in terms of per capita water usage?
A
2nd to the U.S.
20
Q
In Winnipeg the costs of water went up after the installment of what?
A
The installment of the new water treatment plant
21
Q
How does Canada rank globally for water prices?
A
One of the lowest rates in the developed world.
22
Q
What is the primary reason why some cities around the world are running short on water?
A
Groundwater depletion.
23
Q
What are some measures to cut back on water consumption?
A
Ask consumer to cut back voluntarily (ha).
Rotate restrictions (ex. every second street can water their lawn on every second day)
Restrict size of surface area
Provide service only at certain hours of the day
Arrange to import water from a more distant source
24
Q
A
25
How do storms affect sewage treatment in Winnipeg?
Storm sewers can overflow from summer rain so sometimes waste water is directly diverted into the Red River
26
What happens when organic compounds are put through a water treatment plant?
They are chlorinated, therefore becoming carcinogens (ex. trihalomethanes)
27
What is the guideline for trihalomethanes in Canada? How does it compare to WHO?
100. WHO says 30 is too high.
28
What agencies deal with drinking water quality guidelines and which are the most stringent
WHO (most stringent), EPA (often more intense than Canada but not always), Canadian Task Force on Water Quality Guidelines, and Manitoba Water Quality Objectives (Manitoba Drinking Water Safety Act)
29
Why is it so hard to set up scientifically sound water quality guidelines?
IT is really hard to do research on the heath effects of many contaminants (latency periods are very long) , there are lots of complicating variables such as age and lifestyle
30
The _______ period is the time between first exposure and the time that you see symptoms of an ilness
Latency
31
Why is it that animal studies of water contaminants not useful?
Studies run for no more than 2 years - not enough time to identify effects of toxins - ex, cancer is very long term
32
What is toxicity?
The ability of a chemical to damage an organ system, disrupt a biochemical process or disturb an enzyme system in such a way that is causes clinical illness
33
Toxicity testing is based on what principle related to exposure to a toxin? Why is this not true for allergic reactions?
Based on the principle that intensity increases as dose increases. This is not true for allergic reactions because the first exposure (lowest amount) actually produces a less extreme reaction
34
Toxicity is expressed as LD50. What is this?
Expressed as amount per unity body weight that is lethal to 50% of organisms tested in a given time limit
35
Why is the LD50 sometimes not helpful when studying water contaminants?
Does not give a measure of chronic exposure
36
Why is animal toxicity testing often not accurate for humans?
Different animals are being used - the closest animal to us is monkeys but even monkeys have different immune systems and differences in toxicity
37
What is the NOEL level of a substance?
The "No observable effect level" - the level of a substance at which a change is viewed in the organism.
38
Why is NOEL often not a good guideline for toxicity?
Many effects are not easily assessed (ex. behavioural), or are too subtle to identify (ex. presence/absence of headache). There is huge variation in response to the same dose (even across males vs females, adults vs children). NOEL does not include carcinogens
39
When we as humans are exposed to chemicals in the environment, it is always is a cocktail of multiple contaminants. What does that mean in terms of response?
Sometimes they are antagonistic toward each other, sometimes they have additive toxicity, but the majority of the time they have synergistic toxicity (make each other worse)
40
Is synergistic toxicity often studied?
Nope. Toxicity data do not take that into account
41
TRUE OR FALSE: Canada manufactures DDT
True
42
_____ is the second leading cause of death in north america
Cancer
43
How does the Canadian government operate on an "innocent until proven guilty" basis for pharmaceuticals and food additives?
The Canadian food inspection agency allows
44
What are the primary parameters that determine what chemicals are on lists such as the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines?
1. Known to be toxic (through the fundamentally flawed NOEL)
2. Easily measurable (cheap)
3. Likely to be present in some samples
45
Canada has a tendency to do what with water quality guidelines over time?
Reduce the threshold values
46
What are the different water quality guideline "types" found in Canada?
- Drinking
- Recreation
- Irrigation
- Livestock watering
- Protection of aquatic life (basically just fish)
47
In Manitoba, the ____ Act regulated public and private water supplies and distribution
Manitoba Public Health Act
48
The Manitoba Public Health Act regulations apply to what kind of systems?
Drinking water systems that have more than 15 service connections.
49
What group does water quality monitoring under the Manitoba Public Health Act?
Manitoba Conservation
50
How are municipal water supplies in Manitoba usually disinfected?
Usually chlorination, sometimes ozonation
51
What are the steps required to build a water treatment plant in Manitoba?
1. Construction plan reviewed by MB conservation and Department of Health
2. Facility built and water tested
3. Disinfection (chlorination) and bacteriological limits set
4. All monitoring will be by MB conservation
52
What is added to Winnipeg drinking water before it reaches citizens?
Sulphur, chlorine, phosphorous
53
What chlorine residual must be in water that is distributed to houses? How is this measured?
0.5mg/L. Measured daily and sent to MB conservation and the public health inspector
54
What are the coliform bacteria requirements for tap water
At least 90% of samples must have no total coliforms, and no one sample may have over 10. No fecal coliforms can be found.
55
If coliform bacterial requirements are exceeded, what is the procedure?
1. Add more disinfectant
2. Resample
3. Issue warning
4. More disinfectant - resample
5. Boil water advisory issued
56
The _____ Act governs American drinking water quality. Are theses standards or guidelines?
Safe Drinking Water Act. They are legally enforceable standards
57
Is the American Safe Drinking Water Act more strict than Canadian guidelines?
Generally, yes
58
What are some different sources of drinking water and which areas use them most often?
Desalinated seawater (usually desert countries, reduced from 3.5% salt to 0.5% salt)
Groundwater
Surface freshwater
59
Define surface water
Any water exposed to the surface (the atmosphere)
60
Why is the presence of oxygen important for drinking water?
O2 kills anaerobes, oxidizes many harmful chemicals into harmless forms, precipitates dissolved iron, prevents some toxic materials (ex. hydrogen sulfide) from forming
61
At what time of year might some surface waters become anaerobic
winter - when organisms eat up all the oxygen in a lake
62
Why is exposure to UV light a positive thing for drinking water
Kills some microorganisms and degrades some toxic organics (ex. cyanide or anatoxin-a)
63
Why is the presence of aquatic macrophytes important for drinking water?
They control algal growth by releasing compounds that inhibit them and by sequestering nutrients
64
What are some downsides of relying on surface waters for drinking purposes?
Potential for algal blooms and subject to atmospheric fallout/environmental hazards, subject to pollution
65
What are different sources of pollution in Shoal Lake?
Agriculture, the winter road that takes supplies to Shoal Lake 40, cottages, boat traffic, runoff from roads
66
Aquifers extend from soil surface to up to ______km deep
0.8 km
67
Is there more surface water or groundwater on the planet?
Groundwater
68
About _____% of canadians drink groundwater
26%
69
Why is it that groundwater (as drinking water) usage has gone up over the past 20 years?
Most surface water is too contaminated
70
Why is it that we have no idea how many wells there are in Canada?
We do not require private citizens to report well drilling
71
There are two kinds of aquifers: _____ and _____
unconfined and confined
72
The impermeable layer on top of which an unconfined aquifer sits is called an _____. Unconfined aquifers have a _____ volume
Aquitard. Indeterminate
73
Describe confined aquifers
Squeezed between two aquitards, finite volume which is under pressure, and can emerge as an artesian spring/well
74
How can drilling wells spoil good aquifers?
Allows bad water to enter another level (otherwise known as intrusion), damaged well casings and heat pumps may affect water, or deep injection of hazardous waste can really fuck them up
75
Where has the water table level lowered in MB?
Lowe Farm, Winkler, that general area. Also, Charleswood, where buildings as young as 50 years old are having foundations crack, subsidence or sinking of homes
76
What are some disadvantages of using groundwater for drinking?
Main one is that there is no oxygen. Harmful anaerobes can grow, toxins like H2S can be produced, NH3 is not oxidized, Radon gas can be present, can contain radioactive substances in areas such as the Precambrian Shield, no UV breakdown of toxic substances, pathogens are preserved because water is cold
77
Why are gas stations a major source of groundwater pollution?
Underground gas tanks can be leaking for years without anyone noticing.
78
Very toxic substances are often injected deep underground in the town of _____, MB
Gimli, MB
79
How is groundwater contamination something that is not easy to detect?
Usually it cannot be tasted or smelled, and when it is reported MB conservation usually doesn't do anything
80
What are some different ways in which toxic substance can enter the body?
Ingestion (via cooking, drinking, accidents)
Absorption (via skin, mucous membranes)
Inhalation (via aerosols, dusts)
injection (medical procedures, accidental penetration)
81
How does the acid environment of the stomach influence ingestion of contaminants
Promotes solubility of compounds that are weak acids. Ex. metals easily absorbed
82
What is enterohepatic recycling and how does it influence the absorption of toxic materials by the body?
Enterohepatic recycling is the process of blood being cycled from the small intestine to the liver to the bile and back to the small intestine. This results in many toxic substances cycling through the body, prolonging the amount of time they spend in the body
83
How does eating plants influence absorption of toxic substances?
Cellulose fiber binds to many toxic chemicals.
84
Why is that eating burnt toast can help in the event of a poisoning emergency?
Because activated charcoal adsorbs poison
85
The _____ is the primary site for bodily detoxification and the _____ is the secondary one
Liver, kidney
86
The ____ has another pathway where the residence time of poisons in the body can be prolonged
Bladder
87
What are some skin/hair products through which we may absorb toxic materials
jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, hygiene, grooming products, medical and dental devices
88
When can water droplets be inhaled?
When bathing, showering, swimming, using humidifiers, garden hose mist, steam from washing dishes
89
How does asbestos cause disease?
Asbestos lodges in the alveoli permanently and eventually leads to cancers
90
____,MB has the highest amount of chloroform in the water of any place in CANADA
Whitemouth
91
How does smoking affect the absorption of toxic substances?
Amplifies the effects of airborne pathogens
92
Many chemicals never leave the body. What is this referred to?
The "body burden" - the idea that many chemicals are not removed from the body and gradually increase in concentration as we age
93
Why is it that alcohol is smelled on the breath when drunk?
Because alcohol is removed from the body by exhalation
94
What are a few different ways in which chemicals can exit the body?
Sweat, urine, tears, exhalation, poop, breastmilk, saliva, bleeding, amniotic fluid, hair and nails
95
What kind of toxic substances are deposited in hair and nails?
Arsenic, many heavy metals
96
List the physical water quality parameters
Odour, colour, oil/grease, turbidity
97
Why are chemical water quality parameters considered more useful than physical?
They deal with specific chemicals, whereas physical parameters may be perfectly healthy
98
_____ is the most frequent type of complaint by consumers to water suppliers
Taste/odour
99
What are some sources of bad tastes/smells in drinking water?
Microorganisms (ex. actinomyces), produced during water treatment (ex. from chlorination), compounds from algal blooms, decaying plant/animal matter, oil, H2S gas, iron bacteria, tannins, metals, pesticides, industrial pollution, landfill leaching
100
If surface water becomes stratified in summer, sometime anaerobic bacteria grow in the low layers - what compound can be produced from that?
Hydrogen sulfide gas
101
How does low pH affect metals in water?
Low pH causes metals to become more soluble and affect the taste of water
102
The most common cause for colour change in surface waters is what? What colour does the water turn? IS this deadly?
Fulvic acids that come from decomposition of plant material, leaf litter, etc. Turns water brown but is perfectly safe to drink
103
In groundwater, what is the most common cause of brown water? Is it toxic?
Manganese/iron. Both are.
104
What is the water quality guideline for colour in Manitoba?
"There shall be no objectionable colour"
105
How is colour measured?
TCU = total colour units
106
Petroleum products are referred to as ______ under Canadian water quality guidelines
"Gasoline and its organic constituents"
107
______ molecular weight petroleum compounds can be tasted in water
Small
108
TRUE OR FALSE: All petroleum products are toxic
TRUE
109
Where would petroleum products that contaminate surface water come from?
Spills, leaking fuel tanks, lubricants, dumping of aircraft fuel, train derailments
110
How do petroleum products and other volatile organics react with the water?
Some sink below the surface, some float above
111
How is turbidity measured?
Nephelometer
112
Why is turbidity considered an issue?
May harbor microorganisms, some small particles like algae, asbestos, clay (absorbs heavy metals and pesticides), or calcium carbonate/lime (beneficial to health) appear.
113
How can turbidity be a problem in UV light disinfection systems?
Shields pathogens from being killed by UV light
114
What is total dissolved solids? What is it measured in?
All dissolved organic and inorganic matter in the water. Measured in ppm (mg/L)
115
Ideally, we want water to be between _____ and _____ TDS
100 and 150
116
How does high TDS affect water distribution?
Can coat pipes
117
How is TDS measured?
Electrode
118
TRUE OR FALSE: Hardness is the same as alkalinity
FALSE
119
What is meant by "hardness" of water? Where are the hardest waters in Canada?
Hardness is the total cations present in water, consisting of mostly Ca and Mg. Hardest waters are in Manitoba, Southern Ontario, and Saskatchewan
120
What is meant by "alkalinity" of water?
The ability of a water to neutralize acid
121
Metals are more soluble in ____ (more/less) alkaline water. How is this related to shoal lake?
less. This less alkaline water leaches things such as lead from pipes
122
What substances contribute to alkalinity of water
carbonate, phosphate, silicate, sulphide, ammonia, iron, magnesium, manganese, gasses (CO2), particulates
123
TRUE OR FALSE: Waters in Manitoba are generally very alkaline
TRUE
124
High alkalinity waters share what traits?
Great ability to sustain acid rain, acid pollution, less heavy metal toxicity,
125
Hard water is beneficial to health in what ways?
Lower risk of stroke, cardiovascular diseases, cerebral hemmorhage. Maybe due to less heavy metal absorption
126
___ to ____ mg/L of CaCO3 for hardness is considered "acceptable"
80-100mg/L
127
1ppm = __mg/L
1mg/L
128
TRUE OR FALSE: pH must be measured in situ. Why or why not?
TRUE, as pH changes over time
129
The _____ the pH is, the more corrosive it is
Lower
130
Heavy metals are more soluble in ___ metals
Heavy
131
What is higher pH associated with?
High hardness. Can also reflect problems such as eutrophication
132
As you approach a pH of ____, all fish will die
4
133
Generally the minerals absorbed at ___ (low/high) pH are more dangerous than minerals absorbed at _____ (low/high) pH
low, high
134
What are some problems caused by high chloride in water?
Water tastes salty, corrodes pipes/fixtures
135
High chloride water is found particularly in _____ of MB
Southwestern parts
136
The Canadian guideline for chloride in water is ____
250 mg/L
137
Water softener salt is made of _____. How does this affect rural (farm) houses?
NaCl. This can backlog into the septic field and create a very salty environment, which can leach into the groundwater over time
138
How does manure affect chloride concentrations in groundwater?
Manure in lagoons is very salty and can cause NaCl to leach into groundwater
139
What are some different sources of nitrogen in MB?
Livestock waste, fertilizers, sewage, cottages
140
How does mining affect nitrogen levels in Manitoba?
Gold mining is done using cyanide, which enters water systems and increases nitrogen levels
141
How soluble is ammonia?
Very very soluble
142
What are some sources of ammonia?
Runoff, leachings, sewage, industry, natural decomposition of organic matter, cleaners (ex. windex), anhydrous ammonia, mixed with irrigation water, excretion by aquatic organisms
143
What are some problems caused by the presence of ammonia in a water system?
Corrode distribution system, toxic to all animals, promotes bacterial growth
144
Is there a canadian drinking water guideline for ammonia?
No
145
What is one way to prevent ammonia from building up too much
Aerate the water, converting ammonia to nitrite (NO2)
146
The number one cause of mortality in Lake Winnipeg fish is _____ from Winnipeg sewage
ammonia
147
Levels of nitrite above ______mg/L indicate pollution
01.mg/L
148
Nitrite is about ____ as toxic as nitrate
10x more
149
Is there a Canadian drinking water guideline for nitrite?
Nope.
150
What is the primary concern with nitrite in groundwater?
There is almost no O2 in groundwater so nitrite cannot be converted to nitrate. This may lead to Methemoglobinemia: Blood vessels dilate, oxygen supply to brain/extremities reduced. Hemoglobin is converted to methemoglobin and blue skin, lips, nails (cyanosis) can occur. May lead to "blue baby disease".
151
Often methemoglobinemia is misdiagnosed as ______
Sudden infant death syndrome
152
_____ is a dental product used to treat dry mouth that can induce methemoglobinemia
Biotene
153
Chronic exposure to nitrite results in ____
Chronic recurrent respiratory tract infections
154
If food is consumed with nitrite-high water, what reaction can occur?
Nitrites can form nitrous acid in the stomach, which will react with amines from food and form potent carcinogens (nitrosamines)
155
If oxygen is present in a water sample, the majority of nitrogen will be present as ______
Nitrate
156
The guideline for NO3 in Canada is ____mg/L and the guideline for NO3-N in Canada is _____mg/L
45mg/L, 10 mg/L
157
Nitrate toxicity results in water symptoms?
Gastric and prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, spontaneous abortion, affects on human behaviour
158
Bacteria that convert Nitrate to Nitrite can be found in the _____ of many animals
Gut
159
What are some additional places where we may be exposed to Nitrites sources?
Pickled/cured foods (nitrites or potassium nitrate), all cured/processed meat
160
Pickling salt is made of ___
Potassium nitrate
161
What is the purpose of adding nitrite to meat?
It is illegal not to add it to processed meat. Gives it a "zesty" flavour, preserves it, prevents botulinum production
162
Vitamin _ reduces the amount of nitrosamine production in the stomach after ingestion of processed meat
C
163
Why is it important to drain meat drippings from a pre-cured ham?
They contain over 2 times the amount of nitrosamines than the meat itself.
164
How does nitrate affect livestock?
Nitrate in food/water may cause illness or death in livestock, especially ruminants. Causes reduced weight gain, high susceptibility to disease, lower milk/egg production
165
How does nitrate get into forage and crop plants?
"Luxury consumption" - plants will take in more nitrate than they need when they are overfertilized. Animals will naturally avoid the plants that look like they have too much nitrate (looks a little blue-green), but when they are fed hay they do not have a choice.
166
What is a problem caused by excessive fertilization of crops?
Too much nitrogen in a plant results in deep green to blue leaves, and causes the plant produce Nitrates as well as Cyanide groups. When eaten the Cyanide groups break off in the stomach and nitrates react with the gut for a very unpleasant time
167
What vegetables are very prone to nitrate luxury consumption?
Beets, spinach, celery, lettuce, radishes
168
Out of the approximate 300 known nitrosamines, how many are known to be carcinogenic?
Over 98%
169
How does cyanide naturally occur in surface waters?
At very low levels from microbial activity and decomposition of plants. Tends to degrade via photolysis
170
The most toxic form of cyanide is what?
Free cyanide
171
What are some examples of metallocyanides?
Cyanide mixed with gold, ferrocyanide
172
Where can cyanide be found?
Gold mines, industrial effluents, electroplating, photography, dye (Prussian blue), pesticides, bluepencil (for drafting), extract of bitter almonds for baking
173
The human liver can deal with up to ___mg/day of cyanide
10mg/day
174
What happens when small concentrations of cyanide are ingested?
Liver converts it to thiocyanate which is slowly excreted by kidneys
175
What are effects of chronic low level exposure to cyanide?
CNS problems, thyroid problems, reduced fertility
176
What are effects of high exposure to cyanide?
Weakness, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, shortness of breath
177
Cyanoglycosides are what?
Sugars binded to a cyanide group
178
Why is it important to remove pits as soon as possible when making choke cherry jelly?
because the pits are extremely toxic (cyanide), which leaches out in the cooking process
179
How are lima beans toxic? What has Canada done to combat this?
They have prussic acid in them (HCN). Canada prohibits himportation of beans >0.02%HCN (prussic acid). We also grow specially bred strains with less HCN
180
What are the symptoms of Favism?
From chronic fava bean consumption. Results in anemic condition, and Mediterranean peoples are especially susceptible.
181
What is phosphorous needed for?
ATP production, nucleic acid production, phospholipids, bone metabolism, biochemical energy transformations
182
There is no Canada drinking water quality guideline for Phosphorous as it is assumed to be non toxic. is this true?
No, as chronic low levels in drinking water is linked to colon cancer
183
Where can phosphorous come from in water?
Laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, some concentrated cleaners.
184
American dishwasher detergents contain ___ (more/less) phosphorous than Canadian
less
185
What is "TSP"?
A powerful cleaned of trisodium phosphate which can cause intestinal discomfort if ingested
186
Phosphorous toxcity causes what symptoms?
Headache, garlic breath, supporating jaw sores
187
What is the canadian DW guideline for sodium?
200mg/L
188
sodium acts as a "builder" in laundry detergent - what does this mean?
attaches to greasy precipitated curds that come off of soaps
189
when is sodium input into surface waters the greatest?
In spring because of road salt
190
What are some commercial products that contain large amounts of sodium?
Caustic cleaners and water softeners
191
What can high Na intake contribute to?
Hypertension, CV disease, stroke
192
The most common form of sulphur in surface water is____
sulphate
193
The Canadian DW guideline for sulphate is ____mg/L. Why is this?
500mg/L, above which it acts as a laxative
194
What is the most common cause of atmospheric sulphur?
Burning of fossil fuels
195
What are some other sources of sulphur in waters?
Smelters, fossil fuel burning, pulp mills, fertilizers, volcanic activity, acid rain
196
Sulphate occurs as salts of what molecules?
Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, and some others
197
What types of manitoban lakes are most susceptible to sulphur? Why is this?
precambrian shield lakes, because they have little buffer capacity
198
The single largest source of sulphur dioxide in Canada is _____
Copper Cliff nickel mine, Ontario
199
How does acid rain affect Canada?
Many lakes are completely dead due to acid rain, especially in northern mining communities
200
Potassium sulphate is otherwise known as ______. Where does this come from?
Potash. Comes from old lakebeds, usually in Saskatchewan and Alberta
201
The threshhold at which one can taste the sulphate depends on what factors?
The type of sulphate salt
202
Where does hydrogen sulphide gas (H2S) come from initially
Anaerobic decompostion of organic matter
203
What are some sources of H2S?
Groundwater, dissolved gas, marshes, pulp mills, oil wells, petroleum refineries, sewage lagoons, manure
204
The Canadian DW guideline for H2S is ____mg/L
0.05mg/L
205
H2S is very common in Manitoban wells - how do we deal with this?
By aerating the water
206
Sometimes people in MB die of H2S exposure - how does this happen?
Usually it happens in Amish communities because they
207
At what level can people smell H2S?
Already at low (non toxic) concentraitons
208
How do people die of H2S exposure?
It inhibits cytochrome oxidase@
209
What are some problems with using trace elements in water quality testing?
Hard to detect
210
What are some sources of aluminum?
Fireworks, fossil fuels, smelters, mines, antaxids, buffered aspirins, antidiarrhea meds, vaccines, cookware/utensils, foil/food packaging, additive in food mixed, coagulant in water treatment
211
How was aluminum related to lung cancer in mining?
"McIntyre Powder", made of aluminum, was forced upon miners
212
In the presence of _______ (common in MB plumbing), Al leaching is accelerated
Copper
213
How does drinking soft drinks contribute to overall Al concentration in the body?
People who regularly drink soda have higher bone, blood and liver aluminum
214
_______ (hard/soft) water causes more leaching of Al
Hard
215
Where does Aluminum accumulate in the body?
Brain/bones
216
What can be consumed with aluminum to enhance absorption?
Citrate
217
Elevated aluminum levels can be linked to what diseases?
Rickets, alzheimers/dementia
218
How does aluminum affect Alzheimer brains?
Cofactor in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles - increases the risk of Alzheimers
219
What consumer products have large amounts of antimony present?
Some eyeshadow, drugs (ex. leishmaniasis drugs),
220
What conditions can be caused by antimony?
Increases action of thyroid, implicated in sudden infant death syndrome. Causes weight loss, diarrhea, cardiac problems, liver problems, reproductive problems, carcinogen
221
How is antimony poisoning detected?
Testing sweat
222
Taste threshold for antimony is 0.6___g/L
0.6mg/L
223
Where can arsenic be found in the environment/human habitats
Fossil fuels, smelters, mines, industrial effluents, landfills, insecticides, allots, paints, rodenticides, fungicides (wood preservatives), chemical warfare agents, chinese traditional medicine, seafood (mussels), drinking water (ex. china)
224
What food usually has arsenic contamination?
RICE! BUY RICE THAT ISN'T FROM ASIA
225
What is the canadian drinking water guideline for arsenic?
10micrograms/L
226
How much arsenic is found in Shoal Lake? How did it get there?
3micrograms/L. Gold is extracted from arsenopyrite, which leaches in tailings. There are multiple mines just by shoal lake
227
Average daily consumptino of arsenic is ___-____mg
12-50mg
228
Each metal contaminant induces a response in your body that creates a protein called a _____. After your body cannot produce more of these, the meta becomes toxic
Metallothionein
229
Where does arsenic accumulate?
Hair, nails, bone, muscle, skin
230
Arsenic in water is associated with what cancer?
Skin cancer
231
What disease can result from arsenic poisoning?
Blackfoot disease (results in gangrene because of poor circulation). This has a latency period of up to 40 years
232
How is arsenic an example of how testing chemicals on other animals is not helpful?
Ingested arsenic is not carcinogenic in humans
233
Arsenic and _____ are synergistic
fluoride
234
What are some sources of Barium in the environment?
Electroplating, rat poison, brazil nuts
235
Barium causes what symptoms in humans?
Muscle poison, GI distress, tingling of fingers and toes, mimics digitalis poisoning, affects pacemaker of heart, hypertension, competes with calcium (ex. neurotransmitters), reproductive problems, incoordination and low back pain
236
How is Barium used in the medical sciences?
For X-ray contrast tests
237
Where can boron be naturally found in the environment?
Groundwaters (ex. hot springs)
238
The highest concentrations of boron in Canada are found in ___ and ___
Sask and M
239
The Canadian DW guideline for boron is ____mg/L. How does this measure up to the US equivalent?
5mg/L. USA is 0.6mg/L. shit
240
Where can boron be found in consumer products?
Enamels, glass, fluxes, sweet taste (used in ant traps), some water softeners, cleansers, used as antiseptics, some mineral waters, pesticides, brain tumor drugs, many mushrooms
241
How is Boron taken into the body
Needed for proper brain function, and is generally completely absorbed in the GI. It can cross the placenta and be fetotoxic. Accumulates in bone. Boron toxicity is associated with headache, fever, GI distress, red eyes, sunburn-like reaction
242
Boron is synergistic with ____
aluminum
243
Where is fluorine found in human products
insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, anthelminthic drug for Ascaris, polishes silver, copper, brass, many others
244
Where does the fluorine in our drinking water come from?
by-product from fertilizer....
245
Why is fluoride added to water? Does it work?
to reduce tooth decay - but it only works on DEVELOPING teeth - children
246
At what levels does fluoride become dangerous?
Tooth discoloration over 1.5mg/L, osteoporosis 4-6mg/L, linked to lowered IQ in children
247
Where are we acquiring fluoride in the environment?
Toothpaste (average 1000mg.L), mouthwashes, fluoride gels
248
What are some symptoms caused by fluoride intoxication?
Weight loss, anemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, depression, restlessness, hyperirritability, mutations, increases lead deposited in brain
249
____% of the total body burden of fluoride is in the bones
98%
250
What are some symptoms of chronic long term fluoride intake
Discolored teeth, brittle enamel, brittle bones, fused vertebrae/calcified ligaments
251
What is Addison's disease?
Chronic poisoning caused by fluoride with patches of brown discoloration
252
What is fluoride synergistic with?
Increases the amount of lead entering the brain
253
What is the Canadian DW guideline for selenium?
10 micrograms/L
254
What is a major topical source of selenium?
Dandruff shampoo
255
What foods are good bioaccumulators of selenium?
Garlic, brazil nuts
256
What are selenoproteins?
Proteins produced by selenium entering a molecule when it should be sulphur, which are very very useless. Added to mRNA at the UGA codon.
257
Selenium antagonizes ___ and ___
Cadmium, mercury
258
What are some symptoms of selenosis?
CNS effects, GI problems, sulphury breath, hair loss, cracked fingernails, anemia, tooth decay, heart/liver inflammation, liver cancer
259
Silicon is the ____ most common element in the earths crust
2nd
260
Silicon antagonizes _____ in small amounts
Aluminum
261
What is silicon used for in the body?
Bone and connective tissue formation
262
What happens if you are deficient in silicon
Less Ca and Mg deposition in bone
263
Where is silicon found in nature and consumer products
Groundwater, hot springs, powdered mixes, seasonings
264
How are aluminum and silicon related?
Aluminum goes up in body, silicon goes down
265
The older a human is, the ____ slicon they have
less
266
What happens when too much silicon is ingested?
Inhibits antioxidant enzyme activity: Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase
267
What is the DW guideline for silicon
There is none
268
What are heavy metals defined as?
Electropositive elements with density >5 g/cubic centimeter
269
Are all heavy metals useless in the body?
We still need tiny amounts of them for certain biochemical processes, ex. iron forms hemoglobin
270
Why are organic forms of heavy metals far more concerning?
The addition of, say, a methyl group, allows the molecules to enter through the cell membrane. This means they can easily enter the skin, gut mucosa, or blood brain barrier.
271
What defenses does the body have against metals?
A limited ability to inactivate heavy metals - using metallothionines (different one for each different metal. As exposure increases, MT production does too and they are stored in the liver. Once MT capacity is exceeded, toxicity occurs
272
The total content of a given metal in our body at any given point in time is called ____
Body burden
273
What is the average body burder (mg) of lead in a 70kg person
150mg
274
what is the "biomagnification factor"?
How much more of a toxic substance is in the body in comparison to what was in the original food (basically, toxins can be bioaccumulated)
275
Are heavy metals uniformly distributed throughout the body?
No, certain ones target specific organs (ex. liver, kidneys most common)
276
What are some environmental sources of beryllium?
Fossil fuels, hickory smoked food, mines, electronics, ceramics, nuclear weapons
277
Which plants bioaccumulate beryllium?
hickory, tobacco
278
Up to ___% of ingested beryllium s absorbed
40%
279
What happens to beryllium after it is absorbed into the body?
Allergic reactions common, it's not excreted well (deposited mostly in bones)
280
What are some symptoms of berylliosis?
Weight loss, enlarged liver, metallic taste in motuh, DNA damage, cancer
281
What is the most common symptom of heavy metal poisoning?
metallic taste in mouth
282
Where is bismuth found in the environment?
Tungsten-bismuth-tin shot for waterfowl hunting, drugs to treat ulcers.heartburn, travellers diarrhea drugs - also root canal filling materials
283
Where does bismuth accumulate in the body?
kidneys
284
What are some symptoms of bismuth poisoning?
Bad breath, mouth/gum ulcers, loss of appetite, "bismuth line" on gums, diarrhea, sore throat, neurotoxicity, depression, panic attacks, hallucations, may be misdiagnosed as mad cow or alzheimer
285
What are common sources of bismuth poisoning?
Extended use of pepto bismol or subscription for too much
286
The Canadian DW guideline for bismuth is ____mg/L
THERE IS NONE!!!
287
Where is cadmium found?
Fossil fuels, mines, smelters, metal and plastic industries
288
What are human sources of cadmium?
cheap jewelry, aluminum solder, alloys, batteries, mushrooms (bioaccumulate), some crops (if fertilized by sewage sludge, subject to acid rain), stabilizers in plastics
289
What are some food sources of cadmium?
Shellfish, crustaceans, the livers of livestock and poulty
290
What happens to cadmium once it is in the body?
Accumulates in liver and kidneys, and it is not well excreted (.5life of 10-30years) - body burden increases with age
291
The Canadain DW guideline for cadmium is ___ micrograms/L
5
292
What is the disease associated with cadmium toxicity referred to as?
Itai Itai disease
293
What symptom is considered a "warning bell" for cadmium intoxication?
Loss of sense of smell
294
What are some symptoms of Itai-Itai disease?>
back/joint pain, kidney problems/cancer, insomnia
295
Cadmium is antagonized by many other metals - list them
Zinc, copper, calcium, selenium, molybdenum, iron
296
Where is chromium found?
Fossil fuels, smelters, metal plating, cement, paints, bleaches, disinfectants, tanning industry (leather dyes), dental prostheses, crops (fetilized with sewage sludge), antacids, radiological tracers
297
The Canadian DW guideline for chromium is ___ micrograms/L
50micrograms
298
What are some positive uses for chromium in the body?
Used in collagen, protein, lipid metabolism, depresses seum cholesterol
299
Whet happens when someone has chromium deficiency?
glucose intolerance, reduced response to insulin: misdiagnosed as diabetes
atherosclerosis - usually in diets high in refined cereals
300
Where does chromium accumulate in the body?
All human tissues, but particularly brain, kidney, liver, skin, muscle, fat
301
What substances reduce chromium toxicity?
zinc, vitamin c
302
Where is cobalt found?
Mines, smelters, alloys, paints, foaming soaps, dental prostheses
303
Where is there a lot of cobalt in MB?
Flin Flon
304
Why is it that beer drinkers are very susceptible to cobalt poisoning?
Cobalt is added to beer to create foam and alcohol is synergistic with cobalt
305
Where is cobalt stored in the body?
liver, kidney, heart, fat
306
How toxic is copper?
Not generally very toxic to humans
307
Where do we find copper in the world?
Fossil fuels, mines, smelters, alloys, plating, copper/brass cooking vessels, copper plumbing, water from hot water tanks, copper sulphate (algaecide)
308
Where is copper found in the body?
In red blood cells it is erythrocuprein and in plasma bound to globulin
309
What are some symptoms of copper poisoning?
Steady abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, liver damage, metallic sweet taste in mouth, high white blood cell counts
310
In what situations does circulating Copper go up
pregnancy, infections, kidney + liver disease, heart attack, leukemia, estrogen therapy, psoriasis
311
What is Wilson's disease?
As a result of a single autosomal recessive gene - copper accumulates in brain and liver because of reduced ability to synthesize ceruloplasmin
312
Describe "Menke's kinky hair syndrome"
Due to a defect in absorption of Copper in small intestine - progressive brain disease of male infants. Results in slow growthm kinky hair, and cerebral gliosis
313
How is copper related to Hodgkin's disease>
Activity of lymphoma correlated with increase plasma copper concentrations
314
About half of the body burden of iron is in what molecule?
Hemoglobin
315
What occurs when one is deficient in iron?
ANEMIA
316
What are the forms of iron?
Divalent (ferrous) iron - soluble in anoxic conditions
| Trivalent (ferric) - insoluble.
317
What is the DW guideline for iron and why is it set at that?
30 micrograms/L - mostly an aesthetic guideline
318
What effects does iron have in water?
Form scale on pipes/taniks, can stain laundry, affects taste/appearance
319
What is hematochromatosis?
Genetic disease causing iron to accumulate in the body. Results in symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, joint pains, anemia (iron in plasma, not erythrocytes), year round sun tan, easily bruising, fluid retention, bolting
320
What are some sources of lead?
Fossil fuels, mines, smelters, potter glaces, paints, lead shot, lead crystal, cheap jewelry, plastics, hair dyes, cosmetics, pewter, chinese traditional medicine, hungarian paprika, ayurvedic treatments, tinned foods, lead in candle wicks, cheap mustard
321
Leaded gasoline is found in the form of ____
Tetraethyl lead
322
At the DuPont plant in New Jersey, over 300 workers got sick from tetraethyl lead. What happened?
They hallucinated that bugs were crawling all over them
323
What kind of food/liquid vessels can lead to food poisoning?
Pewter dishes, Lead Glass
324
Where does lead go once absorbed by the body?
Incorpoated into bones, teeth, liver, kidneys
325
____ is the most common human metal posioning
Lead
326
What symptoms occur during lead poisoning?
Neurotoxicity , GI problems, cramps, hypertension
327
What are some problems that dentists may have as a result of chronic mercury exposure?
Pink extremities,
328
What is Minamata disease?
Chronic methylmercury (organic) exposure that developed in Minamata, Japan, from effluent from plastics factory poisoning seafood. This resulted in many CNS symptoms such as numbness, tunnel vision, tremors, causes permanent disability, death of brain cells, crosses placenta
329
How does minamata disease differ from ____ disease?
Minamata is chronic organicm ercury exposure and ___ is chronic inorganic mercury exposure
330
The highest methylmercury contamination in the world is in Canada. Where and why?
James Bay area, Quebec
331
Where is the highest methylmercury present in MB?
South Indian Lake, Cross Lake
332
What is "Plumbism"? what are some symptoms?
LEad poisoning. Acts as a neurotoxin resulting in weight loss, fatigue, GI problems, abdominal cramps, hypertension, depression, irritability, kidney damage, gastric tumours, miscarriage
333
How does mercury react with other compounds?
Synergistic with nitrite, with antagonists including selenium, cadmium, zinc
334
Why are men considered more susceptible to mercury poisoning?
Estrogen can lower mercury uptake
335
How can we lower our mercury levels?
Don't eat tuna, and limit carnivorous fish consumption, do not eat fish from Hydro reservoirs, ask for alternative dental fillings, wash potatoes thoroughly , don't handle fluorescent bulbs with bare hands
336
How do different foods interact with lead in the body?
Pb inhibits uptake of Ca, will absorb more Pb. Fe and Zn deficiencies increse Pb absorption - linked to ADHD
337
What is manganese and in what water systems is it most often found?
A metal that forms alloys with iron, Al, etc. some salts of it are highly soluble and it is found in grounwater primarily
338
Where can we acquire molybdenum?
Fossil fuels, mining, smelting, industrial effluents, fertilizers - bioaccumulates in crops
339
What is the Canadian DW guideline for molybdenum?
We have none
340
How does molybdenum interact with the body?
Absorbed in small intestine, deposited primarily in bones
341
What happens to livestock when there is too much molybdenum in forage plants?
"Teart disease" - causes Cu and Zn deficiency
342
How does molybdenum interact with other potential toxins?
Synergistic with fluoride. Mo antagonized by copper, so Cu is antidote for molybdenum poisoning and Mo decreases Cu uptake
343
What are symptoms of molybdenum poisoning?
GI distress, anemia, headache, slowed growth, cancer activation
344
Where do we acquire nickel?
Fossil fuels, mines, smelters, corrosion resistant alloys (ex. stainless steel, not the end of the worls), nickel-cadmium batteries, mushrooms, leafy veggies, costume jewellery, coins, piercings
345
What is the canadian DW guideline for nickel?
There is none
346
How does Manganese interact with bacteria?
Oxidized and precipitated by manganese bacteria
347
Where is manganese found?
fossil fuels, mines, fertilizers, diesel fuel, fungicides, inks, preservatives, batteries,
348
What is the Canadian DW guideline for manganese and how does it compare to Shoal Lake?
5 micrograms/L
| 2-9 micrograms/L
349
How is manganese used in the body?
co factor for many enzymes, used in respiration and glycolysis. Necessary for bone and cartilage development.
350
Is nickel needed in the body?
Believed to be an essential nutrient
351
What is nickel skin sensitivity called?
Nickel itch
352
How much nickel is absorbed through the GI tract after ingestion?
1-10%
353
What are the results of Ni poisoning?
Metallic taste in mouth, loss of sense of smell, gum inflammation, elevated blood glucose:mimics diabetes, crosses placenta, cancers (prostate)
354
How does nickel interact with other compounds?
synergistic with copper, but manganese antoginizes nickel
355
Where does silver come from in the environment?
Electronics, hotography, mirrors, plating, disinfecants, some home water treatment systems, burn treatment creams, silverware, surgical clips, acupuncture, mushrooms, fish
356
What is the Canadian DW guideline for silver?
There is none, but there used to be (50micrograms/L)
357
Where does manganese accumulate in the body?
liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestine
358
What are some symptoms of manganese poisoning?
IT is a neurotoxin causing irreversible neurological damage: headaches, increased tears, behavioural changes, irritability, compulsive behaviour, lymph cancers
359
How does silver interact with food?
Binds to sulfhydryl groups (ex. egg on silver spoon)
360
Silver poisoning is referred to as _____ and occurs when body burden exceeds _______g
Argyria, 1 g
361
What happens during Argyria?
Blue-grey discoloration of skin, bluish discoloration of whites of eyes, enlargement of heart ventricles, neurological problems such as lethargy, manic depression
362
Where does silver accumulate in the body?
spleen, liver, bone, but mostly skin and eyes
363
Wh yis there no guideline for Tantalum?
Because it is extremely rare (except it is mined in MB!!!)
364
Where can we find tantalum?
Surgical tools, staples/clips, implants, dental prostheses, electronics
365
What is the Canadian DW guideline for mercury?
1microgram/L
366
What are some sources of mercury in the environment?
fossil fuels, mines, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, pulp mills, septic tanks, pesiticdes, fungicides, vaccines, fluorescent lightbulbs, FISH
367
What is a source of mercury more specific to MB?
Hydro reservoirs
368
Where can thallium be found?
Roden poison, wells (from landfills), medical diagnostic tests, fireworks, cheap jewellery, depilatorym treatment for ringworm in the past
369
Which form of mercury is more toxic? (organic or non-organic)
ORGANIC - much more is absorbed into body (80%-100%)
370
Where is mercury absorbed in the body?
through skin or GI tract
371
What are symptoms of thallium poisoning?
Sperm do not mature, permanent impairment of memory, liver/kidney damage, very popular for murder, used in attempted abortion
372
Symptoms of thallium poisoning start _____-____ days after exposure
2-3
373
Where does Tin come from?
fossil fuels, mines, pipe solder, solder in some canned foods, fluoridates toothpaste, pewter, seafood
374
Is tin needed in the body?
Needed for some redox reactions, heme metabolism, ivolved in metaboilism of Cu, Zn, Fe
375
How does tin enact toxicity?
Inhibits important enzymes such as succinate dehydrogenase
376
How is mercury used in the medical industry?
Surgical dressing, ointments (or used on cuts), merthiolate and thimerosol used in injectibles and vaccines, syphilis treatment, contact lens solution
377
Inorganic tin poisoning is called ___ and results in what symptoms?
Stannosis. Results in GI distress, blurred vision, anemia, calcium deficiency, interferes with Zn absorption and retention
378
____ is a tin compound among the most toxic compunds known. where is it found?
Organotin found in fungicides in pipes, fishnets, marine antifouling paints
379
How has mercury been used in dental applications?
Used mostly in fillings, with daily exposure leaching into blood,. Removal of fillings is followed by drop in blood levels
380
What are some symptoms of mercury poisoning from fillings? What can make the problem worse?
fatigue, lower hemoglobin levels, higher risk of cardiovascular disorders. Eating acidic foods, grinding teeth, or chewing gum can release more mercury from the fillings.
