Trends In Levels And Effects Of Persistent Toxic Substances In The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a system of five interconnected freshwater lakes located in North America. They are the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world, containing approximately 20% of the world's surface freshwater. The Great Lakes provide drinking water for more than 40 million people, support a thriving economy, and are home to a diverse array of plant and animal life.

However, the Great Lakes are also contaminated with a variety of persistent toxic substances (PTSs). PTSs are chemicals that are resistant to degradation and can accumulate in the environment and in the bodies of organisms. They can have a variety of adverse effects on human health and the environment, including cancer, reproductive problems, and developmental disFree Downloads.

Trends in Levels and Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes: Articles from the Workshop on Environmental Results, hosted in Windsor, ... Joint Commission, September 12 and 13, 1996

by Sam C. Saunders

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Language	:	English
File size	:	11252 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	314 pages

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The levels of PTSs in the Great Lakes have been declining in recent years, thanks to a variety of efforts to reduce pollution. However, PTSs remain a threat to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the people who depend on it.

Sources of PTSs in the Great Lakes

PTSs can enter the Great Lakes from a variety of sources, including:

• Industrial discharges
• Municipal wastewater treatment plants
• Stormwater runoff
• Atmospheric deposition
• Landfills

Once in the Great Lakes, PTSs can be transported long distances by currents and winds. They can also accumulate in the sediments and in the bodies of organisms.

Levels of PTSs in the Great Lakes

The levels of PTSs in the Great Lakes have been declining in recent years, thanks to a variety of efforts to reduce pollution. However, PTSs remain a threat to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the people who depend on it.

The most common PTSs found in the Great Lakes are:

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
• Mercury
• Lead
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

These chemicals are found in a variety of products, including electrical equipment, plastics, and pesticides.

Effects of PTSs on the Great Lakes ecosystem

PTSs can have a variety of adverse effects on the Great Lakes ecosystem, including:

• Harm to fish and wildlife
• Disruption of the food chain
• Damage to the Great Lakes ecosystem

PTSs can cause a variety of health problems in fish and wildlife, including cancer, reproductive problems, and developmental disFree Downloads. PTSs can also disrupt the food chain by reducing the availability of food for fish and wildlife. In addition, PTSs can damage the Great Lakes ecosystem by altering the water quality and the health of the plant and animal life.

Effects of PTSs on human health

PTSs can also have a variety of adverse effects on human health, including:

• Cancer
• Reproductive problems
• Developmental disFree Downloads
• Immune system problems

PTSs can enter the human body through a variety of pathways, including ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Once in the body, PTSs can accumulate in the tissues and organs. PTSs can cause a variety of health problems, depending on the type of PTS and the level of exposure.

Challenges and opportunities for reducing the levels of PTSs in the Great Lakes

There are a number of challenges to reducing the levels of PTSs in the Great Lakes. These challenges include:

• The long-term persistence of PTSs
• The wide distribution of PTSs in the environment
• The difficulty in identifying and controlling all sources of PTSs

Despite these challenges, there are a number of opportunities for reducing the levels of PTSs in the Great Lakes. These opportunities include:

• Reducing the use of PTSs
• Improving waste management practices
• Cleaning up contaminated sites
• Educating the public about the

Trends in Levels and Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes: Articles from the Workshop on Environmental Results, hosted in Windsor, ... Joint Commission, September 12 and 13, 1996

by Sam C. Saunders

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11252 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	314 pages

FREE