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PCBs Background Information PCBs are a
collection of substances used to manufacture
different items such as plastics and fire
resistant materials. PCBs enter the environment
as waste from the manufacturing of products or
from products containing PCBs, like paint, that
were not disposed of properly. Overtime, PCB
concentrations in water and on land began to
rise. As a result, the cells and tissue of small
organisms like phytoplankton became contaminated
or polluted with PCBs. They also discovered that
when zooplankton or other organisms consumed the
phytoplankton, they absorbed the DDT into their
cells and tissue. Simply, PCBs were being passed
up the food chain. Scientists also discovered
that organisms are unable to quickly break down
and remove PCBs, and therefore it collects their
cells and tissues. The collection of a chemical
or substance in the tissue of an organism is
known as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation leads
to biomagnifacation. Biomagnifacation is a
process where the the concentration of a chemical
in an organism increases as you move up the food
chain. This happens because organisms higher in
the food chain or energy pyramid must consume
more food, and therefore consume more pollutants
like PCBs. Today, we know that PCBs can harm
both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. In high
enough concentrations, PCBs can disrupt the
reproductive and endocrine system of organisms,
making it difficult or impossible to have
offspring. Scientists also believe that PCBs
interfere with the immune system, which protects
organisms from diseases and infections. There is
also evidence that PCBs cause cancer in organisms
including humans. The manufacturing of PCBs was
banned in the United states in 1979, however
items made before 1979 may still contain PCBs.
Marine Food Chain Contamination by PCBs
PCB concentrations are measured in milligrams per
kilogram of body fat.
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(Name of Pollutant or Toxin)

• Source
• (What is the source of the pollutant or toxin?)
• Bioaccumulation
• (What is bioaccumulation?)
• (Where does the pollutant or toxin enter the food
  chain/web)
• Biomagnification
• (What is biomagnification)
• (Which organism in the food chain/web is most
  affected by biomagnification?)
• Consequences
• (How does the pollutant or toxin affect living
  things?)
• (Are humans at risk?)

Copy and paste a picture that is related to the
information
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DDT Background Information Before 1972, DDT was
commonly used as a pesticide pesticides are
chemicals used to kill pests like mosquitos.
Overtime, DDT polluted the soil and groundwater
and runoff caused by rain carried it into larger
bodies of water. As a result, the cells and
tissue of small organisms like phytoplankton
became contaminated or polluted with DDT. They
also discovered that when zooplankton or other
organisms consumed the phytoplankton, they
absorbed the DDT into their cells and tissue.
Simply, DDT was being passed up the food chain.
Scientists also discovered that organisms are
unable to quickly break down and remove DDT, and
therefore it collects their cells and tissues.
The collection of a chemical or substance in the
tissue of an organism is known as
bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation leads to
biomagnifacation. Biomagnifacation is a process
where the the concentration of a chemical in an
organism increases as you move up the food chain.
This happens because organisms higher in the
food chain or energy pyramid must consume more
food, and therefor consume more pollutants like
DDT. Today, we know that DDT can harm both
aquatic and terrestrial organisms. DDT slows
photosynthesis in phytoplankton. Birds, however,
are more sensitive to DDT. DDT causes the shells
of bird eggs to thin, making them very weak and
easy to break. DDT is no longer used in the
United States, but it is still used is some
developing countries.
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(Name of Pollutant or Toxin)

• Source
• (What is the source of the pollutant or toxin?)
• Bioaccumulation
• (What is bioaccumulation?)
• (Where does the pollutant or toxin enter the food
  chain/web)
• Biomagnification
• (What is biomagnification)
• (Which organism in the food chain/web is most
  affected by biomagnification?)
• Consequences
• (How does the pollutant or toxin affect living
  things?)
• (Are humans at risk?)

Copy and paste a picture that is related to the
information
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The Red Tide Background Information In the Gulf
of Mexico, red tides are caused by the rapid
growth of Karenia Brevis, a species of algae.
The are called red tides because the high
concentration of algae cause the water to appear
read (see picture below). Scientists are unsure
what causes a red tide, but factors like
temperature and nutrient and salt concentration
are thought to be important. The algae, K.
Brevis, produces a collection of toxins known as
brevetoxins. During a red tide, the
concentration of brevetoxins increases to a level
that is harmful. As a result, the cells and
tissue of small organisms shellfish become
contaminated or polluted with the toxin. They
also discovered that when zooplankton or other
organisms consumed contaminated organisms, they
absorbed the brevetoxins into their cells and
tissue. Simply, the toxin was being passed up
the food chain. Scientists also discovered that
organisms are unable to quickly break down and
remove the toxin, and therefore it collects their
cells and tissues. The collection of a chemical
or substance in the tissue of an organism is
known as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation leads
to biomagnifacation. Biomagnifacation is a
process where the the concentration of a chemical
in an organism increases as you move up the food
chain. This happens because organisms higher in
the food chain or energy pyramid must consume
more food, and therefor consume more of the
ciguatera toxin. Brevetoxins can kill fish if
the concentration in the water is high enough or
if they consume other organisms containing the
toxins. Human who eat shellfish are at risk of
neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), which in
rare situations has caused death. States along
the gulf coast like Texas post warnings on
beaches and online to warn people of a red tide.
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(Name of Pollutant or Toxin)

• Source
• (What is the source of the pollutant or toxin?)
• Bioaccumulation
• (What is bioaccumulation?)
• (Where does the pollutant or toxin enter the food
  chain/web)
• Biomagnification
• (What is biomagnification)
• (Which organism in the food chain/web is most
  affected by biomagnification?)
• Consequences
• (How does the pollutant or toxin affect living
  things?)
• (Are humans at risk?)

Copy and paste a picture that is related to the
information
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(Insert Title)
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Mercury (Hg) Background Information Mercury is
an element and it is one common form of pollution
across the world. Large amounts of mercury is
released into the atmosphere from coal burning
power plants. Mercury can travel great distances
in the air and water and even arrive at places
like the arctic (south pole). As a result, the
cells and tissue of small arctic organisms like
phytoplankton became contaminated or polluted
with mercury. They also discovered that when
zooplankton or other organisms consumed the
phytoplankton, they absorbed the mercury into
their cells and tissue. Simply, mercury is being
passed up the food chain. Scientists also
discovered that organisms are unable to quickly
remove mercury , and therefore it collects their
cells and tissues. The collection of a chemical
or substance in the tissue of an organism is
known as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation leads
to biomagnifacation. Biomagnifacation is a
process where the the concentration of a chemical
in an organism increases as you move up the food
chain. This happens because organisms higher in
the food chain or energy pyramid must consume
more food, and therefore consume more pollutants
like PCBs. Scientists have recently discovered
that mercury levels are rising in the arctic, and
organisms that live in the arctic have higher
than normal concentrations of mercury in their
bodies. While scientists are unsure how higher
levels of mercury are affecting organisms in the
arctic, it is known that in humans high levels of
mercury damages the nervous system and interferes
with the development of unborn offspring.
Arctic Food Chain Contamination by PCBs
Mercury
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(Name of Pollutant or Toxin)

• Source
• (What is the source of the pollutant or toxin?)
• Bioaccumulation
• (What is bioaccumulation?)
• (Where does the pollutant or toxin enter the food
  chain/web)
• Biomagnification
• (What is biomagnification)
• (Which organism in the food chain/web is most
  affected by biomagnification?)
• Consequences
• (How does the pollutant or toxin affect living
  things?)
• (Are humans at risk?)

Copy and paste a picture that is related to the
information
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(Insert Title)
Mercury
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