Biological Oxygen Demand ( Bod )

Between 1947-1977 General Electric (GE) dumped 1.3 million pounds of PCBs in the river polluting it and making it hazardous. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are used as an insulator and a fire preventer. They also can cause illnesses, such as cancer. If the fish take in the PCBs and then we eat the fish, we can get sick.

Dissolved oxygen varies depending on the temperature in the water, salinity, oxygen depletion, oxygen source and other parameters (Stoddart 2014). Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOD can be defined as the amount of dissolved oxygen that microbes utilize to decompose organic matter in the water (Academic 2015). Results from BOD can be usually found after 5 days. However, some times in order to get a complete biochemical Oxygen, BOD must be measured for 20 to 25 days (Pisarevsky 2005). Chemical Oxygen Demand COD measures all organic carbon in a water sample by oxidizing organic matter with strong chemicals. COD is a chemically/thermal oxidation reaction. COD includes both biodegradable components and non-biodegradable components (Levarage

Two things I learned was from Turtle pond lab was what B.O.D means for the ponds water quality and how to calculate it. To answer question number two I chose to explain the B.O.D results. I didn´t know much about the Biochemical oxygen demand so, I had to do a little bit of research on it. I find out that a high B.O.D measurement is actually bad because it means that the water is polluted and that B.O.D is used to measure a number of dissolved oxygen that an organism needs to break down organic material in a water sample. During this lab, I also learned how to measure BOD. When we were at the pond my job was to take a sample of the water in a black bottle and then 5 days later we would measure the dissolved oxygen in the sample. To find the

These chemicals are known to cause cancer. To recondition this issue, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration monitors the levels of PAHs in the Gulf Coast seafood. It works with NOAA, the EPA, and the state agencies to determine whether the fish are safe to open or whether it should be closed. It must pass a smell test and chemical analysis in order to be reopened. Moreover, the fish couldn’t be sent to the market if it contained high levels of PAHs or if it emits an odor that associates with petroleum or dispersants. As a result, people didn’t need to worry about gaining cancer from fish since they are being checked for plycyclic aromatic

A., & Nagel, S. C. (2016). Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Oil and Natural Gas Operations: Potential Environmental Contamination and Recommendations to Assess Complex Environmental Mixtures. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(3), 256-264. doi:10.1289/ehp.1409535

New Bedford Harbor, the world’s famous whaling seaport and current number one fishing port in America, continues to be plagued by toxic pollution, which has caused it to become one of the largest EPA Superfund cleanup sites. The harbor, an urban estuary, contains sediment that is highly contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The PCB-containing industrial waste was introduced into the harbor by two manufacturing facilities from the 1940’s to the 1970’s when the EPA banned the production of PCBs. The result was contamination of six miles of the harbor bottom from the Acushnet River into Buzzards Bay; over 100,000 people currently reside within 3 miles of the contaminated area. PCBs do not break down easily in the environment and therefore pose a serious risk to human health and the environment. Thus, in 1982, the harbor was put onto the EPA’s National Priorities

This problem causes airborne contaminants in many of residential area when septic tanks need servicing. There are many cases where septic system failure include aging, inappropriate design, and overloading with too much wastewater due to poor maintenance (Environment). According to report improperly functioning septic tanks can increase the bacteria and nitrate levels in both ground water and surface water Environment). Lake County encounters serious complications with private corporate responsible for waste material from its resident septic tanks. Wastewater contains nitrogen and phosphorus from human waste, food and certain soaps and detergents. Nitrate contamination affect health it reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen (Water Quality). According to medical evidences infants who drink water with high levels of nitrate contaminated water may develop a serious health condition due to the lack of oxygen called blue baby syndrome (Water

Generally containing about 150 ppm, killer whales are known to have numerous issues due to these high levels of contaminants (3). Seals have been known to have immune complications when carrying less than 10 ppm PCBs (3). Hence, orcas are heavily effected, facing a shorter life expectancy, birth defects, chromosomal issues, and cancer (4). Unfortunately, salmon is one of the top contributors to the pollution in orcas, and a food source for the majority of humans. In consequence, people are at risk for the same negative effects of biomagnification as orcas. For this reason, there is often a recommended limit on seafood consumption. Some examples of PCBs’ effects on humans are cancer and development problems

Page 2, Section 1.2; Page 4, Section 2 and elsewhere. In the sixth paragraph the text states “Cancer risks predicted for total PCBs and TEQs under USEPA RME assumptions fall within the 10-6 to 10-4 range (i.e., 9 x 10-5 and 1 x 10-4, respectively).” This cancer risk evaluation is inconsistent with United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance (USEPA. 1996. PCBs: Cancer Dose-Response Assessment and Application to Environmental Mixtures. EPA/600/P-96/001F. September) which specifies that high risk total PCB cancer risk must be added to the PCB congener 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalency cancer risk. Consequently the total cancer risk is 0.9 x 10-4 + 1 x 10-4 or 2 x 10-4, which exceeds the USEPA acceptable risk range. In addition, the second remedial action objective (RAO) on page 4 regarding cancer risks must be addressed because total cancer risks exceed the acceptable USEPA risk range. It is possible that the documented proposed remedial action will reduce cancer risks to acceptable levels, but this must be demonstrated, and cancer risks considered for derivation of the

The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), is the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria in the decomposition of organic material. It also includes the oxygen required for the oxidation of various chemical in the water, such as sulfides, ferrous iron and ammonia. While a dissolved oxygen test tells you how much oxygen is available, a BOD test tells you how much oxygen is being

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of organic compounds use in a variety of applications, including dielectric fluids for capacitors and transformers, heat transfer fluids and as additives in adhesives and plastics. PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals. PCBs have also been shown to cause a number of serious non-cancer health effects in animals, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system and other health effects. PCBs are persistent contaminants in the environment. Due to the high lipid solubility and slow metabolism rate of these chemicals, PCBs accumulate in the fat-rich tissues of almost all organisms (bioaccumulation). The use of PCBs

In a world of continuous progress and evolution, climate change and pollution is a leading problem in the world. Both directly and indirectly, pollution happens on a global scale every single hour. The world’s oceans are among the most affected by constant dumping of chemicals. The Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 released 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the largest spill in US-controlled waters.1

Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), the highest recorded rate of oxygen consumption during a graded and exhaustive exercise test, is a top indicator of cardio-pulmonary endurance in humans and is believed to correlate with overall health (Strijk, Proper, Klaver, Beek, & Mechelen, 2010). VO2max of an individual declines with age regardless of exercise status, but exercise may lead to a significantly slower decline in VO2max during the aging process (Katzel, Sorkin, & Fleg, 2001) Many factors related to aging such as decrease of maximal heart rate, stroke volume, the gain of body mass, decreased muscle mass, and decreased health status are thought to be the primary contributing factors leading to a decline in VO2max (Grimsmo, Arnesen, & Maehlum, 2010). Individuals that have decreased their physical activity levels or developed health problems had a greater decline in VO2max values, over a longitudinal study, than their healthy counterparts (Grimsmo et al., 2010).

The report finds BOD levels meet the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit renewal standards. Results for suspended solids shows an opposite trend. Suspended solids increase throughout the course of the water treatment. This does not meet NPDES standards. Further suspended solids test will be needed to insure a minimal amount of error. If the same trend continues, the facility may need to be redesigned to meet NPDES standards.

PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins have been in focus recently as there are concerns that the different structures are appearing to mimic the effects of female oestrogenic hormones. (Gray 1996) These chemicals can cause genetic chromosomal problems and major concerns to the reproductive effectiveness of marine animals. Oil spills and the burning of wood and coal can cause poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which has a negative effect on all wildlife causing genetic abnormalities. (EMCBTAP-ENVIS Newsletter 2002).