Chemical Contamination In Marine Mammals

A Review of “The Devil and Deep Blue Sea” by Linda Pannozzo Introduction In her book The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: An Investigation into the Scapegoating of Canada’s Grey Seal, Linda Pannozzo accomplishes few important things: she makes a compelling argument for the senseless killing of grey seal; she provides an analytic framework for the reasons of the decline of cod fish; and she provides a wealth of information on the politic behind scapegoating of Canada’s grey seal. Pannozzo presents The Devil and Deep Blue Sea in a clear and unbiased matter, but its presentation is by no mean elementary. Pannozzo’s book is meticulously researched, thus providing us with both quantitative and statistical account surrounding seal ways of life, their diet, history and other necessary aspects of marine life ecosystem. Book Summary

From 1947 to 1977, these two plants legally discharged from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson, and unknowingly saturated the bedrock beneath both sites with at least that much again. There are PCBs in Hudson River water, biota, and sediment from Hudson Falls to New York City - 200 miles that comprise the nations largest Superfund site. Pure PCBs are oozing out of the bedrock to this day, constantly recontaminating the river and over 300,000 pounds remain concentrated in bottom sediments of the river today. The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain, which it supports, has created one of the most extensive hazardous waste problems in the nation. Polychlorinated biphenyl’s (PCBs) are a group of synthetic oil-like chemicals (therefore insoluble in water) of the organochlorine family. Until their toxic nature was recognized and their use was banned in the 1970s, they were widely used as insulation in electrical equipment, particularly transformers. Reputable chemists have since concluded, “it was probably a mistake ever to make or use PCBs.” These are serious poisons, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive, neurological and immune systems of wildlife and humans and are known to cause cancer. Exposure has also been linked to behavioral damage. Specifically, because PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible

Rain washes the pesticides that are used in our Australians households and then become run-off in drains and sewers. They then make their way into nearby water bodies, wether that be creeks, rivers or even oceans and settle within the soil by sticking to small particles, including tiny living organisms like phytoplankton (M. Barwick, 2003, pp. 471-502). Small fish consume these tiny organisms, which may then be eaten by a larger organism and this continues until the top order consumer is reached. The concentration that first began in the phytoplankton and has multiplied sufficiently as it moves along the food chain. The amount of the pesticide has reached a highly toxic level in the top order predator, whether that is birds or even humans. As a result of the biomagnification of pesticides and other chemical the marine environment and the organisms that live within it are heavily affected. The build up of heavy metals, for example, it interferes with the formation of red blood cells, creates liver and kidney implications and forms reproductive defects in many organisms. This hinders an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce and can create a decline in species

The main diet of the Southern Resident Orca’s is the Chinook Salmon (Taylor et al., 2013). Many chinook salmon populations have been listed as threatened or endangered, including those which have habitat cross over with the whales (Hilborn et al., 2012, p. 25 – 26). Ayers et al. 2012 used faecal samples to study

The problem with plastic ending up in the ocean is that marine life is being harmed by the presence of it. A study done on the harbor seals in the Netherlands found that more than 12% had plastic in the digestive system (California Coastal Commission). The list of affected species indicates that marine debris is affecting a significant number of species. It affects at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species (Save our shores). The problem is underestimated because the marine life that ingests plastic or dies from entanglement often goes undiscovered due to the vastness of the ocean, as they either sink or are eaten by predators before they are discovered (Plastic Debris). The potential harm from ingestion of plastics is not restricted to seabirds. Plastic bags drifting on ocean currents resemble the prey of turtles. There is evidence that their survival is being hindered by plastic debris with young sea turtles being vulnerable (Ocean pollution). Over the past 20 years polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have polluted marine food webs at an increasing rate, and are prevalent in seabirds. Though their adverse effects may not always be apparent, PCBs lead to reproductive disorders, increase the risk of disease and alter hormone levels. These chemicals have a detrimental effect on marine organisms even at very low levels and plastic pellets could be a route for PCBs into marine food

The main intention of this experiment is to distinguish whether the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) has effects on Atlantic Croaker fish. Samples from Atlantic Croaker were taken from both tributaries, one being a Bisphenol A (BPA) free tributary, and the other being filled with Bisphenol A (BPA). In which data was recorded, analyzed, and had astonishing results. The results displayed that when the female Atlantic Croaker hepatic system were exposed to high dosages of Bisphenol A they showed physical abnormalities

Oxygen depletion will create stress which can take years to recover. These HABs can also suppress mammalian immune functions which results in mass mortalities of dolphins and manatees. This can be seen by a significant reduction in manatee lymphocytes in cell culture that are exposed to these toxins. With all of this evidence of the negative impacts of these toxins, it shows the need to recognize these biotoxins as significant stressors within south-west Florida coastal ecosystems.

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

When we look at the fish along the Strait we seem to see the same results. In a study done on Toxic Contaminants in Dungeness Crab (2014), they found mercury and PCB’s or Polychlorinated Biphenyls in multiple different species of fish, two of the species being Chinook and Coho, which is consumed by community’s along the Sound (Carey, Niewolny, Lanksbury & West). PCB’s were used for electrical equipment in the past. The manufacturing of PCB’s was stopped in 1977. However, there is evidence that shows PCB builds up in the environment ("PCBs"). This shows the impact waste can have decades after it has been mitigated, and why it is important to stop any further damage.

killer whales live in an amazing world of colour and sound, They feed, interconnect and discover their way around their own watery world using sound. In the in1970's, various pollutants were excluded world wide because of the undesirable effects they posed both to humans and wildlife. Yet, numerous pollutants can still be visualized in the form of repressions and in various

The Orcinus Orca, also known as the killer whale, is one of the world’s most dominant predators. Because of their sharp senses like their keen hearing and sight, they are one of the most astute marine animals. Orcas are largest of the dolphin family and can be found in all oceans of the world; most commonly found in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, and often spotted off the west coast of the United States and Canada. Being at the top of the food chain, killer whales only have one predator. Other than hunters, pollution and chemical contamination can be very harmful to the whales causing them to get diseases. Pollution and chemical contamination also cause the orcas to have reproductive difficulties.

PCBs were once used in electrical gear, paints and flame retardants, but were banned from the 1970s because of their toxic effect in humans and animals. It impacts on human and animal health by causing cancer, suppressing immune system and causing reproductive problems. "Europe is a big big hotspot” scientists said and some populations of killer whales are facing extinction because of it. They also added that the global policymakers should act quickly and decisively to tackel the toxic legacy of PCBs, before it’s too late for the important marine predators to be extincted.

The relationship between polychlorinated biphenyls and thyroid hormones and retinol was studied focusing on two groups of female polar bears (females with cubs of the year and females without cubs) and within a group of males. PCB is an industrial organochlorine chemical by-product which has toxic effects. Since PCB is volatile it is deposited in the polar regions. PCB negatively impacts brain development due to their impact on the thyroid system. It also causes menstrual dysfunction, anovulation, and miscarriage. The polar bear feeds on the seals which contain OCs in their fatty tissues so the PCB congeners can greatly accumulate in their body. There are two main types of Thyroid hormone : T4 and T3. Retinol is vitamin A which is also affected by PCB. Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin needed for

A whale fall occurs when the carcass of a cetacean sinks and settles on the deep sea floor. As it decays and degrades, it provides a source of nutrients for surrounding deep-sea marine life. Stages of decomposition of the cetacean are represented by the presence of different species feeding on the carcass. (Amon et al.) The carcass is first stripped of its soft tissues by sharks and crustaceans. This is known as the mobile-scavenger stage, and it can last from 4 months to 2 years. (Amon et al.) The second stage is called "an enrichment opportunist stage". During this stage, the skeletal remains of the carcass and the nutrient-rich sediment surrounding it play host to large masses of heterotrophic fauna. The fauna feeds on the remaining soft

We 're treating the oceans like a trash bin: around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land, and most of that is plastic. Plastic that pollutes our oceans and waterways has severe impacts on our environment and our economy. Seabirds, whales, sea turtles and other marine life are eating marine plastic pollution and dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Scientists are investigating the long-term impacts of toxic pollutants absorbed, transported, and consumed by fish and other marine life, including the potential effects on human health.