The Effect Of Selenium On Fish On Freshwater Systems : A Scientific Literature Review

The authors of this report (See Appendix B for the authors’ biographical information) include a wide

Due to more and more zinc in the environment, water is being polluted with zinc. With the presence of this massive amount of zinc, the wastewater of industrial plants is not purified satisfactory. Zinc-polluted sludge contaminating the rivers is one of the consequences that is called upon due to the large quantities of zinc. This is a problem as it is possible for large quantities of zinc to increase the acidity of waters. Therefore, only some fish of which live in zinc-contaminated waterways can accumulate zinc. When zinc enters the bodies of these fish, these fish may bio magnify up the food chain. Zinc, as science has proven is an essential need for humans, an essential nutrient, however, excessive amounts are never healthy and even worse may be harmful. Humans getting their hands on excessive amounts of zinc may occur through drinking contaminated water. As stated before, zinc has been contaminating the water pipes and industrial releases as well as wastewaters and it is very adequate for humans to gain access, which may result exposure of zinc to potentially harmful levels. The effects that may be caused by this cause of action may include stomach cramps, skin irritations, vomiting, nausea, and anemia. Exposure to zinc with very high concentration may as well damage the pancreas, disturb the protein metabolism, cause arteriosclerosis and may further cause respiratory disorders. Long-term exposure to high concentrations of zinc may cause something called “metal fume fever”, which affects the lungs and the body's temperature control

C: The article was first published in 1994 and revised on April 24, 2007. This indicates that the information in the article has previous and recent knowledge which suggests that it is current enough for the project.

Use appropriate and scholarly sources in order to complete this assignment successfully, such as peer-reviewed literature and web sources that have .edu, .gov, and .org domain addresses. Wikipedia, and most .com sources are not considered to be of sufficient scholarly rigor.

The findings of this study may further contribute to the body of knowledge which may serve as bases for further research.

Copper is another pollutant that at very high levels is toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of strength or, for serious exposure, cirrhosis of the liver (Pure Water Services). In order for copper to metabolized the heavy metal zinc is needed. Zinc helps with copper breakdown but too much zinc can cause a copper deficiency which can also cause problems such as anemia. While copper has some severe side effects there have not been any cases that are related to cancer. In most cases throughout the Silver Bow Creek copper is not thought to be a severe threat to the community.

Copper concentrations that exceed 20 micrograms per gram can be toxic to any living thing (Solomon). Copper binds easily to organic matter, which means it levels are rather high in animals that can filter materials from water; although biomagnification doesn’t occur in the food web. In terms of aquatic organisms and ecosystems, copper is one of the most toxic metals, and aquatic organisms tend to be more sensitive to its effects.

Although the amount of research conducted is valid to the nature of the source, it is insufficient for in-depth study purposes. There are no official studies or other valid sources used in this article and a bibliography, naturally, is not provided.

- Tests determined increase levels of arsenic, selenium and other metals in the surrounding waters and in sediment nearby.

The information gathered from this report has been deduced from researching several internet sites. These internet sites consisting of written reports, well known and trusted webpages and official government sites to

In this section, there are two main articles selected that will be further analyze by providing a concise description of the articles, which include the purpose of the article, questions of the authors address, key findings and their conclusion.

     Heavy metals, such as copper, lead, mercury, and selenium are another group of toxins that pollute the water as well as the rest of the environment. The source of many of these pollutants are industries, automobile exhaust, mines, and even natural soil.

The researchers in the beginning of the article discuss their literature review in order to inform the reader on the subject. Here, they use data from an array of sources, ranging from the current and primary sources, organizing

A review of the literature provides more detailed information on the chosen topic. Its purpose is to give the researcher knowledge that will form the foundation for his or her study and therefore, the information must be related to the topic. Not only does it provide basic information on the variables in the topic but also covers various relatable studies conducted in the past; how, where they were conducted, and the conclusions that the researcher(s) came to. Literature can be obtained from a wide variety of sources; newspapers, journals, databases, books, encyclopedias, digital sources, and much more. Information obtained in this section helps the researcher understand the magnitude of the problem defined in the first stage, recognize any consequences and gaps that other researchers may have not filled, and identify potential strategies to combat the problem. It serves as a secondary source of information. Based on

I certify that this literature review is my own work and contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma in any institute, college or university. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text of the dissertation.