What are the two classes of chemicals that pose the most serious long-term toxic risk, and how do they affect food chains?
What will be an ideal response?
The two classes of chemicals are heavy metals and persistent organic compounds.
"Heavy metals are extremely toxic because, as ions or in certain compounds, they are soluble in water and may be readily absorbed into the body, where they tend to combine with and inhibit the functioning of particular vital enzymes. Even very small amounts can have severe physiological or neurological consequences."
"The trait that makes heavy metals and nonbiodegradable synthetic organics particularly hazardous is their tendency to accumulate in organisms."
You might also like to view...
Discuss the movement of seismic waves through Earth and along its surface. What will be an ideal response?
Ratzel's model of geopolitics has the State acting like a biological organism
Indicate whether this statement is true or false
Wegener proposed that the major continents were once part of a supercontinent named _______________.?
Fill in the blank with correct word.
Which characteristic does not apply to trilobites?
a. abundant in modern oceans b. excellent guide fossils c. benthos, mobile d. sediment-deposit feeder e. invertebrate