Difference between revisions of "Pollution and the food web"

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(New page: Oceans receive pollutants from the atmosphere and from riverine inflow. Coastal environments are more likely to be affected because they can receive pollutants from both sources. They are ...)
 
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Oceans receive pollutants from the atmosphere and from riverine inflow. Coastal environments are more likely to be affected because they can receive pollutants from both sources. They are also less deep and can receive secondary contaminations from pollutants which were stored in the sediments. Particularly coastal areas near industrialized and highly populated areas can contain high concentrations of pollutants. If these areas have a limited mixing with water from the open ocean, like the Baltic sea, the [[ecosystem]] becomes extremely vulnerable.   
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Oceans receive [[pollutant|pollutants]] from the atmosphere and from riverine inflow. Coastal environments are more likely to be affected because they can receive pollutants from both sources. They are also less deep and can receive secondary contaminations from pollutants which were stored in the sediments. Particularly coastal areas near industrialized and highly populated areas can contain high concentrations of pollutants. If these areas have a limited mixing with water from the open ocean, like the Baltic sea, the [[ecosystem]] becomes extremely vulnerable.   
  
 
The different components of the ecosystem demonstrate a different vulnerability for certain pollutants. Pollutants can  [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] when they are ingested at a higher rate than excreted. Pollutants which bioacumulate can also [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] if the pollutant is accumulated at all levels of the [[food chain]].
 
The different components of the ecosystem demonstrate a different vulnerability for certain pollutants. Pollutants can  [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] when they are ingested at a higher rate than excreted. Pollutants which bioacumulate can also [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] if the pollutant is accumulated at all levels of the [[food chain]].
  
 
[[biomagnification|Biomagnifying]] compounds usually affect the top of the ecosystem most because that's where they reach the highest levels. Biomagnifying substances
 
[[biomagnification|Biomagnifying]] compounds usually affect the top of the ecosystem most because that's where they reach the highest levels. Biomagnifying substances

Revision as of 12:35, 28 July 2009

Oceans receive pollutants from the atmosphere and from riverine inflow. Coastal environments are more likely to be affected because they can receive pollutants from both sources. They are also less deep and can receive secondary contaminations from pollutants which were stored in the sediments. Particularly coastal areas near industrialized and highly populated areas can contain high concentrations of pollutants. If these areas have a limited mixing with water from the open ocean, like the Baltic sea, the ecosystem becomes extremely vulnerable.

The different components of the ecosystem demonstrate a different vulnerability for certain pollutants. Pollutants can bioaccumulate when they are ingested at a higher rate than excreted. Pollutants which bioacumulate can also biomagnify if the pollutant is accumulated at all levels of the food chain.

Biomagnifying compounds usually affect the top of the ecosystem most because that's where they reach the highest levels. Biomagnifying substances