Aquatic Toxicology ETOX 80e

Weeks 4-6 Review Questions

A couple Questions from the First Midterm will be included in the Second Midterm

What is eutrophication? What are its causes? What are the consequences of eutrophication in aquatic systems and how do they occur?

What are the primary anthropogenic sources of nitrogen in surface and ground waters? What problem arises from excess nitrates in human drinking water? Your answer should include a detailed mechanism of toxicity.

Where is Vibrio cholerae a concern? Discuss its survival in the environment, life-cycle, route of exposure to humans, and symptoms of infection.

What is the difference between radiation and radioactivity?

What is the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation? What are the three principal forms of ionizing radiation?

Discuss the two principal sources of radon exposure to humans.

Given the activity and half-life of a radioisotope, calculate its activity after a defined period (i.e., be able to do a simple half-life calculation).

What are the assumptions, limitations, and strengths of box model calculations?

Be able to calculate a residence time if given the necessary data.

What is Redfield’s ratio? (include the actual ratio and what it describes). Explain why iron is in the extended Redfield ratios.

What is considered to be the most common limiting nutrient in freshwater systems and why?

What is a harmful algal bloom?

Describe how John Snow became known as the Father of Epidemiology.

What accounts for the large number of bird deaths in the Salton Sea?

Explain the basic mechanism of a paralytic neurotoxin.

What causes paralytic shellfish poisoning?

What are THMs and why are they a public health concern?