title: Chemical Pollution -Novel Substances-
- Humans engineered new chemical compounds that did not exist before and that no ecosystem has adapted to
- These can be toxic substances that are not easily dissipated in the environment
- They are often transported in long distances affecting a variety of ecosystems
- High risk of irreversability
Examples of of Novel substances
- Radioactive wastes and heavy metals
- Mercury (exposes ecosystems to high levels of pollution)
- Problems of mercury in fish and then humans
- Mercury (exposes ecosystems to high levels of pollution)
- Chlorofluorocarbons
- Responsible for Ozone Depletion
- DDT (pesticide)
- Persists for years in soils and sediments
- Carried throughout the food chains
Created on: 2021-01-22 Inspired by: Course - Planetary Boundaries Related: Planetary Boundaries