Studies how pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, harm organisms and ecosystems.
Concepts: dose-response, LC50, bioaccumulation, synergistic effects. Pollutants: heavy metals (mercury, lead), pesticides, PCBs, endocrine disruptors. Biomarkers show exposure.
Toxicity tests expose organisms to graded doses. Mixtures can have additive or synergistic effects. Biomarkers include enzyme induction and DNA damage.
Remember: dose makes the poison.
Studies how pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, harm organisms and ecosystems.
Environmental Toxicology is one of the 54 topics in Marine & Environmental Biology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Marine Symbiosis, Marine Microplastics Biology, Oil Spills.
Minamata disease in Japan resulted from mercury poisoning of seafood.
Work through the Beginner topics in Marine & Environmental Biology first, such as Oceans, Ocean Zones, Plankton, then return to Environmental Toxicology. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
The closest topics to Environmental Toxicology are Marine Symbiosis, Marine Microplastics Biology, Oil Spills, Plastic Pollution. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Environmental Toxicology. To practise the whole of Marine & Environmental Biology, use the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz.
Environmental Toxicology: Studies how pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, harm organisms and ecosystems. Marine Symbiosis: Partnerships such as giant tube worms with bacteria or cleaner fish with clients support ocean ecosystems. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Marine Symbiosis and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Partnerships such as giant tube worms with bacteria or cleaner fish with clients support ocean ecosystems.
🌊 Marine & Environmental BiologyTiny particles carry pollutants and microbes and are ingested at every trophic level.
🌊 Marine & Environmental BiologyCrude oil coats marine life and shorelines, with long-lasting ecological damage.
🌊 Marine & Environmental BiologyPlastics break into microplastics that are ingested by organisms and travel up food chains.
🌊 Marine & Environmental Biology