Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine ecosystems

Damstra, Demi Delane (2020) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine ecosystems. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Pollution of seawater remains one of the biggest anthropogenic threats to marine ecosystems. Eutrophication, heavy metals, plastic waste and POPs all impact marine life in various ways. Some of these forms of pollution, such as PCBs, are especially long-lasting and persistent. PCB production started around 1920 and lasted until approximately 1980. Around this time a ban on the production of PCBs was established as a result of rising environmental and health concerns, as PCBs seeped into the environment because of improper storage and disposal, leaks from technical appliances and spills. Although the dangers of biomagnification and the effects of PCBs on marine species and ecosystems are well-studied, it remains a complex topic. As PCBs continue to pose a threat to marine life, there is a need for more reliable models to predict the impact of PCBs on marine ecosystems and populations. This review is divided into three main parts; toxicology, physiology, and biomagnification, and examines what role these three components play in relation to PCB accumulation and toxicity. The PCB risk level for individual species is influenced by many factors, such as species-specific metabolic capacities and compound-specific toxicity thresholds. In addition, there are several physiological and ecological factors that influence the degree of biomagnification in a food web, such as trophic level, metabolic rate, maternal transfer, migration, feeding preferences, and habitat use. I encourage m...

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Govers, L.L.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2020 13:26
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2020 13:26
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/23176

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