Anthropogenic pollutants: a threat to ecosystem sustainability?
AUTOR(ES)
Rhind, S. M.
FONTE
The Royal Society
RESUMO
Pollutants, including synthetic organic materials and heavy metals, are known to adversely affect physiological systems in all animal species studied to date. While many individual chemicals can perturb normal functions, the combined actions of multiple pollutants are of particular concern because they can exert effects even when each individual chemical is present at concentrations too low to be individually effective. The biological effects of pollutants differ greatly between species reflecting differences in the pattern of exposure, routes of uptake, metabolism following uptake, rates of accumulation and sensitivity of the target organs. Thus, understanding of the effects of pollutants on wildlife and ecosystems will require detailed study of many different species, representing a wide range of taxa. However, such studies can be informed by knowledge obtained in more controlled conditions which may indicate likely mechanisms of action and suitable endpoint measurements. Responses may be exacerbated by interactions between the effects of pollutants and environmental stressors, such as under-nutrition or osmotic stresses and so changes in such variables associated with climatic changes may exacerbate physiological responses to pollutant burdens.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2781844Documentos Relacionados
- Bacterial Chemotaxis toward Environmental Pollutants: Role in Bioremediation†
- Daily mortality and air pollutants: findings from Köln, Germany.
- FUNCTIONALIZED GRAPHENE-BASED MATERIALS AS INNOVATIVE ADSORBENTS OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: A CONCISE OVERVIEW
- Reviving or interring global governance on sustainability? Sachs, the UN and the SDGs
- Health Hazards from New Environmental Pollutants: Report of a WHO Study Group. Technical Report Series 586