Toxicology – Page 2 – envirobites

Friday, April 19, 2024

Streamside Vegetation Can Capture Pesticides

October 23, 2019 Brittany Maule 0 Comments agriculture, pesticides, water quality

Blueberries and other crops are being impacted in the Pacific northwest by a new invasive species. Pesticide use to combat this problem may impact nearby aquatic life. Researchers studied agriculture areas with and without woody vegetation along stream banks to understand if they could play a role in keeping pesticides out of streams. Sites with woody vegetation reduced 96% of pesticide measured in the stream on average compared to sites without. Increasing woody vegetation next to streams could help farmers fight off invasive species while still protecting water quality.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Toxicology

Forever Chemicals: What’s going on

September 27, 2019September 27, 2019 Niranjana Krishnan 0 Comments Chemicals, epidemiology, health impacts, literature review, PFAS

PFAS chemicals, nicknamed “forever chemicals” can be found in many places and can persist for a long time. What does science tell us about its effects on humans? A university in Australia conducted a large review to answer this question.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

Pesticides and Fertilizers: A toxic relationship that is stressful for frogs

July 31, 2019August 1, 2019 Anita Masse 0 Comments agriculture, amphibian, fertilizers, frogs, pesticides, toxic chemicals

Large-scale agriculture utilizes a myriad of chemicals to increase crop yields and profits. The effects of these chemical mixtures can be unpredictable once they are introduced into the environment, especially when interacting with vulnerable animal groups like amphibians.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Toxicology

A mosquito’s feet think you stink: Researchers discover what makes DEET the most effective insect repellent on the market

July 22, 2019July 29, 2019 Laine Farber 0 Comments DEET, disease, insect repellent, mosquitoes, toxicology

When covered in widely used insect repellent DEET, a mosquito’s mouth thinks you are good enough to eat. But their legs would beg to differ. A recent study by scientist at Rockefeller University finally explains why DEET is the most effective bug repellent.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products Alter Lake Food Webs

July 12, 2019 Brittany Maule 0 Comments algae, emerging contaminants, lakes, water

The pharmaceutical and personal care products we use daily enter aquatic environments. Phytoplankton, or microscopic algae, are important pieces of the aquatic food chain. Phytoplankton exposed to pharmaceutical and personal care products in two Norwegian lakes responded quickly and dramatically – altering their community structure. The effects of these compounds on phytoplankton suggest these compounds have the potential to alter the food webs of entire aquatic ecosystems.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

How hormones in lakes harm aquatic life

May 10, 2019January 12, 2023 Niranjana Krishnan 0 Comments aquatic, Chemicals, ecosystem, estrogen, fish, lake, real-world, toxicology

To understand how an artificial female hormone released into water bodies harmed aquatic species, researchers conducted a real-world study.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Toxicology

Avoiding A Problem: Spineless Critters Signalling Trouble For Plants?

May 9, 2019September 19, 2022 Anita Masse 0 Comments avoidance behaviour, boreal, ecotoxicology, forests, invertebrates, plant toxicity, soil toxicology

Spineless creatures are fleeing, alerting scientists to an unseen problem. The avoidance behavior of soil worms and insects could provide a fast and easy method for scientists to screen chemicals for plant toxicity.

Environmental Science Toxicology

Acetaminophen: Soaked Up By Our Finned Friends

April 17, 2019September 16, 2022 Anita Masse 0 Comments Acetaminophen, Fish Pathology, Medication, Rainbow Trout, Tylenol, Wastewater

What is the fate of acetaminophen once your headache is gone? It usually travels to the nearest lake or river where unsuspecting fish come in contact with it. While it may be a life saver for you, acetaminophen can produce detrimental effects in fish that are unlucky enough to have crossed its path.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Toxicology

Down the drain: What man-made products are in our waterways?

March 11, 2019September 12, 2022 Brittany Maule 0 Comments Pollution, Wastewater, water, water quality

Humans use thousands of pharmaceutical and personal care products in any given day. What happens to these products after we use them? The unfortunate answer is that many of them end up in our waterways. Population size and land use may help us predict what products we can see in a waterbody. If we know what products are out there, we could better understand what effects these products can have on aquatic ecosystems and human health.