Health Risks from Heavy Metals
Online Lab Sawbuck Assignment (10 bucks)
Many chemicals are found naturally on Earth or are created synthetically in laboratories. Some of these chemicals are toxic to humans. What does this mean? The toxicity of a chemical to a person depends on the person's exposure to the chemical and on the potency of the chemical. A person's exposure to a chemical depends on the method of exposure and on the duration of the exposure. The potency of a chemical is the rate at which the chemical produces an effect. How are humans exposed to chemicals? How are they affected by chemical exposure?
- Use the links below to complete the Health Risks from Heavy Metals worksheet. Choose either word format or pdf
HEAVY METALS: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets federal guidelines for heavy metal emissions into the environment. This web page explains the OSHA regulations. Choose a heavy metal from the list on this site and research how it might enter into your local environment. Present your report to the class.
Mercury and Compounds: Here is an informational sheet on mercury and its compounds from the EPA. Use the information here to design a brochure educating people about the dangers of mercury.
Heavy Metals and Health: This site from the World Resource Institute explains the dangers of heavy metals in the environment and tracks their presence over the years. Use this information to make a timeline for the class that documents the occurrence of heavy metals in our environment.
Heavy Metals to to bioaccumulate: Heavy metals are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate. Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical's concentration in the environment.
Heavy Metal Toxicity: There are 35 metals that concern us because of occupational or residential exposure; 23 of these are the heavy elements or "heavy metals".
Health Risks from Heavy Metals Worksheet DOC Health Risks from Heavy Metals Worksheet PDF
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