Question

Enviromental Biochemistry

In a lake region of central Canada, 100 miles from a major city, high levels of Pb are detected in the water of lakes not far from a power plant that supplies this city with electricity.

The fish population of these lakes has also declined. Give two specific reasons why this might have occurred.

Answer 1

Reason 1:

Lead is poisonous for the fish species to survive and thrive in the lake. The effluents from the power plant must be leaking into the lake, thus leading to Lead contamination, causing the fish population to decline.

Reason 2:

The high radiation levels around the power plant must also be a reason for the declining fish population. This is also an alarming issue to be dealt with as soon as possible, as it indicates that the waste from the power plant is being let out into the environemnt without undergoing any treatment.