Research proposal (Effect of PCBs on killer whale reproductive system in Puget Sound Washington )
Background
Rapid industrial growth has led to elevated discharges of toxic chemicals in water bodies. Water pollution occurs when a stream, river, lake, ocean, or other water bodies are polluted by toxic products, often chemicals or bacteria, humiliating the quality of marine and making it toxic to the environment. The world’s water is rapidly threatened by emerging contaminants such as Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and Persistent Organic Pollutant , but the degree and consequences of their existence in our water are basically invisible. When water is polluted with toxins such as Polychlorinated biphenyl and Persistent Organic Pollutant, the toxins are difficult, expensive, and often impossible to remove. The goal of this pilot study is to address the declining population of Orca or Killer whale in Puget Sound’s due to being heavily exposed Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and Persistent Organic Pollutant. The reason why Puget Sound is particularly susceptible to PCBs and POPs toxics affecting the water is partly because of its physical geography. Puget sound is a large body of water that is a part of the Pacific Ocean. This body of water meets at the coast of Tacoma and Seattle, where two major ports are located. Because of this, it has become an economic power house in this region, as result it has attracted many large industrialized businesses that are well known for being responsible for polluting this region with those toxic chemicals . Also, Some other big contributors to the pollutants in Puget Sound are over population, urbanization (which increases the number of hard surfaces covering the land). PCBs were banned for usage in 2004, despite that, there is still a large amount of this contaminant dumped into Puget Sound’s water every day through careless disposal of products containing PCBs . This pollutant brought various side effect on the Whale’s body. According to Geo Forward an animal rights activist “ rising concentrations of carcinogens like PCB pollution in killer whales are contributing to premature deaths, deformations, and growth stunts”. With a decreasing population of whales , its important to consider the causes of this tragedy .Endangerment of the whale is a serous problem, although there have been some efforts to curb the population , most of theses solution have been ineffective. The whales that live in Puget sound’s water is being threatened by these toxins and the only way to stop this from happening is for people to make an active effort toward prevention.
Hypothesis /Two Specific Aim (o.25 page)
Experimental Approach(0.75 page)
Reference
Geo Forward. September 28,2022. PCBs Contamination in Killer Whales and Orca Pollution. Animal Rights & Welfare, Geology & Earth Science.https://www.geoforward.com/pcbs-contamination-killer-whales-orca-pollution/
Robb Kriehbiel.2017 . CONNECTING THE DOTS:Orcas, Salmon and Toxic Chemicals in the Salish Sea. DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE. https://defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/connecting_the_dots_orcas_salmon_and_toxic_chemicals_in_the_salish_sea.pdf?courseID=2094360&assignmentID=22699581
Toxic contaminants in Puget Sound wildlife. Cascadia Research Collective . https://cascadiaresearch.org/publications/toxic-contaminants-puget-sound-wildlife/
Toxic chemicals in Puget Sound. Department of Ecology State of Washington.https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Puget-Sound/Issues-problems/Toxic-chemicals