14 Bioaccumulation - Info.pdf - haspi

HASPI Medical Biology Lab 14
Bioaccumulation
Teacher Information
Description
This is a two-part lab and activity to reinforce the how bioaccumulation occurs, as well as the effects
of bioaccumulation on an individual organism.
Activity 14a demonstrates how environmental toxins move through the food chain. Each student will
be assigned a container that represents an organism in an ocean food chain. Students will simulate
the food chain with larger organisms “eating” smaller organisms, with the eating being represented by
emptying the smaller organism’s container into the larger organism’s container. Mercury will be
represented as small red beads present in each organism’s container. Eventually the human who
consumes the tuna will receive all of the mercury molecules demonstrating how the bioaccumulation
of mercury has occurred.
Lab 14b demonstrates how toxins can build up in cells and/or organs. Dialysis tubing will be used to
represent an organism that will be treated with environmental contaminants. This simple lab will
demonstrate how some contaminants remain within an organism even when that organism is
removed from the contaminated environment.
Objectives
1. Explain the concept of biological magnification and bioaccumulation.
2. Understand how bioaccumulation can have negative effects on human health.
3. Recognize what happens to organisms when molecules are not able to diffuse out of organ
systems.
4. Identify common sources of molecules that can bioaccumulate within the human body.
5. Understand why bioaccumulation is most severe in organisms at the top of the food chain.
CA Biology State Standards
1a. Students know cells are enclosed within semi-permeable membranes that regulate their
interaction with their surroundings.
6d. Students know how water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle between abiotic resources and organic
matter in the ecosystem, and how oxygen cycles through photosynthesis and respiration.
Time: Activity 14a: 10-15 minutes; Lab 14b: 20-25 minutes
Activity 14a is a short activity and can be done within a 10-15 minute time period. It is the perfect
activity to do within a discussion or lecture to quickly reinforce the concept of bioaccumulation. The
teacher will need to direct the students when each trophic level will be consuming. It will start with the
krill consuming the plankton, then small fish consume the krill, then large fish consume the small fish,
followed by the human consuming the large fish. Lab 14b will take approximately 20-25 minutes.
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Materials Supplies needed for 10 lab groups
Lab 14a: Biomagnfication
Supply
Provided (P) or
Needed (N)
Quantity
Very small container – plankton P 20
Small container – krill P 10
Medium container – small fish P 6
Medium-large container – tuna P 3
Large container – human P 1
Plastic beads P 100
Graph paper N 40
Lab 14b: Bioaccumulation of Toxins
Supply
Provided (P) or
Needed (N)
Quantity
Dialysis tubing (2 – 6” sections) P 10’
Starch solution P 200 ml
Contaminant A (food coloring) P 20 ml
Contaminant B (tincture of iodine) P 20 ml
Graduated cylinder N 1
Paper towels N 10
Beakers N 20
String – 6”-12” pieces N 40
IMPORTANT: Check the MSDS for safety information on unfamiliar chemicals
Additional Information
Each of the containers has already been labeled. The plastic beads each represent a
molecule of mercury. Add 5 beads to each of the plankton containers (the smallest ones),
before the start of activity 14a.
It is recommended that you purchase and use string to close the dialysis tubing. This way,
dialysis tubing can be reused for additional lab activities as long as it is not too stained from
the procedure.
Contaminants A and B will need to be passed around the classroom to “contaminate” the water
since only one bottle of each will be provided.
Kit Replenishment Instructions- HASPI Supported Sites Only
Funds permitting, HASPI will replace annually:
Dialysis tubing
Laundry starch solution (MUST return bottle for refill)
Contaminant A and B (MUST return bottles for refill)
Not being replaced annually, please recycle and reuse:
ALL containers
Plastic beads
HASPI Medical Biology Lab 14, Bioaccumulation, Teacher Info; Revised July 2011 198

Resources and References
Center for Chemistry Education. 2010. Semipermeable Membranes and Bioaccumulation –
Instructor Notes. Risks & Choices, Center for Chemistry Education, Miami University (Ohio).
www.terrificscience.org
Cooperative Extension Services. 2005. Bioaccumulation Basics. University of Kentucky,
College of Agriculture, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Extension Toxicology Network. 1993. A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative
Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and
the University of California at Davis and the Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan
State University. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/tibs/bioaccum.htm
NRDA. 2008. What are PCBs? Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/whatarepcbs.html
NIH. 2011. Mercury. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Article 002476.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002476.htm
Heather Peterson, HASPI Curriculum Coordinator. www.haspi.org
Edited by Janet Hoff-Kneier, HASPI Program Manager. www.haspi.org
Images (in order of appearance)
http://www.whoi.edu/cms/images/oceanus/pangallo_81588.jpg
http://obrien-envproject.wikispaces.com/Allen-Rabideaux
http://www.wiregrassenergynetwork.com/uploads/1/4/9/6/1496058/6257066_orig.gif?198
http://www.epa.gov/ost/Fish
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/images/bioaccumulation.png
Chart from May 2001 study by Arnold Schecter et. al., Journal of Toxicology and
Environmental Health, Part A, 63:1–18.
HASPI Medical Biology Lab 14, Bioaccumulation, Teacher Info; Revised July 2011 199

HASPI Medical Biology Lab 14, Bioaccumulation, Teacher Info; Revised July 2011 200