Harriette Phelps, Ph.D., biologist at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. is part of a group of biologists teaming up to use clams as pollutant traps. Many rivers and streams are contaminated with pollutants such as pesticides; lead, arsenic and PCBs. Clams are able to clean water by absorbing toxins in their tissues as they draw in water. To collect contaminants biologists would place clams in the downstream of industrial parks and highways. When streams and rivers are contaminated it is not an easy or cheap clean up, but having the clams it is a new chance for the problem to be fixed.
Biologists are having neighboring high school student’s help with the project. “It’s been a great experience to actually come and see them and be the ones to pick them up out of the water,” students Caitlin Virta said. The clams are open after the exposure to the water and then taken out of the shells. With the help of lab tests they are able to see the toxins. Virta was also able to experience the pollution first hand, when clams had captured a banned pesticide in Maryland. The pesticide was thought to have been buried for years but now slowly making its return to the waters. “I thought it was really cool how you could tell the health of a stream from analyzing clam leftovers, Virta said.
With so much machinery being used these days almost a majority of them cause pollution. Most people know that this pollution is hurting the environment, but at what cost are we willing to sacrifice those resources to protect our environment? The truth is the environment isn’t a main priority for a lot of people. So by biologists coming up with cool ideas, such as the clams, to help protect the environment it is sure to spark an interest in peoples minds to remind them of the environment and how they can do little things to help. People love swimming in the water when it is warm out, no one wants to see the refreshing water turn black because of toxins. This has to do with what we talk about in class because we learn about animals that live in water and how their lives can be seriously disrupted due to toxins, but also always looking for ways to protect them, and the clams being the perfect solution!
I believe that the clams protecting the streams and rivers it such a great idea. It is also a very safe and inexpensive way too and anyone can help. I think this is a great idea because biologists will be able to test the waters and let people know what is going on, such as whether or not the water it clean. By doing that people might be able to change what they are doing to help protect the water. I think this is a topic that sparks a lot of people’s interest and if biologists keep going with it that there will be other people or biologist looking for other easy and inexpensive ways the help the environment.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0110-clam_cleanup.htm
http://www.eversfam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/clams.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment