Assignment: Enviromental Effects of Chromium
So I have been doing research for a project and am having some difficulty getting started on a particular problem relating to sodium dichromate (Chromium).
Specifics:
-120 km of road has Sodium Dichromate spilled on it.
-Possible run off of Sodium Dichromate into side ditch which lead to dugouts.
-Dugouts filled with rainbow trouts.
-One dugout was treated last summer with copper sulfate for control of aquatic plants.
-The dugouts are covered with ice.
-20m from road is a water well.
Question is: what are the possible effects to the fish, cattle, and humans, along with recommendations for the well?
The addition of the copper sulfate is also confusing me.
You supervisor has asked you to assist in managing this incident by providing the toxicology expertise. You find the substance is a known human carcinogen. You also find out that the roadway ditches communicate with the dugouts used for both domestic and livestock water. Some of the dugouts have been stocked with rainbow trout. One dugout was treated last summer with copper sulfate for control of aquatic plants. The dugouts are covered with ice.
1. Provide your supervisor with recommendations starting with the possible exposed species or species at risk, environmental chemistry, analytical toxicology, and managing the toxicology of the incident.
a. Be certain to apply all of the basic principals of toxicology and risk assessment (see above) limiting this answer to rainbow trout, cattle and humans as the exposed species.
b. Describe the risk model that you will use for human exposure (consider it a known human carcinogen).
2. A homeowner comes forward in a public meeting and informs everyone that his or her water well is 20 m from the road.
a. What are your recommendations (not as simple as recommending to not use the well)?
b. How long will you recommend the water from the well be tested?
i. What kind of expertise would be of great assistance in managing this question?