Toxicants – State

Toxicants – State

Click on elements of the flow chart or select from the tabs below

• Pressures
• Management response
• State
• Vulnerability

Physical-chemical state Changes to the toxicant load entering a wetland can affect toxicant concentrations in the water/soil/biota.

Pesticides and heavy metals are transported attached to sediments or dissolved in the water. Resuspension of sediments through natural or anthropogenic processes can allow toxicants to become available again. Pesticides and heavy metals are deposited with fine mud sediments. Oil is partially water insoluble and can make its way into soils.

Animals and/or plants that are sensitive to toxicants may die if exposed to them, often in mass events. Pesticides and heavy metals can be assimilated by biota and move through the food chain. Herbicide settlement on plants can affect photosynthetic efficiency and may lead to the death of the plant.

Last updated: 22 March 2013