How Chemicals Move from the Water into Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms

Course Summary

The purpose of this work is to provide an intermediate-level primer on why and how chemicals are accumulated by aquatic organisms (bioaccumulation). This is an important issue because of the potential effects of bioaccumulated chemicals on fish, wildlife, and ultimately, on humans.

Learning Objectives

The objective of this course is the effect of chemicals on fish, wildlife and ultimately on humans. The chemicals emphasized in this primer are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and in particular the sixteen priority pollutant PAHs (selected by the U.S. EPA). Aquatic organisms are emphasized, but much of this information applies to terrestrial organisms as well. Key factors governing bioaccumulation are described to facilitate an understanding of this complex phenomenon. The factors include those related to the properties of the contaminant, the characteristics of the exposure media (environment), the organisms, and the supporting food chains.

Course Author

American Petroleum Institute

Review the quiz before studying the course.

Certificate of completion of the course

This course comes with a multiple-choice quiz. You can view the quiz and take the quiz if you are logged in your account. You can take the quiz for this online PDH course as many times until passed. The passing grade is 70% and above. After you pass the quiz simply follow the page, to pay for the course and print your certificate instantly. A copy of the certificate and receipt for this course will always be in your account.

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This online PDH course can also be used as a continuing education course for the following.

Environmental Engineering

Oil & Gas and Petrochemical Engineering