Pollution and global warming, two major biological problems that have received a great amount of attention from people. Studies have shown that these two issues have had a wide variety effects on marine life. A new study has shown that the metabolism of oysters are interfered with when exposed to low metal pollution and an increase of temperature makes that disruption even more noticeable. This reflects how the combined effects of harmful changes of environment can be several times more damaging. The studies showed that the heavy metal cadmium and high temperatures slowed down metabolic reactions in the mitochondria of the oysters. The cadmium created an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species, a dangerous metabolic byproduct, and the high temperature impeded the cellular processes that normally prevent the compounds from harming the organism. This combination of two harmful effects on the oysters’ environment is showing how damage to the ecosystem is multiplying quicker than can be expected due to unforeseen events. The cadmium is seen to reduce the efficiency of cell respiration by lowering the amount of ATP produced. This effect is most profound in temperatures higher than 30 degrees centigrade. The reactive oxygen species, produced due to the cadmium, caused the enzyme, aconitase, to not function. This type of reaction to alien substances may not only just occur in oysters, the combination effect might be affecting other mollusks and cold bolded creatures as well.

I learned that exposure to a combination of different harmful things may make the effects worse than when exposed to one thing at a time. This means that even though we are reducing our omissions of harmful substances into the world, the damaging effects might still grow because of the combination effect on organisms.