Mercury pollution is widely recognized as a serious ecologica1 problem. Much of the mercury re]eased into Lhe environment originates as a byproduct of coal b1.1rning and other industrial process.es. It does not become dangerous until 1t faHs into large bodies of water where microorganisms convert it tomethylmercury (CHfl3), an organic: form that is particularly toxic. Fish are the intermediaries: They ingest and absorb the methylmercury and are then eaten by humans. Men and women, however, may not metabolize CH.fO at the same rate. Jn one study investigating that question, six women were given a known amount of protein-bound methylmercury. Shown in the following table are the half-lives of the methylmercury in their systems (117). For men, the average CHfO half-life is believed to be 80 days. Assume that for both genders, CHi03 half-lives are normally distributed with 1.1 standard deviation (a) of eight days. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the true female CH.fl half-life. Based on these data, is it believable that males and females metabolize methylmercury at the same rate? Explain.
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Females
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CHfB Half-Life
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AE
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52
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EH
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69
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U
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73
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AN
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88
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KR
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87
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LU
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56
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