The Pollutants that Reduce Water QualityToday, chemical water pollutants are cause for a large water pollution problem. Water contains thousands of substances potentially harming us as we consume water. Substances such as viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, chlorine, pesticides, and an abundance of other harmful matter are present in water. As well as harming our environment, shampoos, conditioners, and things of that nature are also harming out planet. Fresh waters naturally contain chemicals dissolved from the soils and rocks over which they flow. There are inorganic as well as organic pollutions that are negatively affecting the water we use every day. A number of main inorganic elements include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbon, chlorine, and sulfur, as well as plant nutrients. Decaying biological materials are also present, which causes organic compounds to pollute the waters. Nearly all waters contain human-caused compounds such as industrial and consumer products. Human activities augment the concentration of specific compounds, which is the source of chemical pollution troubles. By converting to natural alternatives, the world will be reduced of chemical water pollution problems.
Biological water pollutants are the bacteria, viruses, protozoans and worms which are carried by water from one host to another. Algae, when occurring in large numbers, can also be a biological pollutant. Some of these pollutants can cause diseases in humans and animals, which may or not be fatal. Microorganisms enter waters from sources such as human waste, food operations, meat
packing plants, medical facilities, and more are the main ways biological water pollution develops. Under normal conditions, the body is able to handle these biological materials. Some of these pollutants can cause diseases in humans and animals. "Beaver Fever", or Giardiasis, is a well-known disease caused by biological water pollution. Beaver Fever is a human disease caused by a single-celled parasite which lives in the intestines of humans and many other animals. When the parasites reproduce, they form cysts which pass out of the intestines with wastes. These cysts are able to live for two months in water. By drinking the contaminated water with these cysts, a person can become seriously ill. By using filters, the giardiasis parasite is able to be removed from our water. However, the sickness may still be fatal. The disease is mainly a problem in wilderness areas where people tend to assume that untreated water is safe to drink or in communities that do not have effective filtration systems. Sources of biological pollution include
treated and untreated human sewage, organic pollution, and animal waste.
Physical water pollution is generally the corruption of water by resources such as sewage effluent, chemicals, detergents, and fertilizer runoff. Contributions to water pollution comprise of substances drawn from the air, such as acid rain, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, runoff from septic tanks, hemorrhage from livestock feedlots, chemical wastes, which are often toxic, from industries, and sewage and from cities and towns. Eutrophication is an enormous contributor of physical water pollution. Eutrophication is a process where bodies of water, such as lakes, estuaries, or slow-moving streams collect too many nutrients that inspire excessive plant growth. This improved plant growth, reduces oxygen in the water when dead plant material decomposes and can cause other organisms to die
Thermal water pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. Thermal pollution is frequently connected with increases or decreased of water temperatures in varying bodies of water throughout the world such as a stream, lake, or ocean due to the discharge of heated water from industrial processes. Generation of electricity is a major factor in thermal water pollution. A universal cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Thermal pollution can also be caused by the discharge of very cold water from the bottom of reservoirs into warmer rivers which cause a discrepancy in the temperature.
Biological water pollutants are the bacteria, viruses, protozoans and worms which are carried by water from one host to another. Algae, when occurring in large numbers, can also be a biological pollutant. Some of these pollutants can cause diseases in humans and animals, which may or not be fatal. Microorganisms enter waters from sources such as human waste, food operations, meat
packing plants, medical facilities, and more are the main ways biological water pollution develops. Under normal conditions, the body is able to handle these biological materials. Some of these pollutants can cause diseases in humans and animals. "Beaver Fever", or Giardiasis, is a well-known disease caused by biological water pollution. Beaver Fever is a human disease caused by a single-celled parasite which lives in the intestines of humans and many other animals. When the parasites reproduce, they form cysts which pass out of the intestines with wastes. These cysts are able to live for two months in water. By drinking the contaminated water with these cysts, a person can become seriously ill. By using filters, the giardiasis parasite is able to be removed from our water. However, the sickness may still be fatal. The disease is mainly a problem in wilderness areas where people tend to assume that untreated water is safe to drink or in communities that do not have effective filtration systems. Sources of biological pollution include treated and untreated human sewage, organic pollution, and animal waste.Physical water pollution is generally the corruption of water by resources such as sewage effluent, chemicals, detergents, and fertilizer runoff. Contributions to water pollution comprise of substances drawn from the air, such as acid rain, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, runoff from septic tanks, hemorrhage from livestock feedlots, chemical wastes, which are often toxic, from industries, and sewage and from cities and towns. Eutrophication is an enormous contributor of physical water pollution. Eutrophication is a process where bodies of water, such as lakes, estuaries, or slow-moving streams collect too many nutrients that inspire excessive plant growth. This improved plant growth, reduces oxygen in the water when dead plant material decomposes and can cause other organisms to die
Thermal water pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. Thermal pollution is frequently connected with increases or decreased of water temperatures in varying bodies of water throughout the world such as a stream, lake, or ocean due to the discharge of heated water from industrial processes. Generation of electricity is a major factor in thermal water pollution. A universal cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Thermal pollution can also be caused by the discharge of very cold water from the bottom of reservoirs into warmer rivers which cause a discrepancy in the temperature.Methods of Detection: Cause and Affect
Biological pollutants, such as viruses, protozoan, and parasitic worms, enter the environment by human and animal wastes infected with the pollutants. Through unsanitary conditions and poor sewage treatment, they get dumped into waterways. While water is regularly used for leisure activities, drinking, and bathing, the chance of coming in contact with these pollutants grows. These pollutants can cause a variety of diseases such as typhoid and cholera. To find out the gravity of the biological pollution, the EPA obtains a sample of water to find out the amount of bacteria per 100 milimeters.
Chemical pollutants, such as aluminum, lead, arsenic, are common in household chemicals and industrial sources. With poor waste management, these pollutants can be directly dumped into the water. Some animals, such as the dolphin, have high levels of mercury in their body that also contribute to the pollution. With direct ingestion or accumulation of tissues of other infected animals, these hazardous chemicals can poison humans. When poisoned, a human can have long lasting effects such as cancer, genetic mutations, miscarriages, and birth defects. To detect the extent of chemical water pollution, scientists analyze the level of the contaminant in the water consumed and therefore evaluate daily water intake. Physical pollutants, like sediments filled with pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances, most harshly affect animals and marine life rather than humans. Infected sediment is a direct
result of erosion, deforestation, and agricultural and hydroelectric projects. This sediment fills lakes, harbors, reservoirs, and other aquatic environments. It can prevent photosynthesis by reducing the sunlight in the water and can disrupt underwater food webs. Sediment can destroy feeding and spawning grounds of fish, preventing them from filling their niche in the community. Physical pollutants can be detected in laboratories. Here samples of water (including the sediment on the ocean floor) are analyzed for contaminants, and it is determined what happened as a result of the contaminant to the aquatic environment.
Thermal pollution is most commonly caused by water used for cooling electric power plants. Almost half of the water taken by the United States each year is used for cooling purposes. This pollution causes dissolved oxygen levels, which can make aquatic environments more prone to disease, parasites, and toxic chemicals. Thermal pollution can also result in sudden death for any marine species. Thermal pollution is one of the easiest types of pollution to identify. When change in a community occurs, scientists can sample the water and cross-reference the temperatures from the past and present.Repercussions:
Biological water pollution includes pollutants such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae. Lakes, river and oceans always contain some bacteria and microorganisms. Although many of these substances are harmless, drinking water is, for the most part, kept bacteria-free. Some bacteria in water cause extreme illness. (This will be discussed further in the known health risks section) Water that is overly polluted with biological waste will have a distinct, nasty odor or taste and have a cloudy appearance.
Biological water pollution includes pollutants such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae. Lakes, river and oceans always contain some bacteria and microorganisms. Although many of these substances are harmless, drinking water is, for the most part, kept bacteria-free. Some bacteria in water cause extreme illness. (This will be discussed further in the known health risks section) Water that is overly polluted with biological waste will have a distinct, nasty odor or taste and have a cloudy appearance.Chemical pollution includes metals and solvents from factories, pesticides from farms, laundry detergents, and petroleum from oil spills. The presence of harmful chemicals in water has become one of the most crucial environmental issues. These chemical directly affect the species that inhabit the water. Glyphosate, a pesticide chemical that has entered waterways because of run-off, caused a delay in the metamorphosis process of tadpoles, which resulted in a 70% decrease in frog biodiversity. Also, oil often inadvertently enters our waterways. It can seep into marsh and sediments and loiter there for decades, negatively affecting marsh grasses, marine worms, and other aquatic life forms that live in, on, or near the sediment.
Physical pollution is pollution caused by suspended solids, foaming, or radioactivity. Suspended solids, such as human trash, can choke marine life and, if it is an item such as a battery, can release harmful chemicals into the water. Foaming may be the result of detergents or a broken sewage pipe. These pollutions are both harmful to the marine life and to humans if we are exposed to the water. Detergents can often cause excessive algae growth, which depletes the water of necessary oxygen. Foam has been known to fill in spaces between rocks where bug larvae grow, but the foam prevents this. Bugs are an important food source for many fish. Radioactivity in the water causes things such as seaweed to become radioactive and this seaweed may someday be eaten by a human. 
Thermal pollution harms lakes and rivers because of the release of excessive waste heat into them by industrial processes. For example, water can be heated by factories when it was used to cool machines and then was released back into the water. The change in temperature in a place is catastrophic to that entire ecosystem. The marine life present there is not adapted to that temperature and will often die.
The Proactive Measures
Many proactive measures are being taken to prevent biological pollution. Drinking water is cleaned and filtered vigorously. Any bacteria in it are killed. In fact, some scientists believe the human population has killed too much bacteria, eliminating the bacteria that are beneficial. To prevent chemical pollution, many strict regulations have been applied to factories. They cannot simply release waste into waterways. Also, companies that sell pesticides and household chemicals are producing less-harmful alternatives. Laws restricting dumping of trash prevent some physical pollution. To prevent thermal pollution, some factories have man-made cooling ponding to use for industrial cooling, rather than using natural water bodies which are filled with marine life. Other factories use the heat left in the water to heat building and other domestic purposes before releasing the water.
The Known Health Risks
Biological pollutants can cause many health risks. Many diseases can be caused by the drinking of infected water. “Beaver Fever”, otherwise known as Giardiasis, is caused by a single-celled parasite that lives in the intestines of humans and animals.
When the parasite reproduces, it forms cysts, which can stay in the water for up to two months. Illness can occur if this contaminated water is drunk. Microorganisms from human waste, meat packing plants, and food operations can cause water to become polluted. Testing of plant or animal indicators can be used to supervise the health of an environment. Washing your car away from storm drains, checking your septic system every 3 to 5 years, not throwing trashing into sewage drains, and cleaning up oil and other liquid spills properly are all methods the can be used to prevent biological pollution.
Chemical water pollution can have devastating effects on the brains of children, causing autism, and celeberal paulsy. The cause of these lifelong impacts on the brain is the low-levels of lead and mercury. Drowziness, hallucinations, headaches, convulsions, confusion, severe stomach, leg, and back pain, cancer, loss in vision and hearing, and difficulty concentrating are caused by chemicals such as Acrylamide, Acetone, and Styrene. Some preventive measures against chemical water pollution are choosing what type of products you use, such as shampoo, conditioners, detergents, that have a minimal amount of harmful chemicals.
Physical water pollution has many harmful effects on both humans and the environment. Typhoid, ameobiasis, hookworm, and ascariasis are all water borne diseases that can be caused by physical water pollutants. Foaming and radioactivity are also impacts of physical water pollution. Sedimentation, water filters, and disinfection, are all methods used to remove sediment and other forms of physical water pollution out of water.
To prevent thermal water pollution, we must prevent soil erosion, deforestation on the shoreline, using power plants to create electricity of fossil fuels, and not using water as a cooling agent in industrial facilities. Some preventive measures against thermal pollution are using hybrid power plants and combination cooling towers. Cooling towers are used to precool water before the discharge directing heat to the atmosphere instead.
Environmental factors, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic considerations on the health of a society
The health of a water-using society is largely impacted by environmental factors, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic considerations. An example of these impacts is prominently observed in South Africa. There are many small towns in these countries, each of which are built around a water body. For example, the town of Harare in Zimbabwe is built around Lake Chivero. The lake has been polluted with high levels of toxic metals as well as being filled with sewage discharge. There has been a huge increase in fish mortality because of these unsanitary conditions. However, it is not only the fish that are being affected. The towns located around the lake use this water body for bathing, drinking, cooking, and other domestic activities. The Sadc region in Africa is also being largely affected by polluted water sources. Untreated industrial waste is regularly discharged into streams and rivers. There are many villages in Swaziland residing in these areas whose lives, for years, have depended on these waterways. Toxic and radioactive substances generated from industries are contaminating rivers, which is causing severe, long-term health effects on the people. Not only do towns in Southern Africa use the waterways for daily domestic reasons, but the water is also used for religious practices. Water contamination in Southern Africa has become such a prominent issue because of the poverty of these areas. The government does not have the funds to clean the polluted water, build sewage treatment plants, or find alternative resources. Water pollution has become a universal concern; however, the problem is must severe in areas that are poverty-stricken.
Post 3 Citations
(1993). Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Alberta Online Encyclopedia: http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/environmental/water_pollution.htm
(2001). Types: Thermal Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Thinkquest: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111040/Types/thermal.php
(2008, October). Pollution Effects on Humans, Animals, Plants, and the Environment. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from : http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/pollution-effects.html
(2006). Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Missouri Botanical Garden:
http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/pollute.htm
(2006). Water Pollution Effects. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Grinning Planet: http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/12-05/water-pollution-effects.htm
(2008). Bacteria and Water Wells. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from American Ground Water Trust: http://www.agwt.org/info/bacteria.htm
(2010). Biological Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Multilab: http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/water-microbiology/biological-water-pollution.htm
(2010). Chemical Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Multilab: http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/water-microbiology/chemical-water-pollution.htm
(2010). Water Pollution and Biological Purification. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Enotes: http://www.enotes.com/earth-science/water-pollution-biological-purification
Brooks, A. S. (2010). Pollution of Lakes and Streams. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Oc-Po/Pollution-of-Lakes-and-Streams.html
Laurance, J. (2006, November 8). Chemical Pollution 'harms children's brains'. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from The Independent : http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/chemical-pollution-harms-childrens-brains-423406.html
Clendenon, C. (1999). Pollution of the Ocean by Sewage, Nutrients, and Chemicals. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Water Encyclopedia: http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Pollution-of-the-Ocean-by-Sewage-Nutrients-and-Chemicals.html
Deysher, L. (2010). Thermal Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from : http://www.pollutionissues.com/Te-Un/Thermal-Pollution.html
(n.d.). Physical Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Multilab: http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/water-microbiology/physical-water-pollution.htm
Rautkari, M. (2010). Problems: Ocean Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from World Wildlife Fund: http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/pollution
Tsiho, S. (2007, January 27). Water Pollution in Southern Africa. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Gibbs Magazine: http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Water%20Pollution%20in%20Southern%20Africahas%20Gotten%20Bad.htm
Turpin , J. R. (2004, September). A Solution for Thermal Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Bnet: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPR/is_9_21/ai_n6209868/
The Proactive Measures
Many proactive measures are being taken to prevent biological pollution. Drinking water is cleaned and filtered vigorously. Any bacteria in it are killed. In fact, some scientists believe the human population has killed too much bacteria, eliminating the bacteria that are beneficial. To prevent chemical pollution, many strict regulations have been applied to factories. They cannot simply release waste into waterways. Also, companies that sell pesticides and household chemicals are producing less-harmful alternatives. Laws restricting dumping of trash prevent some physical pollution. To prevent thermal pollution, some factories have man-made cooling ponding to use for industrial cooling, rather than using natural water bodies which are filled with marine life. Other factories use the heat left in the water to heat building and other domestic purposes before releasing the water.
The Known Health Risks
Biological pollutants can cause many health risks. Many diseases can be caused by the drinking of infected water. “Beaver Fever”, otherwise known as Giardiasis, is caused by a single-celled parasite that lives in the intestines of humans and animals.
When the parasite reproduces, it forms cysts, which can stay in the water for up to two months. Illness can occur if this contaminated water is drunk. Microorganisms from human waste, meat packing plants, and food operations can cause water to become polluted. Testing of plant or animal indicators can be used to supervise the health of an environment. Washing your car away from storm drains, checking your septic system every 3 to 5 years, not throwing trashing into sewage drains, and cleaning up oil and other liquid spills properly are all methods the can be used to prevent biological pollution.Chemical water pollution can have devastating effects on the brains of children, causing autism, and celeberal paulsy. The cause of these lifelong impacts on the brain is the low-levels of lead and mercury. Drowziness, hallucinations, headaches, convulsions, confusion, severe stomach, leg, and back pain, cancer, loss in vision and hearing, and difficulty concentrating are caused by chemicals such as Acrylamide, Acetone, and Styrene. Some preventive measures against chemical water pollution are choosing what type of products you use, such as shampoo, conditioners, detergents, that have a minimal amount of harmful chemicals.
Physical water pollution has many harmful effects on both humans and the environment. Typhoid, ameobiasis, hookworm, and ascariasis are all water borne diseases that can be caused by physical water pollutants. Foaming and radioactivity are also impacts of physical water pollution. Sedimentation, water filters, and disinfection, are all methods used to remove sediment and other forms of physical water pollution out of water.
To prevent thermal water pollution, we must prevent soil erosion, deforestation on the shoreline, using power plants to create electricity of fossil fuels, and not using water as a cooling agent in industrial facilities. Some preventive measures against thermal pollution are using hybrid power plants and combination cooling towers. Cooling towers are used to precool water before the discharge directing heat to the atmosphere instead.
Environmental factors, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic considerations on the health of a society
The health of a water-using society is largely impacted by environmental factors, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic considerations. An example of these impacts is prominently observed in South Africa. There are many small towns in these countries, each of which are built around a water body. For example, the town of Harare in Zimbabwe is built around Lake Chivero. The lake has been polluted with high levels of toxic metals as well as being filled with sewage discharge. There has been a huge increase in fish mortality because of these unsanitary conditions. However, it is not only the fish that are being affected. The towns located around the lake use this water body for bathing, drinking, cooking, and other domestic activities. The Sadc region in Africa is also being largely affected by polluted water sources. Untreated industrial waste is regularly discharged into streams and rivers. There are many villages in Swaziland residing in these areas whose lives, for years, have depended on these waterways. Toxic and radioactive substances generated from industries are contaminating rivers, which is causing severe, long-term health effects on the people. Not only do towns in Southern Africa use the waterways for daily domestic reasons, but the water is also used for religious practices. Water contamination in Southern Africa has become such a prominent issue because of the poverty of these areas. The government does not have the funds to clean the polluted water, build sewage treatment plants, or find alternative resources. Water pollution has become a universal concern; however, the problem is must severe in areas that are poverty-stricken.Post 3 Citations
(1993). Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Alberta Online Encyclopedia: http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/environmental/water_pollution.htm
(2001). Types: Thermal Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Thinkquest: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111040/Types/thermal.php
(2008, October). Pollution Effects on Humans, Animals, Plants, and the Environment. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from : http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/pollution-effects.html
(2006). Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Missouri Botanical Garden:
http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/pollute.htm
(2006). Water Pollution Effects. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Grinning Planet: http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/12-05/water-pollution-effects.htm
(2008). Bacteria and Water Wells. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from American Ground Water Trust: http://www.agwt.org/info/bacteria.htm
(2010). Biological Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Multilab: http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/water-microbiology/biological-water-pollution.htm
(2010). Chemical Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Multilab: http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/water-microbiology/chemical-water-pollution.htm
(2010). Water Pollution and Biological Purification. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Enotes: http://www.enotes.com/earth-science/water-pollution-biological-purification
Brooks, A. S. (2010). Pollution of Lakes and Streams. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Oc-Po/Pollution-of-Lakes-and-Streams.html
Laurance, J. (2006, November 8). Chemical Pollution 'harms children's brains'. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from The Independent : http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/chemical-pollution-harms-childrens-brains-423406.html
Clendenon, C. (1999). Pollution of the Ocean by Sewage, Nutrients, and Chemicals. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Water Encyclopedia: http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Pollution-of-the-Ocean-by-Sewage-Nutrients-and-Chemicals.html
Deysher, L. (2010). Thermal Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from : http://www.pollutionissues.com/Te-Un/Thermal-Pollution.html
(n.d.). Physical Water Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Multilab: http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/water-microbiology/physical-water-pollution.htm
Rautkari, M. (2010). Problems: Ocean Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from World Wildlife Fund: http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/pollution
Tsiho, S. (2007, January 27). Water Pollution in Southern Africa. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Gibbs Magazine: http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Water%20Pollution%20in%20Southern%20Africahas%20Gotten%20Bad.htm
Turpin , J. R. (2004, September). A Solution for Thermal Pollution. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Bnet: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPR/is_9_21/ai_n6209868/
