What are the major causes of water pollution? Explain.
What are the major causes of water pollution? Explain.
Water pollution arises as a result of several human activities, which leads to the presence of several undesirable substances in water.
Major water pollutants with their sources have been tabulated as follows:
PollutantSourceMicro−organismsDomestic sewageOrganic wastesDomestic sewage, decaying animals and plants,animal excreta and waste, discharge fromfood processing industriesPlant nutrientsChemical fertilizersToxic heavy metalsChemical factories and industriesSedimentsStrip mining and soil erosionPesticidesChemicals used for killingfungi, weed, insectsRadioactive substancesMining of uranium−containingmineralsHeatWater used for cooling in industries
Roles played by major pollutants are:
1. Pathogens: These water pollutants include bacteria and other organisms. They enter water from animal excreta and domestic sewage. Bacteria present in human excreta (for example, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis) cause gastrointestinal diseases.
2. Organic wastes: These are biodegradable wastes that pollute water as a result of run off. The presence of excess organic wastes in water decreases the amount of oxygen held by water. This decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen inhibits aquatic life.
3. Chemical pollutants: These are water soluble chemicals like heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, nickel, etc. The presence of these chemicals (above the tolerance limit) can damage the kidneys, central nervous system, and liver.
Water pollution arises as a result of several human activities, which leads to the presence of several undesirable substances in water.
Major water pollutants with their sources have been tabulated as follows:
PollutantSourceMicro−organismsDomestic sewageOrganic wastesDomestic sewage, decaying animals and plants,animal excreta and waste, discharge fromfood processing industriesPlant nutrientsChemical fertilizersToxic heavy metalsChemical factories and industriesSedimentsStrip mining and soil erosionPesticidesChemicals used for killingfungi, weed, insectsRadioactive substancesMining of uranium−containingmineralsHeatWater used for cooling in industries
Roles played by major pollutants are:
1. Pathogens: These water pollutants include bacteria and other organisms. They enter water from animal excreta and domestic sewage. Bacteria present in human excreta (for example, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis) cause gastrointestinal diseases.
2. Organic wastes: These are biodegradable wastes that pollute water as a result of run off. The presence of excess organic wastes in water decreases the amount of oxygen held by water. This decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen inhibits aquatic life.
3. Chemical pollutants: These are water soluble chemicals like heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, nickel, etc. The presence of these chemicals (above the tolerance limit) can damage the kidneys, central nervous system, and liver.
