Post 1: Introduction To Water Contaminants

In this blog, we will be discussing different areas of water pollution, what it means, how it is detected, and the possible health risk. We will go into detail on the different classifications of water pollution, as well as common causes and effects. This post discusses water pollution and what it does, as well as suggesting methods of prevention and the environmental factors contributing to water pollution.


Categories of Water Pollution

Water pollution is classified by the method in which the pollutants reach the water. The two categories of pollution in water are point source and non point source pollutions. Point source pollution stems from one single source, it may be an event such as an oil spill or toxic waste dump. Point source pollution can be traced back to one event of contamination, so it is easier to identify and control. On the other hand, non point source pollution comes from many sources over extended periods of time. Some examples of non point source pollutions are car exhaust, which gradually acidifies lakes and rivers; and garbage such as plastics, which gradually accumulate in the water from many different dumps.


Common Methods of Detection

When attempting to detect pollution in a certain area or body of water, the first and foremost indicator of any contaminants that may be present is the appearance of the water. Some
common pollutants in water, such as oil spills or plastic waste, can be easily seen from the surface, and thus very easily detected. Technically speaking, there are two major types of indicators that tell how much pollution there is in a specific area. The first are chemical indicators. To find these, take a water sample and measure the amount of contaminants or chemicals in a certain volume of water. The second are Biological indicators. To find these, one can examine the biodiversity of the organisms living in and around the water. If there is an unusually low number of healthy species living in the area, then the water probably has some type of pollution.

Pollutants

Water pollution, similar to any other widespread issues, has not one but many different causes. Pollutants can be anything from animal waste to pesticides. Even the drugs we put into our bodies end up polluting the water around us. Common affects of water pollution can range from acid precipitation, caused by the exhaust from our cars and factories, to oxygen dead zones such as algal blooms as shown below, caused by pesticides such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The fact is pollution in our waters is so widespread that the number of causes and effects are still unknown.





Repercussions

As earlier states, some of the most common effects of point and non-point source pollutions are acidity in water and oxygen dead zones caused by algal blooms. These effects have many negative repercussions on the enviornment around the water, mainly towards the organisms living in the water, and the people who depend on the water for drinking and bathing. Overly acidic water can cause deformities among fish and even dead zones similar to that of the overly salty water of the Dead Sea. Oxygen dead zones cannot support life whatsoever, so the fish and underwater plants that depend on the area to live are forced to either move or die. FIsh, such as the striped bass, who inhabit the deep water during summer months , are forced to migrate to shallower, warmer water because of oxygen dead sones in the deep caused by blooming red algae. This causes diseases among the stripe bass populations inn the area and could have serious repercussions towards the species in the future.

Proactive measures

Once there is pollution in the water there is little we as humans can do other than to prevent any more pollutants from getting there. Humans can clean up the beaches to prevent trash form being washed into the ocean, but the most effective way to clean up the waterways is to prevent further pollution. Measures that can be taken once there is known pollution in the water are to monitor very closely what we flush down the toilet, put in the ground, and dump into open waterways. Over time, levels of pollutants in water will go down as long as there is not continued pollution.

Preventive Strategies

If pollution is detected in a specific body of water, there are many different measures that can be taken to prevent further pollution and help clean up the water. Some of the most popular measures taken by the government to prevent water pollution are strict laws against processes that lead to water pollution such as dumping. Also, individuals can be fined for littering, which can reduce the amount of garbage in the water. In addition, governmental and private recycling facilities can be set up to reduce the amount of plastic found in the waterways. Finally, one of the best ways to prevent water pollution is to educate the public on the dire situation surrounding our water and get them to take part in cleaning up.






Health Risks

The health risks of a polluted water source are abundant for the people depending on it for drinking, washing, and other daily uses. Consuming water that is polluted with lead and other dangerous metals can result in cancer. Pesticides in our drinking water can cause infertility and birth defects. Animal waste can cause infections and bacterial diseases. Various types of metal in the water can cause things such as kidney damage, organ failure, tooth decay, and skin irritation. Clean water is one of the most important components for all human life, and with pollution on the rise, the health problems that are accompanying it are also increasing.




Enviornmental Factors

Areas with droughts are prone to drinking water with pollutants in it because of the extreme scarcity of this resource, such as certain parts of Africa. Since water in rivers aren't flowing, this causes them to become stagnant, which causes harmful bacteria, parasites, and microbes to thrive. People are forced to drink this, sometimes without filtration if in a rural area with little to no technology.

Cultural Beliefs

Different countries around the world are aware of water pollution to an extent. Some countries like the United States are more infromed about water pollution and its affects however countries like India differ. It is a Hindu tradition to bathe in the Ghanges river for purification, however, due to India's poor enviornmental laws and the waste being washed off in the river, those who bathe and drink from it can get sick from waterbourne diseases. Some cultures dont stress the importance of water and provide a proper education.

Socioeconomic Considerations

Most of China's population works in factories because of the world's demand of manufactured goods from China. Because of the sheer amount of production going on, waterways get polluted, intentionally or not. However, this won't be able to changeg soon, considering the huge amount of people that make their living from these places. Rural places without filtration also tend to have water with more pollutants, because they don't have the technology. Many countries don't have enough money to clense their water, therefore, they are compelled to bathe, drink, wash clothes, and perform daily activities all in the same body of water.

Conclusion

Environmental factors related to the health of a society are plentiful. Ecosystems must remain healthy and stable in order to support any life, including humans. Only now are humans realizing just how large our impact on the Earth is. Many impoverished and undeveloped countries don’t understand the need to save the planet. Even developed countries, like the United States and the UK, are doing little to prevent the demise of our planet. Many people who have been rejecting the fact that our planet is in trouble are only now beginning to open their eyes to the problems we will face in the future because of the choices we make today. In order for our society to remain stable our planet must remain healthy. There will be no economy or society if we continue to contaminate Earth.







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Woodford, C. 2006. Water Pollution: An Introduction. Explain that Stuff. Retrieved Mar. 1, 2010 from http://www.explainthatstuff.com/waterpollution.html