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Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans,
aquifers and groundwater), very often by human activities.
Water pollution occurs when pollutants (particles, chemicals or substances that
make water contaminated) are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies
without enough treatment to get rid of harmful compounds. Pollutants get into water
mainly by human causes or factors. Water pollution can be a Point-source, Non Pointsource, orTransboundary in nature. Water pollution is the second most imperative
environmental concern along with air pollution.
Any change or modification in the physical, chemical and biological
properties of water that will have a detrimental consequence on living things
is water pollution.
The water pollution problemWater covers over 70% of the Earths surface. It is a
very important resource for people and the environment.
Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. In
many developing countries, it is usually a leading cause of death, by people drinking
from polluted water sources.
More to this, water pollution affects not only individual living species, but also
populations and entire functioning ecosystems that exists in the waters.
Humans have now realized the importance of clean water as a foundation for life. In
recent time, more and more organizations and councils are working hard to educate,
protect, restore waterways and encourage practices that help keep waters from
contamination, and also to preserve water ecosystems from destruction.
In this lesson, we shall learn all about water pollution, the types of water pollution,
causes of water pollution, effects and some preventive practices that we can all use to
help deal with water pollution. Use the menus on your left to learn more. Enjoy.
Do you remember the BP Oil spill in 2010? Over 1,000 animals (birds, turtles,
mammals) were reported dead, including many already on the endangered species list.
Of the animals affected by the spill, only about 6% have been reported cleaned, but
many biologists and other scientists predict they will die too from the stress caused by
the pollution.
leakages
products) are
underground.
underground
begin to leak. If
the soils, and the
nearby water
bodies.
Atmospheric
Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water bodies caused by air pollution. Each
time the air is polluted with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, they mix with water
particles in the air and form a toxic substance. This falls as acid rain to the ground, and
gets washed into water bodies. The result is that, water bodies also get contaminated
and this affects animals and water organisms.
Diseases
Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get diseases such
as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is
always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment
from contaminated waters.
Destruction of ecosystems
Ecosystems (the interaction of living things in a place, depending on each other for life)
can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution. Many areas are now being
affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution is coming back to hurt humans
in many ways.
40% of Americas rivers and 46% of Americas lakes are too polluted for fishing,
swimming, or aquatic life.
1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm
water, and industrial waste are discharged into US
waters annually.
Source: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO),
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/wq/
stormwater/cso.pdf
In 2010, there was a huge oil spill in America by BP. Of the 400 miles of Louisiana
coast, approximately 125 miles have been polluted by the oil spill. Over 1,000 animals
(birds, turtles, mammals) have been reported dead, including many already on the
endangered species list. Of the animals affected by the spill that are still alive only
about 6% have been reported cleaned, but many biologists and other scientists predict
they will die too. In November 2012, BP agreed a settlement with the US government
worth $4.5bn, including a $1.26bn criminal fine.
Source: River Pollution., http://prezi.com/q1rbkwvv6xqi/river-pollution/
In April 2010, The Transocean Oil Rig exploded, killing 11 workers. The disaster also
damaged the Gulf of Mexico coast causing one of the biggest environmental disasters in
US history. In January 2013, the company paid $400m (248m) in criminal penalties
and a $1bn civil fine after pleading guilty to violating the Clean Water Act.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13123036
In developing countries, 70% of industrial wastes are dumped untreated into waters
where they pollute the usable water supply.
Source: WWAP
27% of the urban population in the developing world do not have piped water in
their homes. Source: UNESCO
A lack of safe water and sanitation in cities leads to
cholera, malariaanddiarrhoea. Source: WHO
In March 2011, a very powerful earthquake in the sea (tsunami) hit the Japan
coast. The sea level rose and water came into the land, damaging 4 of the 6 reactors in
the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
World Health Organisation (WHO) experts confirm that there is slight increased risk of
some cancer types for some people who were exposed to the radiation. These included
people living in that area and some workers at the plant. Below is a peice of the
information given on BBC website:
"The biggest lifetime risks were seen in those exposed as infants, compared with children or adults.
For girls exposed to radiation from the accident as infants, the report found a 4% increase above the
lifetime expected risk of solid tumours and a 6% increase above that expected for breast cancer.
Boys exposed as infants are expected to have a 7% increased risk of leukaemia above that expected
in the normal population.
The biggest risk was seen in thyroid cancer, which for infant girls could be up to 70% higher than
expected over their lifetime."
=== kasi ang mga tao ay nag tatapon ng mga basura sa ilog ===
sanhi at bunga-
Ilan sa sanhi nito ay maaring apoy, pagluluto o kaya naman ay sulpur dioxide na ating nilalabas sa
hangin. Kabilang din ang mga kemikal na nagdudulot ng masasamang epekto sa atmospera sa mga
sanhi ng polusyon. Ilang halimbawa nito ay SO2, NO2, SPM, lead at RPM.
Maraming nagiging bunga ang polusyon sa hangin. Isa rito ay ang ulang asido. Nangyayari ito kung may
mga mapaminsalang kemikal tulad ng SO2 at NO ay napupunta sa ating atmospera at humahalo sa tubig
ulan sa mga ulap. Matapos nito, mahuhulog ito sa lupa sa pormang tubig ulan at kung masydong mababa
ang ph nito, ito ay nagiging ulang asido. Ang ulang asido ay maaring maging sanhi ng pagdumi ng mga
lupa na maaring taniman, pagkasira ng ilang konkreto o semento sa mga gusali o kaya naman ay
pagkasira ng balanse ng buhay sa mga dagat, ilog, lawa, batis at iba pang malalaking katawan ng tubig.
Ang iba pang sanhi ng polusyon ay ang Oil Spill na aksidenteng tumatagas o natatapon sa mga
naaksidenteng mga barko na may dala ng mga krudo o langis. Ang paggamit ng dinamita sa pangingisda
dahil maraming nasisira sa ilalim ng dagat tulad ng mga corals at mga lamang dagat.
epakto sa mga tao-Ilang pang bunga o epekto ng polusyon sa tubig ay ang pagkasira ng ilang sisterma
ng irigasyon. Maari din kasing madumihan ang mga tubig na nagsisilbing tubig ulan sa mga bukid at kung
nangyari ito, maapektuhan ang produksyong pangagrikultura. Bukod pa doon, maari ding magbunga ang
polusyon sa tubig ng mga sakit. Ilan dito ay kanser lalo na kung masyado ng kontaminado ang iyon tubig
at mga sakit na may kinalaman sa genetika o sa ibang salita, iyong mga namamanang sakit.
paraan kung paano nagsimula ang polusyonmaiiwasan-Pangalawa, masasabi ko rin na mas mainam na pagkatapos nating bigyan ng disiplina ang
ating mga sarili ay magsimula ng gumawa ng hakbang ang mga gobyerno. Unang una, dapat ay bigyan
ng pansin ng gobyerno ang mga batas na naipatupad na at siguraduhing masusunod ito. Isang
hailmbawa nito ay ang Clean Air Act na hindi naman masyadong nasusunod ng ibang mamamayan.
Pangalawa, ipalaganap nila ang paglilinis at pagpapaayos sa kapaligiran. Dapat lamang na ipakita ng
Gobyerno na ito rin ay may malasakit sa kalikasan para naman magaya ito ng mga mamamayan. At
panghuli, dapat ay lagyan ng ngipin ang batas. Ngayon na siguro ang panahon upang ipatupad na ang
mas mabibigat na parusa para lamang sa mga taong sumisira sa kapaligiran. Ito ay mainam para
magkaroon ng disiplina ang mga mamamayan at matakot sinoman na may lakas ng loob na sirain ang
kalikasan.