Types of Pollutants that reduce the Quality of WaterBiological pollutants consist of the bacteria and worms that are found in water sources. Most of the time these pollutants are made during the decomposition of organic matter. This material is usually supplied by runoff from barnyards and dumps. There is a new class of organic pollutants called man-made organic compounds. Of these the most well known for its damage to the environment is the pesticide DDT.
Chemical pollution is simply pollution created through substances in a chemical form. These pollutants that cause chemical pollution are those such as chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, arsenic, and mercury. Another part of chemical pollution is the pollution known as photochemical pollution. This type of pollution is air pollution that contains ozone and other chemicals made from nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons absorbing the energy from sunlight, like those found in car exhaust.
Physical pollution is damage done to an environment through the introduction of hazardous materials. The pollutants that cause this type of pollution effect the environment through thermal alteration and electromagnetic radiation. One of the most obviously hazardous forms of physical pollution is an oil spill. Probably the most well known and most publicized spill was the oil that rushed from the Exxon Valdez. The Exxon Valdez caused one of the worst environmental tragedies in the world’s history. The volume of oil that spilled in to Prince William Sound was nearly 250,000 barrels, which is equal to 10 million gallons of. The Exxon company paid over 10 billion dollars in fines and lawsuits. This is the broadest form of pollution.
Thermal pollution causes excess in the raising and lowering of the water temperature in lakes, rivers, and streams. Thermal pollution also affects the volume of dissolved oxygen in water sources by decreasing the solubility of oxygen. This pollution reduces the volume of dissolved oxygen by causing respiration in aquatic life to occur faster decreasing the oxygen level of the water. Also, much of the world’s marine and aquatic life have a range of tolerance for the temperatures that they can survive in. When thermal pollution occurs the fluctuation of the water temperature may travel outside of the organism’s range of tolerance causing them to die from what is known as thermal shock.
Classification of eachThe definition of chemical pollution is unwelcome or unnatural chemicals are released into the land, water and air. They can have minor to severe environmental impacts. Some examples of chemical pollution are poorly treated or untreated municipal and industrial wastewater, pesticide and fertilizer run-off from agriculture, spills and other ship-related releases, and/or mining. Some counter active measures include creating artificial wetlands to treat water for municipal and regional.
Thermal pollution is variation of temperature caused by humans to a water body or to the air. This can cause large-scale death to the marine animals. It depends on the kind thermal pollution, for cold-water pollution created by releases of water from reservoirs, can cause the local extinction of native fish species. If the thermal pollution increases the temperature to the water then it causes many species to either die or migrate if possible. This starts a domino effect when the prey leaves so does the predator next on the food chain and this creates a major environmental problem caused by a few degree change in water.
Physical Pollution is damage done to an environment though the introduction of hazardous materials. There are many different kinds of physical pollution
1. 6 pack plastic holder
2. Metal (Barrels, bolts, nuts,
3. Spray paint cans
4. Outdated Electronics
Each one of these examples cause their own unique problem to the environment. The plastic can choke sea turtles and cause young albatross birds to die from starvation. The metal, in the water, corrodes releasing an excess of mineral into the water
1. Zinc
2 Nickel
3 Copper
4 Chromium
5 Iron
The spray paint cans release toxic materials that poison the water and the organism that live there. Outdated Electronics may contain materials that are banned now, ie. Lead. It has about the same effect of metal but releases less minerals, but the mineral released are much more devastating.
Thermal pollution occurs when manufacturing plants and power plants have excess heat that they must release. Unfortunately, the cheapest way to do this is the take water from a body of water, run it through the plant to absorb the heat, and release it back into the body of water that it came from. This warmer water decreases the solubility of oxygen in water and makes organisms in this water breathe faster. This can cause them to die or become more prone to disease. Because of this, one way of detecting this type of pollution is by monitoring organisms in the environment. If their reparation rate increases, it is likely that they are suffering from thermal pollution. Another way of detecting this is by using a piece of technology used by the military. This is the aerial inferred technology. Surveying water with this technology, they will see different shades of black and white. These colors are formed from different chemicals and heat from factories that leak water into the bodies. This is because when polluted waters mix with other waters, they can be seen because they will differentiate in shade.
Methods of Detection; cause and affect
Methods of Detection; cause and affectOne of the main ways to detect chemical water pollution is by using African Clawed frog tadpoles. They light up because of a protein in their body and can detect many different kinds of chemicals in the water. They light up because the pollutants cause them stress.
Physical pollutants can be found in many forms including organic and inorganic materials. Usually, they can easily be seen with the naked eye. Another way to detect this kind of pollution is by using a filter that can catch macroscopic objects. Not only will this detect the objects, but it will also catch the pollution. All that is needed is the flow of water.
One way of detecting biological pollution in water is by using a type of filter. This filter detects oils, one of the main biological pollutants in water. It deals with using a specific flow rate and specific amount of water that flows through this mechanism. It separates the oil and water and makes the oil very visible. Another kind of biological pollution is bacteria. Bacteria can be detected in water by using the R2A agar method. This process includes placing water in Petri dishes and incubating them in a certain temperature, causing chlorine-tolerant bacteria to grow and make it very visible.
Repercussions of EachImproper sewage disposal affects the environments and leads to water-related illnesses. One common example of a water related disease is diarrhea, which kills 3-4 million children each year. While developed countries have sewage systems that take sewage waste quickly and hygienically away from homes, the real problem of biological water pollution occurs when this sewage leaves the sewage treatment plant and is not disposed of properly. One ineffective and unsafe way of disposing of this waste is by pumping it while it is untreated into the sea. In fact, until the early 1990s, around 5 million tons of raw sewage was dumped from barges in New York City each year. Also, some of Britain’s 300 million daily gallons of sewage is still pumped untreated into the sea. Finally, The New River that crosses from Mexico into California carries 20-25 million gallons of raw sewage each day. While sewage is a completely natural substance that breaks down in the environment and 90 percent of sewage waste is water, sewage also contains chemicals, such as pharmaceutical drugs and paper, plastic, and other wastes PEOPLE flush down the toilet. Viruses can also be carried into an environment through one’s waste. Diseases such as Hepatitis, Typhoid, and Cholera can be transmitted through raw sewage waste.
Physical water pollution occurs when harmful pollutants accumulate when sediment is deposited in a body of water. These pollutants result in increased risks of cancer, neurological and IQ impairment in people who consume contaminated fish. These chemicals can persist for many years in the sediment, and will continue to be hazardous for the environment and public health. In addition, other chemicals accumulate in the sediment when they are released into surface waters from industrial, municipal, urban and agricultural areas.
Thermal pollution can entirely change the ecosystem of an aquatic environment. This type of water pollution can lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water and increases the biological demand of aquatic organisms that produce oxygen. This heated water reduces the ability of the aquatic system to hold oxygen, and encourages the growth of warm water species.
All organisms that live in water are adapted to temperatures within a certain range and when water temperatures in an area warm and exceeds the range, species that cannot move, such as rooted plants and shellfish, will die. Species that can move, such as fish, will leave the area in search of cooler conditions, and they will die if they cannot find a cooler area or cannot leave the area quickly enough. Cold waters make better habitats for plants and animals because cold waters contain more dissolved oxygen. While these waters are sometimes replenished with new species that can tolerate the new temperature range, these new organisms are often far less desirable.
Many freshwater fish species that are valued for sport and food, some examples being trout and salmon, do poorly in warm water. While some organisms do thrive in warm water, they often cause undesirable effects. Algae and other plants grow more rapidly in warm water than in cold and as a result, die more rapidly. The bacteria that decompose their dead tissue uses up oxygen, only further reducing the viable amount of oxygen for animals. As a result of the decaying matter, these waters often look, taste, and smell unpleasant.
Proactive Measures of eachThe greatest source of pollution is organic waste. Although chemical pollutants may become diluted, they can also radically alter the ecosystem to allow the overproduction of certain forms of algae and bacteria that pollute the water with respect to its use by humans. Water purification seeks to convert this polluted water into water that is acceptable for drinking and recreation. This is attained by techniques such as filtration and exposure to chemicals that will kill the microorganisms in the water. The most commonly used method of purification is chlorination however; other options include the use of ultraviolet radiation, the use of filters with small pores, and the use of ozone. Depending on the situation and the intended use of the finished water, combinations of these techniques can be used. If the intended use of the reused water is for drinking consumption, as many bacteria are removed as possible, and bacteria of intestinal origin are eliminated. On the other hand, recreational waters are not held to as high of a standard.
Thermal pollution is defined as the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. This process usually occurs when water with an increased temperature is released into a stream, lake, or ocean from industrial processes, such as the generation of electricity. There are several proactive measures taken to prevent thermal water pollution. One method is to install a diffuser system in the water. These dilution systems are effective and are monitored by thermal infrared imaging systems. Also, cooling towers have been used on small rivers and streams that do not have the capacity to absorb the heat from the contaminated waste. These cooling towers use a repeating cascade of water inside the tower, with a large column of upwardly rising air that carries the heat to the atmosphere through evaporative cooling. These towers have been used extensively at nuclear generating stations in the United States and France. One drawback of cooling towers is the potential for local changes in meteorological conditions. This is a result of large amounts of this warm air entering the atmosphere.
Chemical water pollution is contained in run-off that enters the water system. There are several proactive measures that can be taken to help curb water pollution. In schools, students can be educated and informed how to control and contain any and all spills. Also, we must demand harsher penalties for pollution offenders from our governmental leaders. We must also make sure that governments strictly enforce laws that are already in place, regardless of politics. Citizens need to be proactive in reporting all spills.
The main form of physical water pollution is sediment. Solid fragments of inorganic or organic materials that do not dissolve in water. Sources of sediment include erosion, deforestation, and agricultural and hydroelectric projects. Sediment chokes and fills lakes, reservoirs, harbors, and other aquatic environments, reducing photosynthesis and disrupting aquatic food webs. Sediment may also carry pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances, and it can destroy the feeding and spawning grounds of fish.
Health RisksThe four types of water contaminants have different types of diseases that go with them. Biological contaminants can include bacteria, molds, mildew, and anything else that ca come from the environment. Some minor illnesses that can occur are allergic reactions to whatever is in the water, and elevated forms of asthma. Some major ailments can include the flu, measles and chicken pox. Younger children and the elderly are more prone to acquire these illnesses.
Chemical contaminants are any chemical or compound that can harm any organism in the environment; common chemical contaminants can include pesticides and heavy metals. Pesticide exposure can cause a vast array sickness. Pesticides can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin and eye irritation and headache. Some heavy metals in drinking water can include iron, aluminum, lead or mercury. When in the body, the metals become toxic and can cause irritation, headache, and nausea.
Physical contaminants are when foreign objects enter a water system. They can also be found in raw cooking ingredients. Some diseases that are caused by physical contaminants are as follows; E. coli enteroinvasive (EIEC)Listeria monocytogenes
Mycobacterium bovis. These diseases are caused by improper treatment of raw cooking ingredients that are leaked into the water supply.
The final form of contamination is thermal. This pollution can be seen when highly heated water is dumped into a waterway. Thermal pollution is much more harmful to animals then to humans. When the hot water is spilled into, for example a river, the life in the river is most likely going to go into shock and die. For people, it can also be harmful because the heat source is mostly coming from nuclear waste. The nuclear waste can cause all ailments that are associated with exposure to nuclear products.
Preventive Measures or Strategies of eachAs stated earlier, biological pollutants are mostly organic organisms that cause harm to other organisms that they are near. There are some basic preventive measures that people could do so these pollutants will no longer be harmful. Some things can be done such as maintaining a clean household and having low moisture. When low moisture is kept various types of mold will not be able to grow and the health of a community will be well. If these responsibilities are done then pollutants will not seep into water supplies.
Organizations are doing some important things to prevent chemical water pollution. For example, UNDP is doing various different tasks to eliminate chemical water pollution. Some projects UNDP is doing are introducing cleaner technologies, controlling the release of mercury by siding with an anti gold mining policy, and by engineering wetlands that treat municipal wastewater. The most basic way to prevent chemical pollution is to not dump chemicals in water in the first place. Fighting the problem at the source is the easiest way to prevent any problem not just pollution.
Physical pollution is the broadest form of pollution. In turn there should be more ways to fix the problems that this pollution presents. Probably the simplest way one can help stop this pollution is to put a filter or some form of screen in the drain for your sink. This then stops any unneeded trash or junk from leaving the house and ending up in some kind of waterway. Another way to solve this pollution problem is to stop ships and planes from dumping their scraps and wastes into our water and air. When planes dump waste at altitude some of the gas escape straight into the air and fall back into our waterways as ac id precipitation.
Thermal pollution is dramatic shift in the temperature of our waterways. Houses wasting electricity usually cause this pollution. So, obviously the simplest way to stop thermal pollution is to stop wasting electricity in your homes. When you are not in a room turn off the lights. This may seem like it does nothing but it is actually helping the environment, and saving you money as well. One way for large companies to help prevent thermal pollution is to manage the volume of heated or cooled water that is dumped into a single body of water. By limiting the volume of water, heated or cooled, that is dumped into lakes and streams we can keep the surrounding ecosystems relatively balanced.
