Water Pollution and Waterborne Diseases

Water Pollution and Waterborne Diseases

Introduction

Water bodies can become contaminated by water pollution (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and ground water). When dangerous substances are released into water bodies either directly or indirectly without sufficient treatment, water pollution results.

Industrial Effluents

To suit the demands of society, industrial units are set up to create the needed materials (chemicals, textiles, leather goods, paper, plastic products, petrochemicals, and rubber products) on a large scale. But regrettably, all industrial facilities either dump their solid and chemical wastes into open space or into waterways. The term for this is industrial wastewater. Highly poisonous organic compounds, inorganic salts, heavy metals, mineral acids, oil and greases, and other substances are possible components of industrial effluent. Contrarily, water used as a cleaning agent in industry is released directly into the environment. Detergents and hazardous compounds of various types are present in this water.

These effluents and used water either dissolve or float suspended in water when they reach lakes, streams, rivers, or oceans. They are also placed on the bed. As a result, water becomes contaminated.

1. They reduce the water's quality.

2. They lessen the amount of dissolved oxygen, which eventually has an impact on the ecology and aquatic life.

3. They may also leak underground and have an impact on groundwater reserves. The water deposits are contaminated by them. Human consumption of this water results in terrible illnesses including cancer and gastritis. This contaminated water harms the land, plants, animals, and crops.

4. Toxic and harmful to human health include heavy metals including cadmium, lead, and mercury. High blood pressure, renal damage, and the depletion of red blood cells are all effects of acute cadmium poisoning. The kidneys, liver, brain, central nervous system, and reproductive system all become dysfunctional after acute lead poisoning. Damage to the nervous system results from mercury toxicity.

Domestic Effluents

Use of fertilisers and pesticides causes agricultural waste to end up in waterways, which causes pollution. Because of the recent increase in crop production, fertilisers are employed to make up the soil's deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients. Contrarily, pesticides are applied either directly to pests to kill them or to limit their growth. Weeds, plants, insects, fungus, viruses, and other things can be pests. All of them cause agricultural damage and spread illnesses to both people and animals.

Agricultural effluents have dual effects:

1. Chemicals from fertilisers and pesticides leak into the groundwater as a result of intensive crop production, a process known as leaching. The major reason of the high nitrate levels in ground water is irrigation run-off from agricultural areas.

2. Runoff from agricultural land that has been fertilised and treated with pesticides finds its way into ponds, streams, or rivers. Salts of nitrate and phosphate are present in this water. These elements cause algae to develop quickly and float on the water's surface. They restrict oxygen and sunshine from reaching aquatic organisms. When algae dies, microorganisms use the water's oxygen to break down the algae. As a result, the water loses oxygen. Aquatic creatures experience suffocating and eventually perish from a lack of oxygen.

Effects of Water Pollution

1. It endangers people's health. Typhoid, cholera, and diarrhea can all be brought on by drinking tainted water.

2. Both people and animals and birds suffer greatly from the usage of dirty water.

3. Algal growth is accelerated. A lack of oxygen in the water impacts aquatic life due to the death and breakdown of algae.

4. It disrupts a link in the food chain by harming aquatic organisms.

5. It degrades rivers and lakes' visual appeal.

6. It cannot be used for washing or cleaning.

Waterborne Infectious Diseases

Waterborne infectious diseases are illnesses that spread via drinking contaminated water or eating food that has been cooked with contaminated water. Toxins or microbes may be the cause of water contamination.

Arsenic, mercury, calcium, lead, and several organic compounds are examples of toxins. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and worms are examples of microorganisms.

The primary factor contributing to the fast development of waterborne infections is a lack of adequate sanitation services. Here are a few typical ailments that are mentioned:

(i) Diarrheal diseases

Gastrointestinal illnesses like cholera that might lead to serious dehydration. Viruses, bacteria, or parasites can all cause diarrhea.

(ii) Dysentery

A digestive condition known as dysentery is frequently brought on by certain bacteria or parasites. Severe diarrhea that may be followed by blood or mucus is its defining feature.

(iii) Cholera

The bacteria Vibrios Cholerae, which can be found in water tainted with human, causes the acute illness cholera. The cholera virus can be lethal and produces severe diarrhoea.

(iv) Cryptosporidium

Gastrointestinal disorder (cryptosporidiosis) caused by a protozoan waterborne microbe that includes vomiting and diarrhoea. Surface water resources such as reservoirs, lakes, and rivers are home to these microscopic pathogens.

(v) Fluorosis

Fluorosis is a condition brought on by consuming too much fluoride. Fluorosis can harm teeth and bones.

(vi) Hepatitis

Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E are five viruses that usually cause liver inflammation.

(vii) Hookworm

A parasitic worm called hookworm attacks the small intestine. Children with severe instances may have anaemia and development retardation. Larvae of hookworms enter the body through the skin, frequently through the feet. Every year, hookworms infect around one billion individuals globally and are spread by unsanitary environments.

(viii) Jaundice

An overabundance of bile pigments in the blood results in jaundice. Eyes turn yellow and liver stops working. The patient is feeble and worn out.

(ix) Typhoid

A deadly bacterial illness that is frequently spread by contaminated food or drink.

Conclusion

We spoke about the causes of water contamination in this article. And how the many ailments that affect a human body are brought on by this polluted water. The following actions can be taken to avoid waterborne illnesses. Water used for drinking has to be adequately treated and cleansed. Sewage must be properly disposed of in a sanitary manner. No garbage of any kind should be dumped or thrown directly into water sources or reservoirs. Control of hazardous substances. Although hazardous pollutants are frequently slow poisons and carcinogens, chemical pollution can nonetheless result in severe sickness. The use of pesticides and other chemicals must be strictly regulated.