Describe the Main Causes and Effects Of Water Pollution (Term Paper Sample)

TITLE: EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION
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Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, ground water, oceans, seas and many others. This ecological degradation may be as a result of pollutants being discharged directly or indirectly into the water bodies, over exploitation and poor management of the ecosystem. Water covers close to 70% of the earth’s surface with most living organisms, marine life, human beings and wildlife depending on it for survival hence Water pollution may ultimately have a strong impact on everything that depends on it.
The main causes of water pollution include; sewage from domestic households and factories, industrial waste, dumping of solid waste and litter, burning of fossil fuels, oil pollution due to oil spillage among others. Water pollution has been documented to have drastic effects on both humans and animals due to the health problems, disorders and complications associated with it.
If pollution comes from a single location it is known as point source pollution while pollution from many different scattered sources is referred to as non- point source pollution. Trans-boundary pollution is defined by pollution that happens at a specific point but has effects hundreds or even thousand miles away i.e. radioactive waste may move from one country to the next and so on.
The most adverse effects of water pollution include;
Human health
In countries with poor screening and purification processes, water has been documented as the main contributor to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, tuberculosis, cancer and reproductive problems among others especially in the tropical regions. Pesticides like organophosphates and carbonates are known to affect and nervous system since they are carcinogenic. Excessive fluorides found in contaminated water can damage the spinal cord and cause yellowing of teeth and also crippling of other diseases. Water that is contaminated with nitrates can be fatal to infants as this is linked to the blue baby syndrome due to the restriction of oxygen from reaching to the brain. Pesticides contamination of the ground water has been linked to endocrine and reproductive problems. Swimming and drinking of contaminated water can cause skin diseases due to the harmful pathogens, destruction of internal organs i.e. kidneys and the heart and other serious disease outbreaks. Make sure that your want is clean and safe before you drink it.
Economic cost
From the analysis by United Nations 1969 report it is evident that some real financial implications may result from water pollution. Purification of water to make it safe for human consumption, decline of the fishing stock due to depletion of oxygen and where there is sports or water activities a lot of money many be spent to clean up the water from algae blooms and the like. A lot of revenue is lost due to the poor performance of the fishing and the recreational activities as a result of nutrient polluted water bodies.
Ecosystems
The rising temperature of water can destroy ecosystems due to the bleaching effect that results from warmer temperatures especially the coral reefs. Additionally, the warm water may lead to ecological imbalance, as indigenous species will shift to cooler places. Water pollution kills life that inhabits the water- based ecosystem, disrupting the food changing due to the non-biodegradable pesticides and chemicals. Ground water and surface water contaminated with heavy metals, persistent organic nutrients and pollutants which...