Effects Of Water Pollution On Human Health
Water is one of the essential natural resources on the planet. More than 70% of the Earth's surface is covered in water. Even though there is a significant amount of water, humans can consume only about 0.3% of it. Even though a sizable portion of the Earth's surface and our bodies are water, humans continue contaminating various water sources. The leading causes of water pollution due to population growth include industrial waste, sewage, and other waste products. This article will look at the causes, effects, and various measures to prevent water contamination.
So, What is Water Pollution?
Water pollution occurs when a water body gets contaminated by chemicals or microorganisms. When a stream, river, lake, ocean, or other body of water is contaminated by hazardous substances—typically chemicals or microorganisms its quality is lowered, which is dangerous to both people and the environment. Polluted water makes water unsafe for drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. The various pollutants are chemicals, trash, bacteria, and parasites.
Factors Causing Water Pollution
Following factors influence water pollution:
Industrial waste
Many companies ignore proper waste management practices, resulting in a massive discharge of toxins from industrial operations into rivers, oceans, and seas.
Global warming
As the temperature rises, oxygen levels in the water decrease, changing its composition.
Deforestation
The origin of bacteria or other microbes that cause groundwater to become contaminated.
Pesticides
Pesticides sprayed on crops reach water systems through underground channels.
Oil
When transported, gasoline products may leak and end up in the oceans, and the consequences are catastrophic for the water and the biodiversity that lives there.
Effects Of Water Pollution On Human Health
Water pollution is a severe environmental problem that has an impact on people's health and well-being all over the world. It can result from various sources, such as agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and sewage. Here are the ten effects of water pollution on human health:
Contaminated Drinking Water
Consuming contaminated drinking water can lead to various health problems, such as gastrointestinal infections ,typhoid fever, cholera, and dysentery.
Exposure to Toxins
Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as lead, mercury, and pesticides, can cause serious health problems, including neurological damage, congenital disabilities, and Cancer .
Skin Irritation
Skin contact with contaminated water can cause irritation,itching,and rashes . In severe cases, it can lead to infections and allergic reactions.
Respiratory Problems
Respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis can be triggered by breathing in airborne contaminants from polluted water.
Reproductive Problems
Exposure to toxic substances in water can cause reproductive problems, including infertility, congenital disabilities, and low sperm count.
Cardiovascular Problems
Contaminated water can contain heavy metals that can cause cardiovascular problems , such as heart disease and stroke .
Liver and Kidney Damage
Exposure to contaminated water can cause liverand kidney damage, leading to various health problems.
Cancer
Exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants found in contaminated water has been linked to an increased risk of Cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma.
Mental Health Issues
Exposure to contaminated water can lead to mental health issues, including stress,anxiety, and depression.
Preventing Water Contamination
The best way to prevent massive water pollution is to minimize its negative impacts. We can make various minor changes to protect ourselves from a scary future where water is scarce.
Save Water
Our main priority is water conservation. We are just now becoming aware of the severe worldwide problem of water waste. Simple household adjustments you make will have a significant impact.
Better treatment of sewage
To significantly minimize water pollution, waste items should be disposed of safely before being dumped in a water body. Agriculture or other industries can reuse this waste water by reducing its toxic contents.
Use environmentally friendly products
We can reduce water pollution by using soluble products that don't end up becoming pollutants.
How To Deal With Polluted Water?
Here are several methods to clean up contaminated water and make it suitable for drinking:
Boil It
Boiling water is one of the easiest methods for cleaning it. Any potentially hazardous bacteria and viruses will be eliminated by boiling the water. To ensure that all the pollutants are eliminated, the water must boil for at least one minute.
Use a Water Filter
Another option is to use a water filter. There are several types of water filters in the market. While some are designed for comprehensive filtration, some are tailored for specific pollutants. So, read the instructions to find a water filter that will work for the specific contaminants in your water.
Distill It
Another technique to purify water is distillation. This procedure involves heating the water to a boil and gathering the steam. Since the steam will condense, the resultant clean water will not have any impurities.
Use Iodine
Water may be purified with iodine, and each gallon of water should have five drops of iodine added to disinfect it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, water pollution has severe implications for human health and well-being. It is important to take action to reduce water pollution and protect the quality of our drinking water. This can include supporting government regulations, reducing harmful chemicals, and improving wastewater treatment processes. We must take action to reduce water pollution to protect people's and the environment's health.
Clean water, Clean life, Healthy future.
