Water Pollution: A Global Threat

Scientists believe that over the next century water will be the largest problem for the human race. A problem currently exists in finding fresh, quality drinking water. Water pollutants are categorized into two groups: point source and non-point source. Pollutants cause algal blooms, chemical contamination, and increase health risks. Analytical equipment helps to monitor pollutants along with pH meters and turbidometers. Prevention tactics include watershed monitoring. An example of a socioeconomic factor is that it requires more money from the government to sustain clean, drinkable water throughout the country.

Classifications
Two different classifications of water pollutants exist: point source and non-point source. Point source pollutants are put into the water directly, such as an oil spill or disposing of a plastic bottle directly into a water body. This type of pollution can include oil derivatives like gas, plastics, and additives and chemical dumping (nuclear waste dumping and other industrial processes). Non-point pollutants are emitted indirectly. Such forms include drugs passed from one’s urine into a sewage system that ends up in a water body or as simple as fertilizer off of the lawn enters a body of water as run off. More non-point pollution sources exist than point source pollution sources. Sewage, air pollution (acid rain, carbon dioxide, nitric oxides, ammonia, and mercury), personal care products (pharmaceuticals, detergents, and cleaning substances), and sediment (dirt, mining byproducts, fertilizers, and pesticides) are all non-point pollution sources. Most non-point pollution sources come from run-off. When run-off occurs, the rain mixed with chemicals falls, and when returning back to a body of water, brings those pollutants into that body of water with them.

Negative Environmental Effects
There are many negative effects of water pollution. Nutrient pollution is one of these effects. This includes red tides, which are caused by an overabundance of toxic algae. These toxins pass through the food chains, kill off life in the contaminated water and can be passed on to humans causing harm. Chemical contamination is another effect caused by chemical spills and has an immediate effect on marine life. Marine debris is the trash in oceans, which harms marine life.

Detection
Three commonly known ways of detecting these effects are pH meters, turbidometers, and dissolved oxygen tests. To detect pollution, scientists in laboratories will sample small amounts of water and look for contaminants. pH meters measure how acidic or basic water is, more scientifically as the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxide ions in the water. Turbidometers measure the presence of suspended solids in water, and then the samples are taken to laboratories which can detect the presence of pollutants up to parts per trillion. Dissolved oxygen tests measure the presence of dissolved oxygen in a body of water. Water with no oxygen is the signal of severe pollution.

Health Risks
Neglecting to accurately test potential drinking water can create health risks in humans. Health is a major concern when regarding consumption. Risks can be minor or even fatal. Two categories of water related health risks are waterborne infectious diseases and threats from chemically contaminated water. Waterborne infectious diseases can include parasites, intestinal and external, hookworms, diarrheal diseases- which were the leading cause of death during the civil war and currently account for a large death toll in developing countries, and other microorganisms. Chemically contaminated water, such as mercury and DDT, damage the nervous system, the liver, DNA, the reproductive system, endocrine system, and can cause cancer. Mercury in particular can cause neurological problems, delayed mental development, slower reflexes, and Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. The measure to take if you realize that you have a chemical contaminants in your body, in particular mercury, is taking MSM tablets, which are a form of mercury that can help flush out most of the toxins within you.

Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics plays into water pollution and is demonstrated by separating the industrial developed countries and the developing countries. The developing countries lack proper infrastructure to control sewage and other water pollutants, which increases the spread of infectious diseases and chemicals. In the industrially developed countries, the people don’t have to worry as much about waterborne disease and chemically contaminated water. In fact, malaria and cholera like diseases have primarily been wiped out from the United States, which is an industrial developed country.

Cultural Beliefs
Cultural beliefs are also affected by water. For example, Muslims bathe and wash before their daily prayers. The water must be clean so they can purify themselves properly. The Hindus bathe in river water to cleanse them of their sins. Christians use water for Baptism to cleanse the members of Original Sin.

Currently, water pollution is the greatest arising threat in the world. Keeping our Earth clean should be a major concern for all people. Start by doing simple things in your own house like watching what you put down your sink, use environmentally friendly toiletries, fertilizers and pesticides, don’t overuse your resources, and don’t litter. Help save our people, our water, and our earth.

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