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Introduction
Water pollution ( aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water
sources by substances which make the water unusable for
drinking,cooking, and many other activities.Pollutants include
chemicals,trash,bacteria amd parasites. Water bodies include lakes,
rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater.Water pollution can
usually be attributed to one of four sources: sewage, industry,
agriculture, and urban runoff including stormwater. For example,
releasing inadequately treated wastewater into natural waters can lead to
degradation of these aquatic ecosystems. Water pollution can also lead
to water-borne diseases for people using polluted water for drinking,
bathing, washing or irrigation. Supplying clean drinking water is an
important ecosystem service provided by some freshwater systems, but
approximately 785 million people in the world do not have access to
cleandrinking water because of pollution.
Pollution may take the form of toxic substances (e.g., oil, metals,
plastics, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, industrial waste
products), stressful conditions (e.g., changes of pH, hypoxia or
anoxia, stressful temperatures, excessive turbidity, unpleasant
taste or odor, andchanges of salinity), or pathogenic organisms.
Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Heat
can also be a pollutant,and this is called thermal pollution. A common
cause of thermal pollution isthe use of water as a coolant by power
plants and industrial manufacturers.
Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and
management plans as well as legislation. Technology solutions can
includeimproving sanitation, sewage treatment, industrial wastewater
treatment, agricultural wastewater treatment, erosion control, sediment
control and
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control of urban runoff (including stormwater management).

Effectivecontrol of urban runoff includes reducing speed and
quantity of flow.

Definition
A practical definition of water pollution is: "Water pollution is the
addition ofsubstances or energy forms that directly or indirectly alter
the nature of the water body in such a manner that negatively affects
its legitimate uses". Therefore, pollution is associated with concepts
attributed to humans, namely the negative alterations and the uses of the
water body.Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired
by anthropogenic
contaminants. Due to these
contaminants it either does
not support a human use,
such
as drinking water, or
undergoes a marked shift in
its ability to support itsbiotic
communities, such as fish.

How It Occurs: -
1. Biodegradable waste consists mainly of human and animal waste.
When biodegradable waste enters a water supply, the waste provides
an energy source (organic carbon) for bacteria. Organic carbon is
converted to carbon dioxide and water, which can cause atmospheric
pollution and acid rain; this form of pollution is far more widespread
and problematic than other forms of pollutants, such as radioactive
waste. If there is a large supply of organic matter in the water,
oxygen-consuming (aerobic) bacteria multiply quickly, consume all
available oxygen, and kill all aquatic life.
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2. Plant nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrates, enter the water through
sewage, and livestock and fertilizer runoff. Phosphates and nitrates are
also found in industrial wastes. Though these chemicals are natural, 80
percent of nitrates and 75 percent of phosphates in water are human-
added. When there is too much nitrogen or phosphorus in a water supply
(0.3 parts per million for nitrogen and 0.01 parts per million for
phosphorus), algae begin to develop. When algae blooms, the water can
turn green and cloudy, feel slimy, and smell bad. Weeds start to grow and
bacteria spread. Decomposing plants use up the oxygen in the water,
disrupting the aquatic life, reducing biodiversity, and even killing aquatic
life. This process, called eutrophication, is a natural process, but generally
occurs over thousands of years. Eutrophication allows a lake to age and
become more nutrient-rich; without nutrient pollution, this may take
10,000 years, but pollution can make the process occur 100 to 1,000 times
faster.

3. Heat can be a source of pollution in water. As the water temperature

increases, the amount of dissolved oxygen decreases. Thermal pollution
can be natural, in the case of hot springs and shallow ponds in the
summertime, or human-made, through the discharge of water that has
been used to cool power plants or other industrial equipment. Fish and
plants require certain temperatures and oxygen levels to survive, so
thermal pollution often reduces the aquatic life diversity in the water.

4. Sediment is one of the most common sources of water pollution.

Sediment consists of mineral or organic solid matter that is washed or
blown from land into water sources. Sediment pollution is difficult to
identify, because it comes from non-point sources, such as construction,
agricultural and livestock operations, logging, flooding, and city runoff.
Each year, water sources in the United States are polluted by over one
billion tonnes of sediment! Sediment can cause large problems, as it can
clog municipal water systems, smother aquatic life, and cause water to
become increasingly turbid. And, turbid water can cause thermal pollution,
because cloudy water absorbs more solar radiation.

5. Hazardous and toxic chemicals are usually human-made materials that

are not used or disposed of properly. Point sources of chemical pollution
include industrial discharges and oil spills. The Oil Spills fact sheet includes
more detailed information about oil spills, as well as other sources of oil
pollution. Non-point sources of chemical pollution include runoff from
paved roads and pesticide runoff. Many people think industries produce
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the greatest amount of chemical pollution. But domestic and personal use
of chemicals can significantly contribute to chemical pollution. Household
cleaners, dyes, paints and solvents are also toxic, and can accumulate when
poured down drains or flushed down the toilet. In fact, one drop of used
motor oil can pollute 25 litres of water! And, people who use pesticides on
their gardens and lawns tend to use ten times more pesticide per acre than
a farmer would!

Sources OF Water Pollution: -

1) Waste Water & Sewage: -
Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by
anthíopogenic influence and comprises liquid waste discharged by
domestic residences, commeícial properties, industry, and/or agriculture
and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and
concentrations .

Sewage is the part of wastewater that is contaminated with fecesor

urine, but is often used to mean any wastewater. When this is done
sewage refers to wastewater from sources including domestic,
municipal, or industrial liquid waste products disposed of, usually via a
pipe or sewer system .Untreated sewage may contain water; nutrients
(nitrogen and phosphorus); solids (including organic matter); pathogens
(including bacteria, viruses and protozoa); helminthes (intestinal woíms
and woím-like parasites) ; oils and greases; runoff from streets, parking
lots androofs; heavy metals (including mercury, cadmium, lead,
chromium, copper) and many toxic chemicals including PCBs, PAHs,
dioxins, furans, pesticides, phenols and chlorinated organics.

Sanitation is the hygienic means of preventing human contactfrom the

hazards of wastes to promote health. Examples of
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waste that can cause health problems are feces, solid wastes, domestic
wastewater and industrial wastes. Hygienic means of prevention can be
by using septic tanks sewage systems or simply by personal hygiene
practices like hand washing with soapľhe Joint Monitoring Program
for water and sanitation of WHO and UNICEF defines improved
sanitation as; connection to a public sewer; connection to a septic
system; pour-flush latrine; simple pit latrine; ventilated improved pit
latrine. Not improved sanitation is; public oí shared latrine; open pit
latrine; bucket .

2) Industrial Waste Water: -

Industrial wastewater treatment describes the processes used
for treating wastewater that is produced by industries as an undesirable
by-product. After treatment, the treated industrial wastewater maybe
reused or released to a sanitary sewer or to a surface water in the
environment. Some industrial facilities generate wastewater that can be
treated in sewage treatment plants. Most industrial processes, such
as petroleum refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants have their
ownspecialized facilities to treat their wastewaters so that the pollutant
concentrations in the treated wastewater comply with the regulations
regarding disposal of wastewaters into sewers or into rivers, lakes
or oceans. This applies to industries that generate wastewater with high
concentrations of organic matter (e.g. oil and grease), toxic pollutants
(e.g.heavy metals, volatile organic compounds) or nutrients such as
ammonia.

Some industries install a pre-treatment system to remove some

pollutants(e.g., toxic compounds), and then discharge the partially
treated wastewater to the municipal sewer system.
Most industries produce some wastewater. Recent trends have been to
minimize such production or to recycle treated wastewater within the
production process. Some industries have been successful at
redesigning their manufacturing processes to reduce or eliminate
pollutants. Sourcesof industrial wastewater include battery
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manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, electric power plants, food

industry, iron and steel industry,metal working, mines and quarries,
nuclear industry, oil and gas extraction, petroleum refining and
petrochemicals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, pulp and paper
industry, smelters, textile mills, industrial oil contamination, water
treatment and wood preserving. Treatment processesinclude brine
treatment, solids removal (e.g. chemical precipitation, filtration), oils
and grease removal, removal of biodegradable organics, removal of
other organics, removal of acids and alkalis, and removal of toxic
materials

3) Agricultural Waste Water: -

Agricultural wastewater treatment is a farm management
agenda forcontrolling pollution from confined animal
operations and from surface runoff that may be contaminated by
chemicals in fertilizer, pesticides, animal slurry, crop residues
or irrigation water. Agricultural wastewater treatment is
required for continuous confined animal operations like milk
and egg production. It may be performed in plants using
mechanized treatment units similar to those used for industrial
wastewater. Where land is available for ponds, settling
basins and facultative lagoons may have lower operational costs for
seasonal use conditions from breeding or harvest cycles.
Animal slurries are usually treated by containment in
anaerobiclagoons before disposal by spray or trickle
application to grassland. Constructed wetlands are
sometimes used to facilitate treatment of animal wastes.
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Nonpoint source pollution includes sediment runoff, nutrient runoff

and pesticides. Point source pollution includes animal wastes, silage
liquor,milking parlour (dairy farming) wastes, slaughtering waste,
vegetable washing water and firewater. Many farms generate
nonpoint source pollution from surface runoff which is not controlled
through a treatmentplant.
Farmers can install erosion controls to reduce runoff flows and retain
soilon their fields. Common techniques include contour plowing,
crop mulching, crop rotation, planting perennial crops and installing
riparianbuffers. Farmers can also develop and implement nutrient
management plans to reduce excess application of nutrients and reduce
the potential for nutrient pollution. To minimize pesticide impacts,
farmers may use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques
(which can include biological pest control) to maintain control over
pests, reducereliance on chemical pesticides, and protect water quality.

4) Thermal Power Plant Waste Water & Accident Of

NuclearPlant: -
A nuclear power plant (sometimes abbreviated as NPP) is a thermal
power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical
of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a
steamturbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. As of
2022,
the International Atomic Energy Agency reported there were 439
nuclearpower reactors in operation in 32 countries around the world.
Nuclear plants are very often used for base load since their operations,
maintenance, and fuel costs are at the lower end of the spectrum of
costs. However, building a nuclear power plant often spans five to ten
years, which can accrue to significant financial costs, depending on how
the initial investments are financed.
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Nuclear power plants have a carbon footprint comparable to that

of renewable energy such as solar farms and wind farms, and much lower
than fossil fuels such as natural gas and brown coal. Despite some
spectacular catastrophes, nuclear power plants are among the safest mode
of electricity generation, comparable to solar and wind power plants.

Leakage in Pipelines: -.
Water distribution is generally installed through underground pipes.
Monitoring the underground water pipelines is more difficult than
monitoring the water pipelines located on the ground
inopen space. This situation will cause a permanent
loss if there is a disturbance in the pipeline such as
leakage. pipe's age, Leaks in pipes can be caused by
several factors.
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Types Of Water Pollution

Surface Water Pollution: -
Freshwater is a scarce and valuable resource—one that can easily be
contaminated. Once contaminated to the extent it can be considered
“polluted,” freshwater quality is difficult and expensive to restore. Thus
the study of surface water pollution has focused primarily on streams
and lakes, and most of the scientific tools developed by such regulatory
agencies as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been
applied to protecting water quality in this segment of earth’s surface
waters. The water stored in reservoirs and lakes, together with the water
that flows perennially in streams, is subject to heavy stress, and because
it is used forwater supplies, agriculture, industry, and recreation, this
water can easily be contaminated. Issues related to surface water
pollution are discussed in this chapter.

River Water Pollution: -

Eight percentage of river pollution (also called marine
pollution) originates on land—whether along the coast or far
inland. Contaminants such as chemicals, nutrients, and heavy
metals are carried from farms, factories, and cities by streams
and rivers into our bays and estuaries; from there they travel out
to sea.
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Meanwhile, marine debris—particularly plastic—is blown in by the

wind or washed in via storm drains and sewers. Our seas are also
sometimes spoiled by oil spills and leaks—big and small—and are
consistently soaking up carbon pollution from the air. The ocean absorbs
as much as a quarter of man-made carbon emissions.

Oil Spillage: -
Big spills may dominate headlines, but consumers account for the
vast majority of oil pollution in our seas, including oil and gasoline
that drips from millions of cars and trucks every day. Moreover,
nearly half of
the estimated 1 million tons of oil
that makes its way into marine
environments each year comes not
from tanker spills but from land-
based sources such as factories,
farms, and cities. At sea, tanker
spills account for about 10 percent
of the oil in waters around the world,
while regular operations of the shipping
industry—through both legal and illegal
discharges—contribute about one-third.
Oil is also naturally released from
under the ocean floor through fractures
known as seeps.
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Ground Water Pollution: -

Groundwater pollution (also called groundwater contamination)
occurs when pollutants are released to the ground and make their way
into groundwater. This type of water pollution can also occur naturally due
to the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent, contaminant, or
impurity in the groundwater, in which case it is more likely referred to
as contamination rather than pollution. Groundwater pollution can occur
from on-site sanitation systems, landfill leachate, effluent from wastewater
treatment plants, leaking sewers, petrol filling station, hydraulic fracturing
(fracking) or from over application of fertilizers in agriculture. Pollution
(or contamination) can also occur from naturally occurring contaminants,
such as arsenic or fluoride. Using polluted groundwater causes hazards
to public health through poisoning or the spread of disease (water-borne
diseases).
The pollutant often creates a contaminant plume within an aquifer.
Movement of water and dispersion within the aquifer spreads the pollutant
over a wider area. Its advancing boundary, often called a plume edge, can
intersect
with groundwater
wells and surface water,
such as seeps and springs,
making the water supplies
unsafe for humans and
wildlife. The movement
of the plume, called a
plume front, may be
analyzed through
a hydrological transport
model or groundwater model. Analysis of groundwater pollution may
focus on soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology,
and the nature of the contaminants. Different mechanisms have influence
on the transport of pollutants,
e.g. diffusion, adsorption, precipitation, decay, in the groundwater.
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Biomagnification: -
Biomagnification (or bioaccumulation) refers to the ability of living
organisms to accumulate certain chemicals to a concentration larger than that
occurring in their inorganic, non-living environment, or in the case of animals, in
the food that they eat. Organisms accumulate any chemical needed for their
nutrition. The major focus of biomagnification, however, isthe accumulation of
certain non-essential chemicals, especially certain chlorinated hydrocarbons that
are persistent in the environment. These compounds are insoluble in water, but
highly soluble in fats. Because almost all fats within ecosystems occur in the
living bodies of organisms, chlorinated hydrocarbons such as 4,4’-(2, 2, 2-
trichloroethane-1, 1-diyl)- bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) and polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) tend to selectively accumulate in organisms. This can lead to
ecotoxicological problems, especially for top predators at the summit of ecological
food webs, who ingest the toxic prey.

Diseases Caused by Water Pollution: -

Cholera: -
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by eating or drinking
food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Cases in
Australia are typically seen only in
travellers arriving from countries
where the disease is still common,
such as Africa, Central Europe, Latin
America and Asia
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Signs and Symptoms:

Most people infected with V. cholerae will NOT become unwell. Of

those who do develop symptoms, most will have mild or moderate
diarrhoea with little fever. However,some people will develop profuse
watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration, which can lead to death within
hours if not treated.

Treatment:

Dehydration due to cholera can be easily treated in most cases with oral
rehydrationsolution, a mixture of sugar and salts in water. Intravenous
fluids, and sometimes antibiotics, may be required for people with severe
disease.

Diorreah: -
Diarrhea — loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel
movements —is a common problem. It may be present alone or be
associated with other symptoms, such another problem — such as
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or a more serious disorder,
including persistent infection, celiac disease or inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD).as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or
weight loss.
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Dysentry: -
Dysentery is our body’s response to unwanted foreign bodies in
the digestive system. The possible causes of dysentery include a
parasitic amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica or a number of
bacteria, including shigella and salmonella. Infection of E.
histolytica is called amoebiasis and any resultant bloody diarrhoea
is called amoebic dysentery. Infections of shigella bacteria can
lead to bacillary dysentery and they are called shigellosis which
contributes a major part to the list of dysentery causes.
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Cause:-
Normally, it is a condition that is more widespread in tropical areas where
the warm climate is favourable for the production of bacteria. This does not
mean that it will not occur elsewhere. However, the combination of poor
civic hygiene and tropical weather is a combination that will support the circle
of dysentery causes.
It is therefore of the utmost importance to consume food that is properly
cleaned before cooking and then thoroughly cooked. Water should also be
boiled thoroughly and/or passed through a water decontamination system
before being consumed as it ranks on top of the list of dysentery causes.

Hepatitis A: -
In 1982, HAV was classified as an enterovirus belonging to
the Picornaviridae family. Subsequent determination of the sequence of HAV
nucleotides and amino acids led to the creation of a new genus,Hepatovirus.
HAV has an icosahedral shape, measures 27 to 28 nm in diameter, is able to
survive in acidic environments but is inactivated when heated to 85°C for 1
minute. HAV is capable of surviving in sea water (4% survival rate), dried feces
at room temperature for 4 weeks (17% survival), and live oysters for 5 days
(12% survival). HAV has only 1
known serotype and no antigenic cross-reactivity with the hepatitis B, C, D, or E
virus or human pegivirus ). The HAV genome consists of a positive- sense RNA
that is 7.48 kb long, single-stranded, and linear
The onset of HAV replication in cell culture systems takes from weeks to months.
Primate cells, including African green monkey kidney cells, primary human
fibroblasts, human diploid cells, and fetal rhesus kidney cells, are favored for
cultivation of HAV in vitro. Two conditions control the outcome of HAV
replication in cell culture. The first is the genetic makeup of the virus; HAV
strains mutate in distinct regions of the viral genome as they become adapted to
cell culture. The second is the metabolic activity of the host cell at the time of
infection. Cells in culture, although infected simultaneously, initiate HAV
replication in an asynchronous manner. This asynchronicity may be caused by
differences in the metabolic activity of individual cells, but definitive evidence of
cell-cycle dependence of HAV replication is lacking.
An initial step in the life cycle of a virus is its attachment to a cell surface
receptor. The location and function of these receptors determine
tissue tropism. Little is known about the mechanism of entry of HAV into cells.
 P a g e | 16

Some work has suggested that HAV could infect cells by a surrogate-receptor
binding mechanism (involving a nonspecified serum protein). HAV infectivity in
tissue culture has been shown to require calcium and to be inhibited by the
treatment of the cells with trypsin, phospholipases, and β-galactosidase

Typhoid: -
Typhoid fever remains a major public health problem in India. Recently,
the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in India program completed a multisite
surveillance study. However, data on subnational variation in typhoid
fever are needed to guide the introduction of the new typhoid conjugate
vaccine in India. We estimated a national incidence of typhoid fever in
India of 360 cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 297–494) per 100 000
person-years, with an annual estimate of 4.5 million cases (95% CI, 3.7–
6.1 million) and 8930 deaths (95% CI, 7360–12 260), assuming a 0.2%
case-fatality rate. We found substantial geographic variation of typhoid
incidence across the country, with higher incidence in southwestern states
and urban centers in the north.
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Impact OF Water Pollution On Human Health

Human contact with polluted water through drinking, skin contact or

even consumption of food that is grown or prepared using polluted
water poses a significant danger to health. Pollutants in water may
directly cause disease or act as poisons. Hazardous chemicals from
farms, industries, and homes that pollute water sources can cause acute
toxicity and immediate death, or chronic toxicity complicated by
neurological problems and cancers. Infectious pathogens contaminating
water through sewage can lead to gastrointestinal diseases, which are a
significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
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What Are the Pollutants in Water That Affect

Human Health?
The pollutants in water that affect human health include the
drinking watercontaminants items in this list.

• Arsenic
• Copper
• Lead
• Chromium
• Perchlorate
• Fossil fuels such as
gasoline
• Microplastics
• Bioconta
minants including
bacteria, viruses, and
parasites
• Nitrate
sand nitrites
• Pesticides
• Disinfecti
on byproducts such
as chloroform
• Radioactive
materials

These pollutants are hazards because of their particularly negative

effecton human health.

• Arsenic: As many as 140 million people worldwide are

exposedto arsenic levels in drinking water that are higher
than the WorldHealth Organization's (WHO) provisional
guideline of 10 μg/L. Most of this arsenic occurs naturally,
but there is industrial and agricultural contamination. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer has implicated
arsenic as a cause of lung,
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bladder, skin, and kidney cancer. The National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences in the United States has
linked arsenic exposure to chronic cough, diminished lung
function, diabetes, developmental effects in children,
decreased cognitivefunctioning, ischemic heart disease, and
chronic renal disease.

Copper: Copper contamination of drinking water occurs as a result

ofleaching from old copper pipes. Copper pipes were first
introduced inthe 1930s and gained widespread use throughout the
20th century, with almost all homes being equipped with copper
plumbing. High levels of exposure can produce symptoms of
gastrointestinal distressincluding nausea, vomiting, and abdominal
pain. Modern copper piping is generally safe and does not release
dangerous materials into water.

Lead: Lead is sometimes found in old pipes which can give it a direct route
into the water supply (as occurred in Flint, Michigan and ancientRome).
Ingestion of water polluted with lead can cause central nervous system
health problems such as headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness, delirium, or
seizures. Other symptoms of lead exposure can include kidney disease,
anemia, or severe abdominal pain (lead colic). The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that globally over 240 million people are
exposed to lead-contaminated water. They estimate that acute and chronic
lead exposure accounts for over 850 thousand deaths per year.

Chromium: Water pollution by chromium can occur through industrial

contamination or from chromium that is naturally occurring and leaches
from topsoil or rocks. Hexavalent chromium(Cr[VI]) is manmade and is
the type that is particularly toxic to humans. It is used in chrome plating,
dye production, textile production, leather tanning, Portland cement,
stainless steel production, welding, and wood treatment.
particles per year, with seafood consumption leading to particularly
high levels. Unfortunately, not much is known about the impact of
microplastics on human health. Potential health risks include altered
metabolism, immune disruption, accumulation in distant organs,
neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity.
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Chromium polluted water can cause rashes as pictured above, renal and
liver toxicity, gastrointestinal irritation and cancer, sperm damage, or
anemia. Drinking water contributes substantially to chromium intake,
especially when total chromium levels are above 25 μg/liter. The WHO’s
publication Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (GDWQ) reports that
approximately 18% of the US population is exposed to drinking water
chromium levels between 2 and 60 μg/literand less than 0.1% to levels
between 60 and 120 μg/liter.
Perchlorate: Water pollution by perchlorate can occur through industrial
contamination or from perchlorate that is naturally occurring. Perchlorate
has been used industrially as an oxidizer in solid rocket propellants, slurry
explosives, road flares and airbag inflation systems. Perchlorate water
pollution inhibits iodide uptake bythe thyroid gland. A study from the
National Institute of Health in the United States found that decreased
thyroid hormones during pregnancy and early childhood lead to decreased
cognitive development and IQ. The United States Water Works
Association detected perchlorate in the drinking water of at least 26 states
and in approximately 5% of public water systems.

Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuel extraction and processing can lead to

water
contamination with a
variety of pollutants such as
polycyclic aromatic
compounds, heavy metals,
benzene, methane and other
natural gases. These
pollutants can threaten
human health in ways
ranging from respiratory
problems to harming the
nervous and reproductive
systems.
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Summary
Water pollution is a serious environmental issue that can be caused
bymany contaminants. Human health can be affected by consuming,
entering, or washing in polluted water.

There are various ways to help to limit water pollution. If a

person experiences any effects of water pollution, they should
speak to theirdoctor.

Measures To Check Water Borne Diseases

Prevention of Food and Water Borne Illness

Food and water borne illness, often referred to as food poisoning, is

generally caused by eating or drinking food or beverages contaminated
bybacteria, parasites or viruses. These organisms are passed in the feces
ofanimals and infected people. Symptoms of food or water borne illness
aregastrointestinal, for example diarrhea and stomach cramps. You can
also get sick from swimming in contaminated water or from close contact
with someone else who is ill.
Certain groups are at increased risk of developing serious complications.
These include: pregnant women, young children, seniors, anyone with an
underlying medical condition, and anyone with a weakened immune
systemsuch as those on chemotherapy.
 P a g e | 23

There are several ways to prevent these illnesses:

Use good environmental management. Flush or discard any stool in thetoilet
and clean surrounding area using hot water and detergent. A chlorine-based
disinfectant is recommended.
Practice good personal hygiene. Frequent and careful hand washing is
important among all age groups. Hand washing of children should be
supervised. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
rubbing hands together vigorously and scrubbing all surfaces.

Wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet, changing a diaper or

cleaning up a child who has used the toilet, and before and after tending
to someone who is ill with diarrhea.
Wash hands after handling animals, contact with animal quarters,
cleaning up animal feces, or gardening.
Wash hands before and after preparing food or eating.

Take food safety precautions to learn about the fundamentals of food safety so
that you can protect yourself, your friends, family and people inyour community.

Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.
Drink and eat only pasteurized dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurtand
ice cream) and juices.
Thoroughly cook all meats (meat, poultry and seafood). For example,
ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 71°C/160°F.
Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces and utensils after contact withraw
meat or poultry.
Wash hands before handling food and between handling differentfood
items.
Prevent contact of cooked foods with raw foods (i.e., raw meat, and
poultry).
Clean and sanitize all utensils, equipment and surfaces (cutting boards,
work counters, etc.) before and after each use. Be sure to
 P a g e | 24

use hot water and detergent to clean, then rinse with hot water.Sanitize food
contact surfaces with a sanitizing solution
Avoid preparing food for others while you have symptoms and for 48hours
after you recover.

Drink properly treated water. Water from private water supplies shouldbe
routinely tested twice a year for Total Coliform and E. coli. Inorganic analysis on
private water supplies should preferably be done every two tothree years

Do not swallow water while swimming in swimming pools, hot tubs or

interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, streams or the ocean.
Do not drink untreated water from lakes, rivers, springs, ponds,
streams, or shallow wells.
Do not drink tap water or use ice while travelling to a high-risk
destination unless the water source has been properly treated.
ľhe Woíld Health Oíganisation (WHO) has estimated that wateí- boíne
diseases kill about 1.8 million people annually woíldwide. ľhese numbeís
píimaíily include childíen fíom developing countíies. Moíeoveí, the Woíld
Bank states that 21% of communicable diseases in India aíe wateí boíne.
ľo stay píotected fíom wateí-íelated contaminants, one can follow afew
basic píoceduíes. Read on to leaín how you can stay in the pink of health
duíing this monsoon:

• 1. Water Disinfection
• Many natuíal and manmade wateí íesouíces aíe polluted with haímful waste.
In 2014, Safe Wateí Netwoík, an oíganisation that stíives to oveícome the
wateí challenges of the woíld, estimated that moíe than half of the pipelines
in Indian íuíal aíeas deliveí untíeated wateí. Access to safe díinking wateí is
the most significant step to píevent the outbíeak of wateí-boíne diseases.
Wateí that is used foí cooking oí díinking needs to be disinfected on a
íegulaí basis. Boilingthe wateí with common iodine foí about 10 minutes can
make it safefoí consumption. ľhis is consideíed one of the most simple and
effective measuíes to stay píotected fíom wateí-boíne diseases.
 P a g e | 25

Wateí that is used foí cooking oí díinking needs to be disinfected on a

íegulaí basis. Boiling the wateí with common iodine foí about 10 minutes
can make it safe foí consumption. ľhis is consideíed one ofthe most simple
and effective measuíes to stay píotected fíom wateí-boíne diseases.

2. Personal Hygiene
ľhe tíansmission of wateí-boíne diseases mainly occuís thíough vaíious
unsanitaíy souíces. Negligence of peísonal and food hygiene can easily make
one susceptible to many endemic illnesses.
Following some basic hygiene píactices such as washing youí handsand feet
on íetuíning home afteí a walk thíough the puddles is a must. ľhis can help
íeduce the likelihood of contíacting wateí-boíne diseases like jaundice,
choleía and typhoid feveí.

3. Environment
A well-sustained enviíonment is the key to a healthieí life. ľhe National
Vectoí Boíne Disease Contíol Píogíamme (NVBDP) statesthat 95% of the
Indian population íesides in malaíia endemic aíeas.ľíansmission of
malaíia is facilitated due to mosquitoes that bíeedin open wateí íesouíces.
ľhe occuííence of malaíia and dengue spikes duíing the monsoon.
Steíilising open wateí íesouíces íegulaíly, píeventing wateí fíom
stagnating, cleaíing díains, etc. help to maintain a healthy enviíonment
and píevent the bíeeding of disease-causing agents.

4. Vaccination
As peí the WHO, vaccines aveít up to 3 million deaths globally.
Vaccination is an effective method to contíol the outcome of wateí-boíne
diseases. ľhey can be administeíed to laíge populations in cases of
emeígencies. Howeveí, they cannot íeplace conventional measuíes of
píevention.
• WHO developed two oíal choleía vaccines that weíe used in mass
vaccination campaigns. ľoday, they aíe consideíed an effective toolagainst
high-íisk choleía and aíe being implemented woíldwide.
 P a g e | 26

• 5. Spreading Awareness
Lack of awaíeness amongst the population íegaíding the symptomsof
wateí-boíne diseases is a majoí íeason foí them íemaining untíeated oí
undetected. When all píecautionaíy measuíes fail, píompt medical
tíeatment can still save you fíom complications.
Mass awaíeness campaigns, local initiatives and individual owneíship
can íesult in timely inteívention, diagnosis and cuíe ofwateí-boíne
diseases, and not make it the killeí it seems to be. Spíead the woíd.
• A health emeígency can occuí to anyone, anytime. ľo íeduce
unnecessaíy woííies this monsoon, ensuíe you aíe píepaíed witha
compíehensive health insuíance plan.

Conclusion
Water pollution stems from many sources and causes, only a few of
whichare discussed here. Rivers and streams demonstrate some
capacity to recover from the effects of certain pollutants, but lakes,
bays, ponds, sluggish rivers, and oceans have little resistance to the
effects of water pollution. We have a long history of introducing
pollutants into aquatic environments, and have had only partial success
at repairing the damage

Freshwater is a finite and limited resource on Earth and,

increasingly, much of it is polluted, by both pathogenic
microbesand chemical contaminants.
Human demand for freshwater is increasing; in particular,
water is required to irrigate crops to feed the rapidly
expanding humanpopulation.
Water cycles globally, through the oceans, the atmosphere
and freshwater river systems. At certain points in the cycle,
water ispurified, both naturally and by treatment plants.
• Freshwater is very unevenly distributed in the world, such
that a large proportion of the world's human population has
insufficient water for growing crops, for drinking and for
sanitation.
 P a g e | 27

Climate change is altering the global distribution of

water,causing droughts in some regions, flooding in
others.
The chemical and physical properties of water are such that,
overthe range of temperatures that occur on Earth, it supports a
rich diversity of plants and animals.
An enormous variety of chemical compounds, produced by
human activities, pollute natural water bodies, causing both
acuteand chronic pollution.
Evidence for the effect of chemical pollution is provided by
ecotoxicology, the study of the impact of xenobiotic
chemicals onwildlife in natural situations.
As chemical pollutants pass through natural food chains,
bioaccumulation causes high levels to build up at certain
points,
e.g. in the fat reserves of predatory fish and birds. As a result,
these animals and their offspring can be exposed to a very high
dose.
DDT is an effective insecticide that is toxic to wildlife, but is
also avital means for combating malaria.
Levels of mercury compounds in the environment are
increasing;they are a threat to wildlife and to people who eat a
lot of fish, and especially to their children.
Levels of nitrogen compounds in the environment are
increasing very rapidly. These are toxic to humans at high
levels but, more importantly, at lower levels they cause
widespread environmentalchanges, especially eutrophication
of water.
‘Perhaps the time has come to cease calling it the “environmentalist
view”,as though it were a lobbying effort outside the mainstream of
human activity, and start calling it the real-world view.’
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Acknowledgement
I would like to express my special thanks gratitude to my professor

• P.R DAS

• F. HAQUE.

Who provide me the golden opportunity to do

this wonderful project of ENVIORNMENTAL STUDIES (ENVS) on the
topic of “WATER POLLUTION AND IT’S RELATED HEALTH HAZARD”
who also helped me in completing my project.

I come to know many things for which I am really thankful to them.

Secondly, I would like to thank my parents and my friends,
honourable

• Principal Dr MD TOFAZZAL HAQUE,

• Professor SWEETA CHATERJEE

• Non-teaching staff,

• Students’ union

who helped me a lot in finalizing the project within the limited

time frame.

Finally, I want to say thanks to

• UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA and

• UMESCHANDRA COLLEGE

to recognised me as a student.
 P a g e | 29

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