Water Pollution: A Deadly Threat To Human Health

Water pollution is a serious issue that can have fatal consequences. It occurs when water becomes contaminated, usually by chemicals or microorganisms, and can lead to infections and health problems in humans. Polluted water can be toxic and cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea, which kill more than 500,000 people worldwide annually. In 2015 alone, water pollution caused 1.8 million deaths, according to a study published in The Lancet. With unsafe water sickening about 1 billion people every year, it is essential to understand the dangers of water pollution and its impact on human health.

Waterborne pathogens: disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste

Water pollution can cause water to become toxic to humans and the environment. Contaminated water can make people ill and even kill them. In 2015, water pollution caused 1.8 million deaths, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. These pathogens can cause diseases such as cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, contribute harmful pathogens to waterways.

Waterborne pathogens are microscopic organisms that can cause disease when ingested or inhaled. They can enter water sources through various means, including sewage leaks, agricultural runoff, and storm water discharges. Once in the water, they can be difficult to detect and remove, as they are often invisible to the naked eye.

Bacteria and viruses are two of the most common types of waterborne pathogens. Bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, while viruses, such as norovirus and hepatitis A, can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea. These pathogens can also lead to more serious health complications, such as respiratory infections, meningitis, and even sepsis.

In addition to bacteria and viruses, waterborne pathogens can also include parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. These parasites can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, including diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. They can be particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

To protect yourself from waterborne pathogens, it is important to ensure that your drinking water is properly treated and filtered. Boiling water before consumption can also help to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Practicing good hygiene and sanitation, including proper waste disposal, can also help to reduce the spread of waterborne pathogens and improve overall water quality.

Heavy metals and industrial waste

Water pollution can kill. In 2015, it caused 1.8 million deaths, according to a study published in *The Lancet*. Contaminated water can also make you ill. Every year, unsafe water sickens about 1 billion people.

Toxins: immune suppression, reproductive failure and acute poisoning

Water pollution can cause water to become toxic to humans, leading to infections, health problems, and even death. Toxins in industrial waste are the major cause of immune suppression, reproductive failure and acute poisoning.

Industrial waste can accumulate in lakes and rivers, and the toxins within it can cause serious harm to humans and animals. Heavy metals and other chemicals can build up in the water, leading to immune suppression, where the body's defence system is weakened and unable to fight off disease and infection. Reproductive failure can also occur, with toxins impacting the ability to conceive and carry a healthy pregnancy to term. Acute poisoning is another serious consequence, where exposure to high levels of toxins leads to severe and rapid health deterioration.

Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by unsafe water include cholera, giardia, typhoid, and gastroenteritis. Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, contribute harmful pathogens to waterways.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines polluted water as water whose composition has been changed to the extent that it is unusable. This means that the water is not only undrinkable but also unsuitable for essential purposes like agriculture. Polluted water causes diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and poliomyelitis, which kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year.

Pollutants: fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste and radioactive substances

Water pollution can cause water to become toxic to humans and the environment. Polluted water can lead to numerous health conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular conditions. It can also cause infections, such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and diarrhoea.

The main water pollutants include fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste, and radioactive substances. These substances can be released accidentally or illegally from sewage treatment facilities, as well as from runoff from farms and urban areas. They do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants.

Fertilisers and pesticides are used in agriculture to improve crop yields, but they can contaminate water sources when they are washed off the land by rain or irrigation. Pharmaceutical products, such as antibiotics and hormones, can enter water sources through the improper disposal of medications or through the excretion of drugs by humans and animals. Nitrates and phosphates are nutrients that can cause harmful algal blooms in water, leading to oxygen depletion and the death of aquatic organisms. Plastics, such as microplastics, can absorb and release toxic chemicals, which can be ingested by aquatic organisms and enter the food chain. Faecal waste contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause waterborne diseases. Radioactive substances, such as those released from nuclear power plants or mining activities, can contaminate water sources and pose a risk to human health.

Waterborne diseases: cholera, giardia, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, vomiting, skin and kidney problems

Water pollution can cause water to become toxic to humans, leading to infections and health problems. Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by unsafe water include cholera, giardia, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, vomiting, skin and kidney problems. These diseases can be caused by the spread of bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste, and even radioactive substances.

Water pollution is particularly dangerous for low-income communities, as their homes are often closest to the most polluting industries. However, even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, contribute harmful pathogens to waterways.

Water pollution can also lead to the death of sea weeds, mollusks, marine birds, fishes, crustaceans and other sea organisms that serve as food for humans. Insecticides like DDT concentration is increasing along the food chain, which can have harmful effects on human health.

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