
Organic water pollutants are substances that are harmful to water quality and can be discharged from various sources such as municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, and paper mills. These pollutants can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen and can be bacterial, viral, or fungal in nature.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Persistent organic pollutants, known as POPs | Another problematical substance category |
Oxygen-demanding materials | Discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, as well as paper mills, compose one of the most important types of pollutants |
Sediments and suspended solids (SS) | Classified as a pollutant |
Solvents | Often caused by dumping of the used solvent directly on the ground, eventually leading to contamination of the groundwater |
Trichloroethylene (TCE) | One of the most widespread of the organic pollutants |
What You'll Learn
- Organic pollutants are persistent substances that cause environmental pollution
- Solvents are often dumped on the ground, contaminating groundwater
- Bacteria and viruses are major pathogens that pollute water
- Oxygen-demanding materials from municipal plants deplete water of dissolved oxygen
- Sediments and suspended solids are inorganic materials that interfere with fish spawning
Organic pollutants are persistent substances that cause environmental pollution
Bioremediation using anaerobic bacteria is also a popular strategy to remove TCE from contaminated water. Oxygen-demanding materials such as those discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, and paper mills are another type of organic pollutant. These materials decompose in the watercourse, depleting the water of dissolved oxygen. Sediments and suspended solids are also classified as pollutants. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations.
Fecal coliform bacteria (i.e., Escherichia coli) is a major pathogen that indicates contamination by animal wastes. Other bacterial pathogens include Vibrio cholera which causes cholera, and Shigella and Salmonella that cause dysentery. Protozoa, viruses, algae, and fungi are other types of microorganisms that could contribute to biological water pollution.
The range of pollutants is vast, and the major pollutants that could affect water quality are overviewed here. Oxygen-demanding materials might be discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, as well as paper mills, compose one of the most important types of pollutants because these materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen. Sediments and suspended solids (SS) may also be classified as a pollutant. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. Sediments interfere with fish spawning because they can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
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Solvents are often dumped on the ground, contaminating groundwater
Environmental pollution from solvents is often caused by the dumping of the used solvent directly on the ground, eventually leading to contamination of the groundwater. One of the most widespread organic pollutants is the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE). Engineering methods for remediation of TCE include air sparging where the contaminated water is pumped through a cylinder into which air is blown, causing the TCE to volatilize and enter the atmosphere. Another common engineering method is the addition of oxidants such as potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide that react with the TCE. Bioremediation of TCE using anaerobic bacteria is a popular biological remediation strategy.
Persistent organic pollutants, known as POPs, are another problematical substance category. Oxygen-demanding materials might be discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, as well as paper mills, compose one of the most important types of pollutants because these materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen. Sediments and suspended solids (SS) may also be classified as a pollutant. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. Sediments interfere with fish spawning because they can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
The range of pollutants is vast. The major pollutants that could affect water quality are overviewed here. Oxygen-demanding materials might be discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, as well as paper mills, compose one of the most important types of pollutants because these materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen. Sediments and suspended solids (SS) may also be classified as a pollutant. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. Sediments interfere with fish spawning because they can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
Sediments and suspended solids (SS) may also be classified as a pollutant. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. Sediments interfere with fish spawning because they can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
Sediments and suspended solids (SS) may also be classified as a pollutant. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. Sediments interfere with fish spawning because they can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
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Bacteria and viruses are major pathogens that pollute water
Water pollution is a serious issue that can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment. One of the most significant types of water pollutants are organic pollutants, which can be caused by the dumping of used solvents directly on the ground, leading to contamination of groundwater. One of the most widespread organic pollutants is the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE).
Protozoa such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica can also cause diseases such as Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis, and Amoebiasis. Viruses such as Coronavirus, Hepatitis A virus (HAV), and Poliovirus can also cause Hepatitis A and Poliomyelitis.
Algae such as Desmodesmus armatus can cause desmodesmus infection, and fungi such as Aspergillus can most frequently affect the lungs. These pathogens can enter water sources through animal waste, sewage, and contaminated sludge, leading to biological water pollution.
To address water pollution caused by bacteria and viruses, it is essential to implement effective water treatment processes that can remove or inactivate these pathogens. This may include filtration, disinfection, and biological treatment processes such as biodegradation. Additionally, public health measures such as handwashing and safe food handling practices can help prevent the spread of bacterial and viral pathogens.
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Oxygen-demanding materials from municipal plants deplete water of dissolved oxygen
Oxygen-demanding materials from municipal plants are a major type of pollutants because these materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen. Sediments and suspended solids (SS) may also be classified as a pollutant. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. Sediments interfere with fish spawning because they can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
Oxygen-demanding materials might be discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, as well as paper mills, compose one of the most important types of pollutants because these materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen. Persistent organic pollutants, known as POPs, are another problematical substance category. Environmental pollution from solvents is often caused by dumping of the used solvent directly on the ground, eventually leading to contamination of the groundwater. One of the most widespread of the organic pollutants is the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE). Engineering methods for remediation of TCE include air sparging where the contaminated water is pumped through a cylinder into which air is blown, causing the TCE to volatilize and enter the atmosphere. Another common engineering method is the addition of oxidants such as potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide that react with the TCE. Bioremediation of TCE using anaerobic bacteria is a popular biological remediation strategy.
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Sediments and suspended solids are inorganic materials that interfere with fish spawning
Sediments and suspended solids are inorganic materials that can interfere with fish spawning. Sediments consist of mostly inorganic material washed into a stream as a result of land cultivation, construction, demolition, and mining operations. These materials can cover gravel beds and block light penetration, making food harder to find.
Sediments and suspended solids can also be classified as a pollutant. Oxygen-demanding materials might be discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, as well as paper mills, compose one of the most important types of pollutants because these materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen.
Sediments and suspended solids can also be a result of environmental pollution from solvents which is often caused by dumping of the used solvent directly on the ground, eventually leading to contamination of the groundwater. One of the most widespread of the organic pollutants is the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE). Engineering methods for remediation of TCE include air sparging where the contaminated water is pumped through a cylinder into which air is blown, causing the TCE to volatilize and enter the atmosphere. Another common engineering method is the addition of oxidants such as potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide that react with the TCE. Bioremediation of TCE using anaerobic bacteria is a popular biological remediation strategy.
Sediments and suspended solids can also be a result of persistent organic pollutants, known as POPs. These are another problematical substance category. A major pathogen is fecal coliform bacteria (i.e., Escherichia coli) that is the bacteria that normally live in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals and indicate contamination by animal wastes. Other bacterial pathogens include Vibrio cholera which cause cholera, and Shigella and Salmonella that cause dysentery. Other types of microorganisms that could contribute to biological water pollution are: protozoa (such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica that cause diseases such as Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis, and Amoebiasis); viruses such as Coronavirus, Hepatitis A virus (HAV) that cause Hepatitis A, and Poliovirus which cause Poliomyelitis; algae such as Desmodesmus armatus that cause desmodesmus infection; and several fungi such as Aspergillus which most frequently affects the lungs.
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Frequently asked questions
Organic water pollutants are pollutants that are discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants, food-processing plants, breweries, and paper mills. These materials decompose in the watercourse, and can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen.
Persistent organic pollutants, known as POPs, are another problematical substance category.
One of the most widespread of the organic pollutants is the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE).