Water, the essence of life, is threatened by pollution, making it a dangerous hazard. Contaminated water not only affects our health, disrupts the environment, and weakens the economy but also poses life-threatening risks if we drink it, cook with it, or use it for daily needs. Understanding these urgent hazards is the first step toward preventing them.
• IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH:
WATERBORNE DISEASES: Water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites is a breeding ground for deadly diseases. However, the preventability of these waterborne diseases, exacerbated by poor sanitation, untreated sewage, and industrial waste, underscores the urgent need for preventive measures.
• Diarrheal Diseases: Dirty water causes infections like acute gastroenteritis and cholera, leading to dehydration and severe illness. • Dysentery: This severe form of diarrhoea includes blood and mucus in stools and can be life-threatening if untreated. • Giardiasis: A parasitic infection causing diarrhoea, cramps, and nausea. • Hepatitis A: A virus that inflames the liver, spreading through contaminated drinking and cooking water. • Typhoid Fever: A bacterial infection from unclean water, particularly in areas with poor sanitation.
OTHER LONG-TERM HEALTH PROBLEMS: Contaminated water isn't just an immediate danger—it has long-term, often irreversible effects: • Arsenicosis: Long-term exposure to arsenic-contaminated water (Especially groundwater) causes skin damage, organ failure, and an increased risk of Cancer.
• Lead Poisoning: Lead from old plumbing can cause severe developmental, behavioural, and neurological issues in children: high blood pressure, kidney problems, cardiovascular problems, and reproductive issues in adults. Risk is higher in homes with older plumbing systems having lead pipes. Lead pipes and plumbing fixtures can release Lead into drinking water, especially when water remains in this plumbing system longer.
• Liver and Kidney Damage: Heavy metals like Lead and cadmium and other harmful chemicals like arsenic, crude oil, etc. silently damage vital organs like the liver and kidneys over time.
• Neurological Disorders: Long-term exposure to certain chemicals or toxins, including heavy metals like Lead and mercury. It can have a toxic effect on our nervous system in both adults and children. The neurological issues associated with water pollution are: 1. Tremors 2. Peripheral neuropathy 3. memory loss, and mood swings. 4. Learning disabilities and developmental delays. 5. impaired hearing 6. increased the risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease
• Reproductive Problems: Long-term exposure to Endocrine disrupting chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, arsenic, etc through polluted water can increase the risk of reproductive problems in both males and females, such as: 1. Endometriosis and fibroids 2. Polycystic ovarian syndrome 3. Pregnancy complications 4. Risk of Breast cancer in females 5. Reduced fertility in both females and males 6. Risk of Testicular Cancer in males
• Developmental Abnormalities: Exposure to toxins during pregnancy can cause congenital disabilities and developmental delays.
• Cardiovascular Problems: Chronic exposure to toxic chemicals, heavy metals, etc., through consumption of polluted water can be harmful as it heightens the risk of heart diseases, strokes, and heart failure through various mechanisms such as Endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, etc.
• Respiratory Issues: Polluted water contains chemicals, bacteria and other contaminants such as allergens. Inhalation of these airborne toxins from contaminated water can trigger Asthma attacks or damage the airways, increasing the risk of more severe problems such as Chronic bronchitis (Inflammation and accumulation of mucus in the airways).
• Skin Problems: Polluted water leads to rashes, eczema, and skin infections, with prolonged exposure even increasing the risk of skin cancer.
• Increased risk of Cancer: Long-term consumption of contaminated water with pollutants like arsenic, heavy metals, toxins, etc can significantly raise the chances of developing various cancers, including skin, bladder, lung, kidney, and liver cancer.
• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
• Loss of aquatic habitats: Water pollution devastates aquatic life. Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage contaminate water bodies, making them unsuitable for fish and other species.
• Altered food webs (disrupting the food chain): Toxic pollution kills key species, breaking the balance of aquatic ecosystems. When small fish die from toxins, the entire food chain collapses, affecting larger species and humans relying on seafood.
• Harmful algal blooms (habs): Excess fertilizers and untreated waste lead to an explosion of algae in water bodies. These blooms deplete oxygen, suffocating aquatic life and making the water unsafe for humans.
• ECONOMIC IMPACT:
• High cost of restoration: Cleaning polluted water bodies is not just a matter of environmental concern but also an expensive and time-consuming process. Governments and communities bear the financial burden of restoring lost ecosystems, highlighting the significant economic impact of water pollution.
• Decline in tourism and recreation: Beaches, rivers, and lakes polluted with waste and toxins lose their appeal. Tourists avoid these areas, causing a major financial loss for local businesses and communities.
• Impact on fisheries: Polluted water kills fish populations, leading to job losses and food shortages. Fishing industries collapse, impacting the livelihood of millions.
• Increased healthcare costs: Diseases caused by water pollution increase hospital visits, medication costs, and pressure on healthcare systems, making it a costly issue for individuals and governments alike.
PREVENTIVE AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST WATER POLLUTION-RELATED HAZARDS:
PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
1. Preventing water contamination • Never dump plastics, chemicals, or oils directly into drains or water bodies like rivers, lakes, etc. • Do not flush medicines, paints, or toxic substances down toilets or sinks at homes and commercial complexes. • Use organic fertilizers and natural pesticides instead of chemicals to prevent chemical runoff into water bodies.
2. Proper waste management: • Before disposal, segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste as per set guidelines. • Avoid throwing organic waste into water sources; instead, encourage composting it. • Recycle plastics and industrial waste to reduce or minimize pollution.
3. Safe industrial and sewage disposal • Ensure factories and sewage plants follow proper waste treatment guidelines to prevent toxic disposal into rivers and lakes. • Establish effective sewage treatment plants at a city level to prevent contamination of the local water bodies. • Properly Maintain Household septic tanks to avoid any leaks and contamination.
4. Reduce water wastage • Fix Leaks Immediately: A dripping tap can waste gallons of water over time. • Use Water-Efficient Appliances: Switch to energy-saving dishwashers, washing machines, and low-flow taps. • Rainwater Harvesting: Store rainwater for non-drinking purposes like washing and gardening. • Sustainable Irrigation: Encourage drip irrigation in farming to reduce excessive water use.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
1. Ensure safety of drinking water: • Drink Safe Water: Always consume filtered, purified, or boiled water. • Use Advanced Filtration: If possible, use RO or UV water purifiers to help remove harmful contaminants. • Collect rainwater in clean, covered containers for safe use during washing. Bathing, gardening, etc.
2. Maintain personal and environmental hygiene: • Wash hands frequently with soap and clean water, especially before eating, after using a toilet, etc. • As far as possible, avoid bathing in contaminated or polluted water bodies. • Keep surroundings clean and hygienic to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and bacteria.
3. Generation of community awareness and involvement: • Spread Awareness: Educate communities about the importance of clean water and pollution prevention. • Organize Clean-Up Drives: Volunteer for efforts to clean rivers, lakes, and other water sources.
4. Support and follow government regulations • Follow and Support government policies restricting industrial waste dumping. • Encourage people to Participate in water conservation programs run by government agencies. • Support Eco-Friendly Businesses that follow sustainable, water-safe production methods.
By adopting these measures, we can prevent water pollution and protect our health, environment, and future generations from its harmful effects.
