The Effects Of Water Contamination On The Human Body Essay

Not only is pollution the cause of the death of many organisms essential to ecological balance, but human drinking water has also been affected.

Some people say that they haven't gotten any symptoms from water contamination, therefore, there is no actual harm, but the fact is that it can result in problems later on in life and cause a shorter lifespan. So, in summary, water quality needs to be better and no longer contaminated. Help spread the word and raise money for filters

This situation showcases the major dependency on the unique physical and chemical properties of water by displaying the results of water contamination. The switch from Detroit to Flint water system proved to be a fatal decision as the chemical and physical properties of the water were altered by both the iron and lead metals. The addition of high levels of chloride left the water exposed to contamination of lead and iron. The corrosion of the pipes occurred when the chlorine disinfectant reacted with the elemental metals of iron and lead. The chemical property of water was altered with these high levels of lead, chloride, and iron. This contamination also left the water with different physical properties such as a reddish-brown colour and a pungent odour as opposed to a colourless and odourless liquid. The manipulated physical and chemical properties of water led to irritability, developmental delay, learning difficulties, hearing loss, and many more. Thus, this situation showcases how living things depend for their survival on the unique physical and chemical properties of water as with these alterations it can lead to lethal consequences.

The very chemicals that are used to treat our water to kills deadly toxins are the same chemicals that can pose health problems when digested for a period of time (EPA 2013). For instance, excessive consumption of fluoride over a lifetime may lead to increased likelihood of bone fractures in adults, and tooth enamel pits in young children. Lead consumption leads to physical and mental development in children and mercury consumption leads to kidney damage. (Birmingham Water Works).

This poisoning can affect the general health of a population. Unsafe water can lead to an increase in health problems, such as cancer. This can cause many case managers focusing on access to health care and treatments. Many of these health problems will result in end-of-life case management. Contaminated water can also cause physical and intellectual developmental delays.

Contaminated water poses health risks on humans, pets, wild animals, and farm animals. (Mcdermott-Levy 2013)

Water has been around for almost as long the Earth has been around, approximately 4.6 billion years ago. In some shape or form, water has continued to be an important resource since the formation of Earth and continues to be today as well. Water being a finite abundant substance, it covers up approximately 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It is without a doubt an essential resource needed to sustain life on Earth. Nonetheless, not only is water an important resource for all living organisms for subsistence, but it also serves other purposes: agriculture purposes, medical and health purposes, tourism and much more. However, with the recent emergence of the issue surrounding

The contaminated water has protozoan-a microscopic organism, oocyst-is a parasite protozoan like malaria, viruses, and bacteria. Illnesses such as West Nile and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever have also been reported from poor run off conditions. (Gaffield & Jackson, 2003) As stated in the American Journal of Public Health, "Approximately 99 million people in the United States have acute gastrointestinal illnesses each year, at a cost of billions of dollars, and 6% to 40% of these illnesses may be caused by contaminated drinking water.". Another problem found in contaminated drinking water is Nitrogen. High amounts of nitrogen can bring the risk of Methemoglobinemia-is an oxidized hemoglobin that can not send oxygen to the tissues of the body, the symptoms include shortness of breathe and blueness of skin. It has also been linked to and increase in miscarriages. Copper, Zinc, and Lead, which also have ill effects on humans, can be found in mostly urban areas with so exceptions. These are just a few of the contaminates that are caused by uncontrolled storm water run off. (Gaffield & Jackson,

The human body is contained mostly of water. Plants and animals will stop to exist without water. Water is used in transportation, cleaning, and other walks of life. It is not hard to figure out that water is one of the planet’s most valuable useful things (Bottcher 2012). However, the previously-mentioned walks of life create many of the concerns connected with the consumption of water. Water contamination is a hot topic in America. Americans are concerned with the contaminants that may be waiting in a creepy way their tap

Water pollution impacts how humans and other living organisms live their life. Most common way humans are effected by water pollution is through diseases while drinking the water. Scientists have found over “five hundred different types of diseases” that can affect humans. (Book). These diseases get into the water streams by human and animal wastes. The diseases in the water can often lead to death for humans. Recent research has shown that that each year

The health hazards for humans who come in contact with contaminants from exposure to polluted water can have long term effects on the body causing possible organ failure and death. Contaminants and chemicals such lead and mercury can bring about many minor illnesses ranging from nausea, lung irritation, skin rash, vomiting, and dizziness, to the major diseases that include cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous system, damage to the immune system, birth defects and even death.

This report investigates about water fluoridation, and its effects and why it is added to water. Water fluoridation is a process where fluoride is added to public drinking water. The main purpose of this is to reduce tooth decay. The dosage that is added to the water is paramount to stopping tooth decay. This process can only be achieved by physically adding the fluoride to the drinking water. When the fluoridated water is drunk it acts on the surface of the teeth building up the enamel. It also leaves low levels of fluoride in the saliva. This also reduces the decaying rate of the teeth. This practice is common among developed countries. This is where the rate of tooth decay is high.

To develop a better understanding of water contamination, a field comparison between two separate water sources was conducted. The first water sample was gathered from the Simmons Park Pond and the second from a NES water fountain. The data gathered from this experiment was used to answer several questions regarding the prevalence of contamination in nearby water sources. The field analysis ultimately concluded what contaminants had the greatest prevalence, thereby exemplifying the defining differences between the two water sources.

Since the implementation of artificially introducing fluoride into water, a great amount of resistance has taken place. Many people claim that fluoridating community water sources can cause not only dental fluorosis, but a multitude of adverse systemic conditions. This perception has led to many political battles on the subject. The problems associated with fluoride ingestion tend to present when concentrations are higher that generally accepted. In communities with natural high fluoride concentrations, adverse effects have range from dental and skeletal fluorosis to decreased birth rates, increased kidney stones, impaired thyroid function, and lower intelligence (Chen, 2013, p. 1). These tend to be the concerns of the opposition to

The contamination of water and drinking supplies with high concentrations of nutrients from animal waste has fatal effects on different organisms. “Elevated nitrates in drinking water...hinders the ability of the...blood to carry oxygen” (Hribar 4), which can cause serious health conditions such as birth defects, miscarriages, and can even lead to death in seniors and infants. Although nitrates may have the greatest consequences on younger and older individuals, adults that consume tainted water develop increased risks of “cancer and non-cancer diseases...diabetes...and neurodevelopmental defects” (Halden and Schwab 16). Contaminated drinking water poses a serious threat to human health, and can affect people’s happiness and quality of life.