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Sources of Water Pollution
Sources of Water Pollution
2. Mercury when dissolved in water is absorbed by aquatic plants and enters the food chain. Lead impairs
metabolism and brings about congenital deformities, anemia etc.
3. Cadmium damages kidneys and liver.
4. Inorganic nitrates and phosphates promote growth of oxygen-consuming algae, which result in the death of
fishes and other aquatic animals.
5. Presence of dyes and compounds in the discharged water changes the colour of water.
6. Soap, detergents and, alkalis result in foam formation.
7. Industrial effluents containing iron, free chlorine, phenol, manganese, oils, hydrocarbons, ammonia, algae and
microorganisms impair the taste and odors of water.
8. The nitrates and phosphates dissolved in water accelerate the growth of microorganisms, which consume
much of the dissolved oxygen depriving fish and other aquatic life (Eutrophication).
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9. Bio magnifications is the increase of toxic materials at each tropic level of a food chain. For example, DDT
after reaching a water system is absorbed by the microorganisms on which smaller fishes feed. From them, DDT
reaches the carnivorous animals. Since bigger fishes consume more food, large amounts of DDT accumulate in
their body.
SOIL POLLUTION
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Noise Pollution
MARINE POLLUTION:
Causes:
• The most obvious inputs of waste are through pipes directly discharging wastes into the sea. Very often
municipal waste and sewage from residences and hotels in coastal towns are directly discharged into the sea.
• Pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture which are washed off the land by rain, enter water courses and
eventually reach the sea.
• Petroleum and oils washed off from the roads normally enter the sewage system but storm water overflows
carry these materials into rivers and eventually into the seas.
• Ships carry many toxic substances such as oil, liquefied natural gas, pesticides, industrial chemicals, etc. in
huge quantities sometimes to the capacity of 350,000 tones. Ship accidents and accidental spillages at sea
therefore can be very damaging to the marine environment. Shipping channels in estuaries and at the entrances
to ports often require frequent dredging to keep them open. This dredged material that may contain heavy
metals and other contaminants are often dumped out to sea.
• Offshore oil exploration and extraction also pollute the seawater to a large extent.
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Effects of marine pollution:
Apart from causing eutrophication a large amount of organic wastes can also result in the development of red
tides. These are phytoplankton blooms of such intensity that the area is discolored. Many important
commercially important marine species are also killed due to clogging of gills or other structures.
When liquid oil is spilled on the sea it spreads over the surface of the water to form a thin film called an oil slick.
The rate of spreading and the thickness of the film depends on the sea temperature and the nature of the oil.
Oil slicks damage marine life to a large extent. Salt marshes, mangrove swamps are likely to trap oil and the
plants, which form the basis for these ecosystems thus suffer. For salt marsh plants, oil slicks can affect the
flowering, fruiting and germination.
If liquid oil contaminates a bird’s plumage its water repellent properties are lost. Water thus penetrates the
plumage and displaces the air trapped between the feathers and the skin. This air layer is necessary as it
provides buoyancy and thermal insulation. With this loss the plumage becomes water logged and the birds may
sink and drown. Even if this does not happen loss of thermal insulation results in exhaustion of food reserves in
an attempt to maintain body temperature often followed by death. Birds often clean their plumage by preening
and in the process consume oil which depending on its toxicity can lead to intestinal, renal or liver failure
Cleaning oil from surface waters and contaminated beaches is a time consuming labor intensive process. The
natural process of emulsification of oil in the water can be accelerated through the use of chemical dispersants
which can be sprayed on the oil.
Environmental Problems in India: Effects of human activities on the quality of life, Water
and River, Ground water,
Wasteland reclamation.
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The different methods used for the reclamation of wastelands are:
1. These lands can be brought under cultivation by using excess water and fertilizers.
2. Afforestation and agronomical methods are used to conserve the soil, which help us to use it for
agriculture.
3. Contour bunds are constructed which afford safe disposal of water of the catchment areas.
4. These lands can be used for settling the landless agricultural laborers.
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