Articles

- The Aisle of Agony -
Causes of Water Pollution

by: Remia Lee G. Lagud

        As we all know, water is essential for all living things to survive. Without water, neither animal nor plant life would exist. Humans can live for a few weeks without food but only for few days without water. Perhaps, there can be no life if there is no water. About 70% of the human body is composed of water. Almost three fourths of the Earth's surface is covered by water. Water is present in the liquid part of the Earth's surface as lakes, streams, waterfalls, oceans, seas and glaciers. Water is also a part of human life because of its empowering significance to nature.

Have you ever seen pieces of plastics, cans, and even the waste of humans colliding at the body of water? These are some causes of ruining the beauty of water or what we called,
WATER POLLUTION.

Nowadays, water pollution is the number one problem the world is facing with tremendous impact to the life of the human race. This enormous human error is caused by a person's selfish motivates to enrich himself without considering the welfare of his fellowmen. Water pollution have so many causes. One of these causes is Industrial Wastes.

These water pollutants that comes from industries, factories and nuclear power plants that are being washed out into the rivers, lakes and oceans are causing excessive growth in aquatic plants and algae leading to clogged the waterways. The more industries and factories the country have, the higher the rate of released pollutants they throw into the bodies of water. Another cause of water pollution happens when oil and gasoline gets spilled due to a leak in a major oil tanker. This usually gets a lot of coverage to its effects on marine animals, local fisherman and coastal business. Oils can also seep into the waterways through the groundwater as a result of a leak or Oil spill.

Furthermore, Sanitary Wastes and Solid Wastes are also the concerns in making the water polluted. People are unaware and unconscious in disposing their wastes. We are abusive in our environment because we're just throwing and dumping our wastes and garbage's anywhere especially into the bodies water. When this activity continues, there's a great possibility that floods and landslides will occur and in return, all of us will be suffering from these great disasters. Unexpected Calamities are also the causes of water pollution. Lastly, water pollution can also be caused by Mining. Mining companies exposes heavy metals and sulfuric compounds that are previously stocked underground the soil profile.

       All of these causes can never be build if we are responsible enough in taking good care of our environment especially water. Most of us who take our daily supply of water for granted. We're not be able to fully appreciate the importance of water. Many have been perished through lack of water. As humans, it's our great responsibility to take good care of the boons from GOD above.

Let us lessen the water pollution.
Conserve and Save water for the better! =)

- REFLECTION -

Here's a video that shows about

the Causes of Water Pollution;

- Blazon of Water Impairment -

by: Shanna Nicole Reballos

        In today’s world, our contrivance is getting worse day by day. Like for example, our water resources are getting polluted. This is because of the ignorant and irresponsible people who are not taking care of it properly. Water pollution is also caused primarily by dig industries, unexpected calamities and biotic organisms.

        Water pollution has two main sources: The Point source pollution and the Non-point source pollution. Point source pollution comes from factory’s waste or oil spill’s while the Non-point source pollution comes from different sources.

       There are also different kinds of water desecration which comes from distinct alteration of sources namely: Surface water, Chemical, Microbiological, Nutrient, Groundwater, Oxygen depletion and Suspended Matter. These types of water pollution are called transboundary because it can travel hundreds of thousands of miles.
 1. Surface Water Pollution. This kind of pollution is the most common. We can see this type of desecration floating on the bodies of our water like lakes, rivers, streams, seas and oceans. Waste from human need, such as plastics, water bottles and other waste products is the highly testimony on water surface. This disposition also comes from gasoline wastes and oil spill which most with a light and irregular course and affects the water in the living creatures in it.
2. Chemical pollution. In producing more industrial plants, in farms, lots of chemical ravage flows into the nearby rivers and water expedient insecticides and pesticides from farms act like a poison to the marine life which kills and makes them as an endangered species. In some cases, petroleum is a distinct chemical pollutant. This kind of oil kills the marine life and when stabbed to the feathers of birds, will let them lose their ability to fly.
 3. Microbiological Pollution. The ingenerated form of water pollution caused by microorganisms. This is a main problem in some other countries who has no clean drinking water. The factors of this problem are protozoa, bacteria and viruses which can cause illnesses like typhoid, diarrhea and cholera.
4. Nutrient Pollution. This type of pollution id hurting the surrounding of marine life and other organisms in the water. This is caused by the abundance of weeds and algae which uses up the oxygen in the water.
5. Groundwater Pollution. This kind of desecration greatly affects our drinking water and aquifers below the soil. This due to the highly toxic chemicals and pesticides that passes through an aperture which contaminate the wells.
6. Oxygen Depletion Pollution. When there is erosion from farming the  number of microorganisms rises and they utilize the obtainable oxygen. When oxygen labels are depleted, large population of bacteria can degrade the water quality these organisms can produce ammonia and sulfide causing fish and other forms of oxygen-consuming aquatic vivacity to die.
7.Suspended Matter Pollution. This kind of pollution happens when pollutants come into the water and when they do not mix with water particles. The suspended molecules which form fine silt can harm the marine life by disturbing their habitat and taking away the nutrients.

Most of us are blaming the big industries as the number one factor causing water pollution. But we actually don’t know we humans recreational and agricultural companies also contribute to this problem. Water pollution affects our health, ecosystem and aquatic life which suffers the most and species go instinct.

-The Squealer- 
Sources of Water Pollution

by: Mikee Jane F. Perez

          We are all know that Water Pollution is one of the common problem that our country is facing now and that pollution has many sources or causes like improper disposal of industrial waste, throwing garbage to rivers, using dynamites when fishing and throwing garbage like plastics.

           Water Pollution is the contamination of bodies of water like lakes, rivers, oceans aquifers and ground water. It affects plants and organisms living in different kinds of water and improper care of oceans and lakes would be all the causes of damaging not only to individual species and population but also to the human biological communities. Most water pollution doesn't begin water by itself; it starts from different sources like throwing garbage in the lakes and also improper disposal of sewage from different factories and industries machinery.

           Chemicals coming from factories are one of the sources of water pollution. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly into bodies of water without any treatment.

  

           Big Ships that travels into the ocean has a very large cause of water to be polluted. When ships releases even small amount of toxic chemical may have a large impact if that chemical will spilled into the oceans and that toxic will leads the water to be polluted.

Plastics are also one of the sources of water pollution although it is not a chemical, but plastics has a poisonous chemicals, they never the less present a major hazard to seabirds, fish and other marine creatures. Plastic is one of the most common materials used for making virtually every kind of manufactured object from clothing to automobile parts; plastic is usually the garbage that floats easily so it can travel enormous distance across the oceans. Most plastic are non-biodegradable that’s why it will not biodegrade easily.

When farmers fertilize the plants, the chemicals they use are gradually washed by rain into the neither ground water nor water surface.

Water has a very large part, in order for us to live. We can work together to keep the environment clean. We, humans must take care of our environment like plants, animals around us and also the people depend on it. We, individuals can take individual action too, by avoiding in littering the garbage in rivers, seas, oceans and lakes. And as for now all we can do that we could help the world less polluted and we will make pollution less of problem and make the world a better place. 

- The Great Disasters -

Pollutants

by: Lorence Cortel

A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness off a resource. A pollutant may cause long-or short –term damage by changing the growth rate of plant or animal species, or by interfering with human amenities, comfort, health, or properly values.

These are defined as the substances which cause pollution. They can be physical or chemical. They  involve the smoke, gases and heat etc. They are mostly the waste product or their by products. Sometimes it is necessary to add them for the benefit. The pollutants cause an adverse effect on the environment. The increase in concentration of carbon dioxide and the decrease of in the concentration of oxygen also cause the pollution.

The pollutants are classified into different types and they depend on the form, existence and the natural disposal. On the basis of the form they can be Primary or Secondary pollutant.

The Primary pollutants are those which maintain their form in the environment. It includes the DDT.

The Secondary pollutants are those which are not able to maintain their form in the environment. It includes the peroxyacl nitrate which is formed due to the reaction between the primary pollutants like the hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.

On the basis of the existence they can be qualitative or quantitative. The Qualitative pollutants are those which do not occur in the environment normally but occur due to the human activities. It includes the DDT, fungicides etc. The Quantitative pollutants are those which do not occur in the environment normally but occur due to the human activities also. It includes the CO, CO2. On the basis of the natural disposal they can be biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

The Biodegradable pollutants are those in which the waste  products are degraded slowly by the microbes. When the production is more than the capacity, it results in the pollution of environment. The Non-Biodegradable pollutants are those in which the waste  products are not degraded slowly by the microbes. It includes the DDT, glass, plastics, phenols, radioactive substances and metal containers.

Hazardous air pollutants, also known as toxic air pollutants or air toxics, are those pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or the other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental and ecological effects. EPA is required to control 187 hazardous air pollutants. Examples of toxic air pollutants include benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and the methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries. Through appropriate rulemaking, the Claen Air Act list can be midified. A current list of modifications is available. Some clarification on certain pollutant aggregation is also available.

-H2O Malady-

by: Shanna Nicole B. Reballos

                Nowadays, water-borne diseases are more prevalent. Water-borne diseases can greatly affect our health. Water is the medium source for spreading of these diseases. They are termed as water-borne diseases because they can be spread directly by filth and flies.

                Virus, parasitic worms, protozoa and bacteria are kinds of pathogens which are an active cause of diseases. These types of microorganisms are can be found in an infected person’s feces. These diseases are very rampant with illegal settlers which have low sanitary conditions living in the urban areas. Pathogens move through water sources and passes directly through the people who are dealing with water and food. Most of these diseases are enteric (intestinal) and are highly infectious. Proper hygiene and care is should be done by the persons who are taking care of the person being infected.  The common water-borne diseases which are affecting large populations in tropical regions are: hepatitis, typhoid, cholera and dysentery that are primarily transmitted through contaminating of water and faecal waste.  Here are some examples of chemicals which contaminate our water resources:

       1. Pesticide- contains chloride, carbonates, and organophosphates which can cause endocrinal and reproductive damage. It can also cause cancer and can affect our nervous system.

      2.  Arsenic- a kind of chemical which poisons through water traveling. It can cause vascular diseases, nervous and liver damage and also cancer of the skin.

       3.    Fluoride- excess of fluorides in the required amount has the effect of crippling diseases, cause the teeth to be yellow and can damage our spinal cord.

      4.  Petrochemicals- even at the level of low exposure, it can still cause cancer because of the presence of petrochemicals and benzene.

      5.  Lead- the most prone people to this chemical contamination are the pregnant women and children. Lead accumulates our health and greatly affects the central nervous system.

    6. Nitrates- eutrophication in surface water is the effect of nitrates which causes the algae to bloom. Infants who drink formulated milk which restricts the amount of oxygen reaching the baby’s brain, leads to “Blue Baby” syndrome. It is caused by the drinking water which has been contaminated by the nitrates.

              Exposure to polluted water is very dangerous. It can cause diarrhea, respiratory problems, skin irritation and different types of diseases which may affect our body depending on the pollutant present to the water. Among these various diseases, malaria is widely common which causes human health most damage.