Effects of Eutrophication on Humans

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Eutrophication is the reaction resulting from the addition of harmful substances to aquatic ecosystems. Eutrophication causes decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance dissolved oxygen depletion and problems in water treatments. Eutrophication is currently happening to many of the Canadian Lakes including Lake Winnipeg. Since 1969, it has been observed that Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) has been the reason for the 90% hike in the algal blooms.Cyanobacteria causes a smelly odour and releases toxins that are detrimental to humans and some other organisms. When the lake is enriched with phosphorus, cyanobacteria thrive due to nitrogen-fixing. Due to the unfair advantage cyanobacteria has over other non-nitrogen-fixing species and its cause in oxygen depletion, other species die off causing decrease in biodiversity. It has been proven through the recoveries of lakes in many countries, including Canada, that reducing phosphorous is the most inexpensive and efficient way to solving the Cyanobacterial blooms. Synthetic fertilizer applications and manure from ca...

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