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Ocean acidification and its impact on our environment
Water pollution environmental effects
What are the effects of water pollution and the environment
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Every year over 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage and waste is dumped into America’s freshwater lakes. It has been proven that over one million mammals and sea birds have been victims to man-made water pollution in the United States alone. Within them, some of our most valued animals such as fish, penguins, and whales have become endangered and even extinct due to both direct and indirect causes. The concept of safe water is slowly decreasing and freshwater organisms are the primary targets. Despite the fact that over 80 percent of water pollution is caused by domestic sewage, many people are unaware of their contributions towards the destruction of our freshwater ecosystems. The destruction of fresh water ecosystems is mostly caused …show more content…
These well-known species living in freshwater ecosystems provided over $75 million dollars in goods and services in the US alone. One of the main services this industry provides is the natural water purification and assimilation of wastes, which accounts for over 400 billion dollars world-wide. If the destruction of these ecosystems continue at a rapid pace, not only will many species become extinct but countries will be without recreational services such as fishing, snorkeling and sightseeing. Statistics proved that over 40 percent of the lakes in America are too polluted for swimming fishing, aquatic life already. Tourist’s countries around the world such as Fiji, Bahamas, and Croatia will experience huge economic consequences with the destruction of freshwater ecosystems. The destruction of these ecosystems from man-made sources can ultimately harm more than just the animals. At this time, I would imagine that you are asking yourself what exactly is water pollution and how can I help stop …show more content…
Various industries such as the thermal, leather and coal production have sped up the rate at which freshwater ecosystems have been negatively affected by overusing their abilities and consistently disobeying laws and regulations regarding the amount of fossil fuels burned. Over 30 percent of these harmful emissions have been absorbed by oceans around the world through rainwater. The combustion of fossil fuels release The consistent pH changes can cause ocean acidification for various marine ecosystems by the means of either decreasing or intensely increasing their nutrient supplies or even massacring the species that are unable to adapt to the extreme levels of acidity. For example, pteropod shells begin to dissolve in water that contains low pH levels due to the lack of calcium carbonate. Marine species habitats can be destroyed and even their food supply can definitely decrease as well. Overall, the man-made effects of relentlessly burning fossil fuels have harmed marine ecosystems in various ways, either indirectly or
Nitrogen and nitrates relate to Hypoxia via the process of eutrophication. Since Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in most waters, the added input of nitrate causes massive growth in algae. The algae rapidly consume all available N, and once the nutrient is limited again, the alga dies en masse. As the alga decomposes, oxygen is depleted in the water. This lowers dangerously lowers the level of dissolved oxygen in the water, which harms living organisms in the area. Small organisms and organisms that are immobile or unable to escape low-oxygen areas are particularly vulnerable. Hypoxia and resulting “dead zones” are harmful to local fishing and shrimping industries and algal blooms hurt the tourism industry. Hypoxia has lead to a decrease of about 25% in the brown shrimp habitat, forcing shrimping operations further offshore. As the hypoxia issue continues to grow, negative human effects will only increase. Since nitrate runoff from ag. has been proven to be the dominant source of hypoxia, policies could be enacted to effectively deal with “point-source” pollution. This makes enacting environmental policy more easily adapted, possibly included in past policy such as the Clean Water Act.
Today pollution is very high in both inland and marine waters. All different types of water pollution are contributing factors in this problem. Here are some things that are associated with pollution: Pathogens: Pathogens are disease causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. They usually come from human sewage. As pathogen numbers increase, so does the risk of human health.
'Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives(in) it. ' (Azeem 1). In Canada, most people live in the southern part along with many agricultural and industrial activities causing the worst cases of water pollution. Water pollution is caused by population growth and industrialization, but can be prevented if proper controls are taken into consideration to help reduce the discharge of waste materials. Water pollution has been a huge disadvantaging concern for humans as well as wildlife for over many decades, but can actually be prevented if attempted. Preventing waste materials from being dumped into lakes and rivers, controlling
As swans drift with the current on a secluded lake in upper Canada they think not of the water they are in but of dreams of the past and wants for the future. On the other hand, seals off the coast of Northern California fear for their lives every day of humans exploiting their natural habitat. Many things can endanger water born animals, and most all of these come directly from humans. The pollutants of water come from many sources both close and far away from the water body itself. Wastes of humans are the major cause of pollution in the water, such materials include sewage, chemicals among other notable items. First, the composition water: water is odorless, tasteless and a transparent liquid. Though in large quantities water appears to have a bluish tint, it maintains the transparent tendency when observed in smaller quantities. Water covers approximately seventy percent of the Earth's surface in the solid and liquid form. Pollutants can be carried over a great distance by combining with evaporating moisture, forming clouds and then the wind taking the clouds to the larger body of water. This process is called acid rain and it is a major source of water pollution. Acid rain has been a problem since the Industrial Revolution, and has kept growing ever since. With acid rain moving over to a fresh water body, the plants and animals could experience pollution that they never had to deal with before and they could possibly die for the sudden change without them having time to adapt, if this is possible.
Dumping and contact with toxic chemicals have made much of the Great Lakes dangerous. One of the major sources of toxins and pollutants that are polluting the lakes is large farms. The artificial fertilizers and pesticides that are used run off into the water and then into the lakes. Sewage water from cities drains into the lakes when overflowing occurs, contributing to the pollution. Chlorine has to be used as a disinfectant in the drinking water that comes from the lakes.
Pollution comes in many forms. In the ocean we dump a variety of substances, including human wastes, chemicals from fertilizers, oil, and trash such as plastic which all contribute to the growing issue of our ocean pollution. In addition to, our usable waters are finite. More than 97.5 percent of the water on this planet is undrinkable salt water; the remaining 2.5 percent has two-thirds of the usable fresh water locked up in glaciers, snow, and permafrost. Of the one-third of freshwater that is available for human use, 20 percent is used for industrial use. (“Water Pollution”) “In effect, water pollution reduces the volume of water available for use by human and other populations.” (Robin Clarke, Jannet King) Knowing that there are approximately 7.2 billion people and growing on this planet with only 0.83 percent of available for our use wouldn’t you want to do everything possible to help put an end to water pollution? (worldometers)
Latham, A., Wright, E., & Tsang, A. (n.d.). Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem: Introduction and Background. Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem: Introduction and Background. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section5group1/introduction_and_background
Use of pesticides & other fertilizers infuse nitrogen oxide into the water bodies acidifying the water which kills the plants and aquatic animals living in
Water pollution has had devastating effects on the environment, which include irreversible effects on the oceans ecosystem. People often underestimate the importance of the ocean. They don’t realize how much damage pollution has caused to the ocean and the thousands of creatures that inhabit it. Earth is a huge place, but resources are actually very limited and will not last forever unless there is a balance. We must protect the resources we have in order for them to last into the next generation.
Algae blooms can develop slowly and their effects can be long lasting. The toxicity continues to take its toll on marine life, long after the bloom has dispersed (Edwards, 2013). Algae blooms in the water can contaminate the food supply of marine life and humans, posing health hazards to both (Phlips et al., 2012). The blooms limit the amount of light that can penetrate down into the water; thus, cutting down oxygen levels needed to sustain plankton and sea grass (Phlips et al., 2015). The toxins released by the blooms pass through the gills of fish and lead to death by respiratory failure (Flaherty & Landsberg, 2011). Plankton, seagrass, and fish are not the only marine life affected by the toxic blooms. Larger animals, such as the Florida manatee, are harmed by these algae blooms. Manatees succumb to toxic poisoning from the algae blooms by ingesting seagrass that has been polluted with neurotoxins (Edwards, 2013). Also, coastal birds that feed on fish in algae bloom infested waters are exposed to deadly bacteria levels. It is evident how climate change issues are causing Florida temperatures and rainfall to rise, while spreading the harmful effects of algae blooms (Phlips et al., 2012). A solution must be found to rid the water of this extremely harmful
Some of the species being threatened by pollution include: dolphins, porpoises, penguins, sharks, and polar bears. B. Humans are also being affected. 1. Clean water is needed for good human and animal health, but as DoSomething.org states, over 1 billion people worldwide don’t have a means of getting clean drinking water, an... ... middle of paper ... ...
The most prevalent source of agricultural water pollution is soil that is washed off of fields. These fields have been treated with fertilizers and pesticides, which over time have accumulated heavy metals that are then transferred to lakes and streams. The excess particles cloud the water blocking vital oxygen and sun for the aquatic plants.
lines, rope, and plastic nets are being caught in the rutter and the engine, but
Water Pollution is a current issue that has serious consequences; it progresses everyday in our lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water.
Water pollution is also a major thing in the world because almost 60% of it is fishes. It occurs due to several factors; the industrial waste dumped into the rivers and other water body’s cause am imbalance in the water leading to its severe contamination and deaths. And the infamous Global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases particularly CO2 is leading to global warming.