Page 140 - Genius Kidz Prudence Learning Sc-8

Causes of Water Pollution : The causes of ! Heavy metals accumulation in water bodies
water pollution are the following : can threaten the acquatic life.

(a) Domestic wastes : Vegetable peels, soaps, ! Industrial wastes that get accumulated in
detergents, polythene bags, paper bags, water bodies reach the human drinking
etc. are all water pollutants generated in water through food chains. They can lead to
houses. These pollutants can block the immunity suppression, reproduction failure,
drains. respiratory illness, etc.

(b) Industrial wastes : Industrial wastes ! Microbial or pathogenic pollutants cause
comprise of toxic chemicals such as arsenic, infectious diseases. An outbreak of a water
cadmium, lead, zinc, etc. All these pollute borne infection is not only difficult to treat
the water and when ultimately reach the but also difficult to control.

human body can cause a number of ! Eutrophication is one of the chief effects of
diseases. water pollution. It is the process of
(c) Radioactive wastes : Atomic power plants formation of algal mat over the surface of
release radioactive wastes. Radioactive water body. This algal mat, in turn, blocks the
wastes degrade very slowly and take a sunlight from reaching the base of the water

number of years to degrade completely. body and deoxygenate the water. As a result
Deposition of these wastes in water bodies of which sources become deficient for
can pollute water. Radioactive discharge aquatic organisms. Eutrophication generally
can affect crops, livestock and man. occurs in the case of that water body which
is rich in nutrients.
Retail market and
wholesale market
Time
Solid waste Livestock animals
Sunlight
Restaurant and
food outlets Sewage industry 1. Nutrient load up : 5. Death of the ecosystem :
Excessive nutrients from Oxygen levels reach a
fertilisers are flushed point where no life is
from the land into rivers possible. Fish and other
or lakes by rainwater organisms die.
Domestic Septic tank
waste sewage

Sacrifice
Land erosion
center
Causes of water pollution

Effects of Water Pollution
Water pollution is a health hazard. It can affect
3. Plants flourish : These 4. Decomposition further
plants, animals and human beings. Some of pollutants cause aquatic depletes oxygen : Dead
plant growth of algae,
plants are broken down by
the potential effects of water pollution are as duckweed and other bacteria decomposers,
plants.
using up even more oxygen
in the water.
enlisted as :
Diagram of eutrophication
25% of the world's population is without safe drinking water.

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