What are the short and long term effects of water pollution?

Answer 1

Water Pollutants and their Long Term Effects

Pesticides
2,4,5-T (trichlorophenoxy acetic acid, which contains the impurity dioxin), 2,4-D (dichlorophenoxyaceticacid) are the two common pesticide components that cause water pollution. The effects of pesticides on living things are mostly chronic. It reduces the competence of our immune system, because of which, we are easily prone to various diseases. The fish in the water are susceptible to cancer and tumors due to the presence of harmful pesticides.

Elemental Pollutants
The most harmful and toxic elements that affect the water bodies are heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, iron and Mercury and they also hinder the transportation of fluids through the cell wall. They also immobilize enzymes as they have strong affinity for sulfur bonds present in enzymes. These substances can produce physiological poisoning by getting accumulated over the tissues of water creatures. The toxic effects of mercury are neurological damage, birth defects, and chromosome breakage. Arsenic is one of the most important water polluting agents as it is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Apart from cancer, it also leads to circulatory problems and respiratory problems.

Inorganic Pollutants
The inorganic pollutants that cause adverse effects on water bodies are as follows:
Cyanide exists in water as hydrogen cyanide, and can cause nerve damage and thyroid problems.
Ammonia is formed during microbial degradation of biomass and organic matters. The caustic nature of ammonia, damages gills of fish.
Hydrogen sulfide which evolves from geothermal waters, and wastes from paper and textile mills, causes nervous system poisoning.
Eutrophication and Algal Decomposition
Excess of nutrients get into the lake and other water bodies usually caused by run-off fertilizers, animal waste and sewage. This excessive growth of nutrients causes algal deposits on the rivers. After some days, the algae decomposes producing foul smell and blocks the penetration of sunlight. The oxygen content in the water reduces due to scarcity of light and causes anaerobic conditions, which is not good for the plant and animal life in the water body.

Radioactivity
Radioactive elements such as radon, radium-226, etc., can be fatal if found in water and consumed. Radon is the most significant element that can cause lung cancer when consumed in a dissolved state or inhaled in its gaseous form. Strontium-90 and tritium are radioactive elements that get dumped into water during nuclear testing. They cause genetic mutations and pose destructive effects on our genes that can pass on to future generations also.

Most of the diseases that strike human beings are water-borne. They are typhoid, cholera, paratyphoid fever, bacillary dysentery, infectious hepatitis, poliomyelitis, etc. So, in order to avoid these harmful effects, follow the ways to prevent water pollution and more importantly, drink clean and purified water and never compromise on health.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/long-term-effects-of-water-pollution-on-environment.html