There are many sources of water pollution; pathogens, insecticides, herbicides all kinds of chemical contaminants are continually being poured into our waterways, and often find their way into the water we drink. The oceans of the world are contaminated by the non biodegradable plastic bag, and even hospitals dispose of drugs into water systems.
In many instances, even following many filtering processes the water is still insufficiently pure for either drinking or cooking purposes, and frequently, especially in underdeveloped countries the water delivered from a tap (if one exists!) is used for washing clothes only, and reliable bottled water must used for all other purposes.
Diseases caused by contaminated water can be all too frequent in countries where the delivery of clean, fresh potable water is hard to obtain, some of these water born diseases are shown –
Cholera. Is probably the most serious disease caused by contaminated water. It is an acute intestinal disease which can often be fatal; producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms usually caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The disease results in chronic diarrhea which inevitably leads to dehydration, which often leads to death in young children and elderly people.
Typhoid Fever Polluted water often contains parasitical protozoa which if taken into the human body will cause disease. Also there are very often harmful forms of bacteria in contaminated water. The bacteria known as Salmonella typhi is the direct cause of typhoid which results in a fever, acute stomach pain and occasionally internal bleeding.
Hookworm. This kind of worm is frequently found in polluted water supplies. This kind of parasitical worm attaches itself to the inner walls of the intestine with its hooked mouth and sucks blood. It is a nematode worm which can also bore its way through the outer skin of an animal or human. This creature can have an adverse effect on the immune system exposing the body to further viral and bacterial infection.
There are many parts of Asia and Africa who have no easy access to potable water. Worldwide it is estimated that perhaps one billion people are without this natural resource, with about one half of this number continually being exposed to getting some kind of water born disease.
In Africa today it is said that a young child dies every couple of seconds as a result of polluted water, and any form of sanitation is not available to almost three billion people. Think about these things the next time you are tempted to pour away some unnatural substance down the kitchen sink!
In many instances, even following many filtering processes the water is still insufficiently pure for either drinking or cooking purposes, and frequently, especially in underdeveloped countries the water delivered from a tap (if one exists!) is used for washing clothes only, and reliable bottled water must used for all other purposes.
Diseases caused by contaminated water can be all too frequent in countries where the delivery of clean, fresh potable water is hard to obtain, some of these water born diseases are shown –
Cholera. Is probably the most serious disease caused by contaminated water. It is an acute intestinal disease which can often be fatal; producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms usually caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The disease results in chronic diarrhea which inevitably leads to dehydration, which often leads to death in young children and elderly people.
Typhoid Fever Polluted water often contains parasitical protozoa which if taken into the human body will cause disease. Also there are very often harmful forms of bacteria in contaminated water. The bacteria known as Salmonella typhi is the direct cause of typhoid which results in a fever, acute stomach pain and occasionally internal bleeding.
Hookworm. This kind of worm is frequently found in polluted water supplies. This kind of parasitical worm attaches itself to the inner walls of the intestine with its hooked mouth and sucks blood. It is a nematode worm which can also bore its way through the outer skin of an animal or human. This creature can have an adverse effect on the immune system exposing the body to further viral and bacterial infection.
There are many parts of Asia and Africa who have no easy access to potable water. Worldwide it is estimated that perhaps one billion people are without this natural resource, with about one half of this number continually being exposed to getting some kind of water born disease.
In Africa today it is said that a young child dies every couple of seconds as a result of polluted water, and any form of sanitation is not available to almost three billion people. Think about these things the next time you are tempted to pour away some unnatural substance down the kitchen sink!
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