Post 3- Biological, Chemical, Thermal, and Physical Water Pollution

Classifications
Biological:
Biological Pollution is when Bacteria such as Bacteria, Viruses, and Protozoa are in the water. They are known to enter by waste into the environment and cause disease.
Chemical:
Chemical Pollution is when heavy metals like Lead, Aluminum, and Mercury enter the water. Also, Oil spills and radioactive spills are considered Chemical Pollution They usually enter through metal pipes or other industrial material being placed into the water.

Physical:
Physical Pollution is when sediment is present in water and cannot be dissolved. It can be organic or inorganic material.
Thermal:
Thermal Pollution is when excessive heat is added to water, usually resulting from cooling an Electric Plant.
Repercussions of Each
Biological
Large amounts of this waste have dangerous pathogens in the waste at the time of disposal. This may be the result of the waste being from an individual that is infected. These pathogens can then breed in the waste and possibly infect animals that forage through the trash or contaminate the environment, including ground water and food sources. Another factor is the large quantities of grave pathogens present in hospitals and other health care facilities. When otherwise sanitary waste comes in contact with pathogens already in the environment, it may become a breeding ground for those pathogens.
Physical
Physical waste halts photosynthesis, corrupting food webs. It also can contain disease-causing bacteria.
Chemical
Due to chemical waste, the environment and nearby individuals are put at risk by its potentially corrosive, toxic, flammable or explosive nature.

Thermal
The heated water has a less percentage of oxygen, making more fish die. The fish are also more susceptible to disease. It can also result in thermal shock, where the temperature changes at rapid speeds when an organism has adapted to one average temperature.

Proactive Measures
One way to prevent Biological Pollution is by cleaning up after your pets and properly disposing of their wastes. Some ways to prevent Chemical Pollution are to recycle motor oil and check your vehicle for any leaks that could pollute waterways. Also, use cleaning products that are biodegradable.
Industrial units properly detoxifying and cooling the water they use before disposing it can prevent Thermal Pollution.
Picking up and properly disposing of litter found in streets and on beaches can prevent physical pollution.
Pollutants
Organic pollutants
Such organic pollutants include PCB’s (hydraulic fluid), insecticides, and detergents. If drinking water has a disagreeable taste or odor, it could be due to organic substances ranging from decaying vegetation or algae to hydrocarbons. Pesticides used in agriculture can show up in our drinking water as well. Lastly, chlorine, used to disinfect water supplies, can create toxic organic chemicals such as chloroform.
Biological Impurities
Waterborne microorganisms, found mostly in underdeveloped countries, can affect the host immediately and devastatingly. These include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Parasites are the most frequent cause of waterborne diseases in the United States. Bacteria and viruses can spread just as easily.Known health risks of biological, chemical, physical, thermal waste
Chemical
• prostate cancer
• non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• disrupts human hormone activities
• affect and damage the nervous system
• liver damage
• damage DNA
• reproductive and endocrine damage
Biological
• typhoid fever
• polio
• cholera
• diarrhea
• hepatitis
• flu
• common cold
Thermal
• doesn’t directly affect human’s health
• affects fish population, which affects recreational activity
• also eating the contaminated fish may be negative
Physical
• doesn’t directly affect human’s health
• kills animals and plants in water
• contaminated animals may make us sick

Methods of detection, cause and effect
The best way to identify biological pollutants in your water and one of the most common methods of detection is to pour some water into a bacterial culture and then identify the pollutants in your water. This kind of pollution is often caused by the infestation of bacteria and microorganisms which probably travel through the air and reach a water source. They are a leading source of sickness to the surrounding environment. The common method to detect the amount of a chemical substance in water is you can use a variety of tests. These tests could be for example, the turbidity of the water or the total amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water. This is an example of what kind of tests that can be performed. Also, the amounts of a heavy metal, toxin, or nutrient can be measured. The cause of these pollutants entering the water is due to a variety of factors such as runoff from agricultural sources and from wastewater treatment plants. It can cause many different affects to the water including depletion of dissolved oxygen levels, changing of the pH level, and the turbidity of the water.
The most common and best way to detect physical changes in the water is by using your senses. If it changes its state of matter or if it changes its shape, color, taste, smell, etc… these are all ways to detect physical changes. The cause of a physical change in the water could be the change in temperature or the transfer of energy through the water.
Measuring the amount of thermal pollution is an easy method of detection. It can be done with a simple heat test in the water. Thermal pollution is caused by electric factories and from runoff. It can drastically change the environment of the water which will lead to a major disruption in the surrounding ecosystems.
Environment:
• Air quality affected by pollution
• Water quality due to contaminants
• Diseases

Cultural:
• Christianity=baptism, represents spirit of God/rejection of sin
• Buddhism=“as the rain fills the rivers and overflow into the ocean, so likewise may what is given here reach the departed” during funerals, a bowl filled overflowing
• Hinduism=believe water has power to purify spirit, bathe before entering temple. All Hindu temples situated near water source
• Islam=water for purification, perform 2 sorts of ablutions requiring water: washing whole body, washing head hands forearms and feet before prayer

Socioeconomic considerations:
• Economic status affects whether healthy water is obtainable. Higher population = worse economy = less clean water = more illness.


(1995). Contaminated Drinking Water. In NOHA NEWS Vol. XX, No.3, Summer 1995. Chicago: Illinois.
(2004). Environmental Factors Affecting Health. Retrieved March 25, 2010, from AthenaGlobal’s website: http://www.athenaglobal.com/pdf/7_environmental_factors_affecting_health.pdf
(2005). Thinkquest Team. Water Pollution. Retrieved April 14, 2010 from ThinkQuest's website:
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01590/pollution/pollutants.html
(2007). Water Pollutants. Retreived April 14, 2010, from Excelwater.com’s website: http://www.excelwater.com/eng/b2c/about_3.phpa20
(2008). environmental factors affecting health. Retrieved March 25, 2010, from: http://www.tutorvisa.com/ks/environmental-factors-affecting-health
(2009). Water Pollutant FAQ Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved April 14, 2010, from Lenntech.com’s website: http://www.lenntech.com/water-pollutants-faq.htm
(2010). The Effects of Medical Waste. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from eHow.com:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5137120_effects-medical-waste.html
(2010). What is chemical waste? Retrieved April 15, 2010 from wiseGEEK.com:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-chemical-waste.htm
Bureau of Land & Water Quality. 2005. Background-Thermal. Retrieved from
http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doceducation/nps/thermal.htm
Hendin, Herbert; Senevirante, Rohini De A; Yip, Paul; houng, Tran Thanh; Porkis, Jame; and Vijayakumor, Lakshmi. Socio-economic, Cultural, and Religions Factors Affecting Suicide Prevention in Asia. Retrieved from 3/25/10 from:http://www.who.int/mental_health/resources/suicide_prevention_asia_chap er2.pdf
Jeantheau, Mark. “Water Pollution Effects On Animals, Humans, Plants, and Ecosystems”. Grinning Planet. Grinningplanet.com, April 2009. Web. 13 April 2010.
Office of DOE Science Education. 2007.
Retrieved from http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/mole00/mole00786.htm
“Polluted Waters”. Oklahoma State. Oklahomastate.com. Web. 13 April 2010.
Traditional Water Quality Indicators. Retrieved from http://tycho.knowlton.ohio-
state.edu/chem.html
US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Biological Pollutants in your Home. Retrieved from
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/425.html