Understanding Water Contaminants and Their Impact on Health
Water is a very essential component of our life, making up approximately 60% of our body weight, and is critical for many bodily functions. But what happens when the water we drink becomes contaminated? As simple as water seems, contamination can occur through various mediums that compromise its quality, sometimes putting people’s health at risk. This blog narrates about the various types of water contaminants, their potential health effects, and the ways we can protect ourselves from such risks.
What Are Water Contaminants?
Water contaminants refer to the harmful substances present in water; this could be drinking water, groundwater, rivers, lakes, or even a reservoir. Two primary groups include natural contaminants, and man-made contaminants, among which the latter contains industrial chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. The sizes and shapes can differ from each other as well as the chemical structure of these contaminants. Additionally, these may occur in liquid, gas, or solid states within the water.
Common Types of Water Contaminants
Microbial Contaminants: These comprise bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can lead to diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. Common examples include Escherichia coli (E.coli), Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. The most common source of microbial contamination is contaminated water from sewage or animal waste.
Chemical Contaminants: These contaminants are mostly man-made and include a wide range of substances:
• Pesticides and herbicides: These substances used in agriculture may leach into water supply sources through run-off.
• Heavy metals: Lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium are all toxic, but they could find their way into water supply due to either industrial processes or natural deposits on earth.
• Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs): Inappropriate disposal, wastewater treatment systems, and more could introduce pharmaceuticals, soaps, lotions, among other products.
Physical Contaminants: Sediment, silt, or dirt particles may give water a murky appearance and even affect taste. However, most of them are harmless. But sometimes they can carry pathogens or chemicals that could be dangerous.
Nitrates: Nitrated levels can be high when water is contaminated with agricultural run-off. It’s especially dangerous to infants. Nitrated have been associated with methemoglobinemia, commonly referred to as blue baby syndrome. This is a condition where the blood has an impaired ability to carry oxygen.
Health Risks Associated with Contaminated Water
Most contaminants pose their threats immediately. Others, however take their sweet time, working their way up to cause long-term problems.
Here are some of the heath risks associated with the contaminated water:
• Infectious Diseases: Microbial contaminants are the most direct health threats. Drinking water infected with harmful microorganisms can lead to gastrointestinal infections, respiratory problems, and much more.
• Toxicity: Heavy metals like lead and mercury gradually accumulate in your body and result in extreme neurological damage kidney problems, and in some severe instances, even cancer.
• Cancer Risks: Long exposure to chemicals like arsenic, radon, and certain pesticides lead to cancers such as bladder, lung, and skin.
• Reproductive and Developmental Issues: Certain chemicals, specifically endocrine disruptors, are known to alter the hormonal cycles of humans as well as animals. These harmful substances can alter fertility, affect fetal development, and even contribute to reproductive failures.
• Blue Baby Syndrome: As mentioned above, an excess nitrate in water causes lack of oxygen in infant blood to cause mortal without treatment
How to Protect Yourself from Water Contaminants
Although water contamination is a very serious issue, there are still certain initiatives you can take to minimize exposure to dangerous chemicals:
Know Your Water Source:
• If you are using municipal water supply, examine annual water quality reports provided by your local water utility to understand potential contaminants in your water.
• If you water source is a well, get a regular examination on the kind of contaminants available in your well water, be it bacteria, nitrates, or any heavy metals.
Use Water Filtration Systems:
• Activated carbon filters to remove any chlorine, pesticides and some heavy metal contaminants
• Reverse osmosis systems can remove a multitude of contaminants such as lead, arsenic, nitrate etc.
• UV system to kill microorganisms in water, hence it is effective against various harmful bacteria and viruses.
Boil Your Water: Boiling the water for a minute will kill most pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Promote Clean Water Initiatives: Support policies to decrease water pollution by advocating for more effective wastewater treatment and more stringent regulations over the disposal of industrial waste.
Stay Informed: Keep updated of current environmental issues and aware of any new contaminants that may be introduced to your local water supply. The more you know about the types of contaminants in your area, the better decisions you can make regarding the use and filtration of water.
Conclusion
For sure, the existence of contaminants in water is a serious threat. Yet knowledge regarding the kinds of pollutants and their health risks can help us be more conscious about it. Being aware, or testing water from your location, using filter, and showing support for environmental causes, are ways to cope with risk brought by water contamination. Relatively healthy, clean drinking water serves as indispensable health. It is our turn to protect it both for ourselves and future generations.
Stay hydrated, stay informed, and take appropriate action to ensure the water you drink is as clean as it can be.
