Water pollution is a serious threat impacting over 40 percent of U.S. rivers and 46 percent of lakes, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency figures. Whether direct or indirect, accidental or intentional, pollution of our waterways not only affects animals and plants, but the ecosystem itself. Hazardous waste, heavy metals and mercury can damage the health of an ecosystem to a point where it cannot recover.
Mercury is the primary cause of contamination in U.S. estuaries and lakes. This highly toxic pollutant is responsible for over 80 percent of human fish consumption advisories, affecting over 10 million acres of lakes, by U.S. Geological Survey figures. It gets into the environment through emissions from coal-fired utilities and industrial boilers. Once in the atmosphere, it undergoes a process called methylation to become the more toxic form, methylmercury. Mercury is persistent in the environment. It accumulates in plants and animals, which then become prey to higher predator in the food chain, accumulating in animal tissue.
Other pollutants also affect water resources. According to the EPA, over 300 million tons of pesticides are used each year, often ending up in waterways, the majority being classified as carcinogens. Pesticides in water bodies can cause fish kill and through the decomposition of animal material, lower pH and oxygen levels, unsustainable for life. Fertilizer use has similar impacts. High levels of nitrogen, phosphates and phosphorus into waterways can encourage the growth of invasive plants, again setting up a scenario of altered water quality.
Water quality is also compromised by air pollution through acid rain. Acid rain occurs when contaminants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide combine with moisture in the air in a process fueled by sunlight. The result is precipitation with acidic pH levels. The acid rain can cause immediate plant and animal distress or death in high concentrations. The effects are especially dire when the pH levels of waterways are altered. Soil contamination can also occur, making entire environments unfit for life.
More disconcerting are the potential long term effects of toxins in the environment. Many contaminants are known to accumulate in plant and animal tissues. Stricter regulating of industries is needed to slow further contamination. While the EPA has identified run-off from agriculture as the biggest source of water pollution, regulations are not in place to control this industry. Meanwhile, pesticides and other pollutants continue to make their way into our waterways, increasing the risk of further damage.
At some point in their life cycle, over 70 percent of terrestrial animal species are dependent upon water. Yet, despite the warnings, water pollution continues. Sewage overflows, legal or not, continue to dump bacteria, parasites, and toxic chemicals into waterways. Coastal environments continue to be imperiled by oil spills, killing wildlife and causing millions of dollars in property damage. Unless measures are taken, the very water we drink is in danger.
About the Author
Chris Dinesen Rogers has been online marketing for more than eight years. She has grown her own art business through SEO and social media and is a consultant specializing in SEO and website development. Her past work experience includes teaching pre-nursing students beginning biology, human anatomy and physiology. Rogers's more than 10 years in conservation makes her equally at home in the outdoors.
Uchafuzi wa maji ni hatari kubwa kwa zaidi ya asilimia 40 ya mito ya Marekani na asilimia 46 ya maziwa, kulingana na takwimu za Shirika la Ulinzi wa Mazingira la Marekani. Kama moja kwa moja au moja kwa moja, ajali au makusudi, uchafuzi wa maji yetu si tu huathiri wanyama na mimea, lakini mazingira yenyewe. Matokeo mabaya, metali nzito na zebaki zinaweza kuharibu afya ya mazingira hadi hatua ambayo haiwezi kupona. Mercury ni moja ya sababu kuu ya uchafuzi wa maji katika vijito vya maji na maziwa ya Marekani. "Kuna taarifa kwamba kemikali hii ya sumu ni ""mhusika"" katika zaidi ya asilimia 80 ya taarifa za matumizi ya samaki na inaathiri zaidi ya ekari milioni 10 za maziwa, kulingana na takwimu za uchunguzi wa kijiolojia wa Marekani." Inapenya katika mazingira kupitia uzalishaji kutoka kwa huduma za makaa ya mawe na boilers za viwanda. Mara tu inapopatikana angani, inapitia mchakato unaoitwa methylation ili kuwa aina yenye sumu zaidi, methylmercury. Ziwa zebaki katika mazingira. Mimea na wanyama huanza kuhifadhiwa na kuwa mnyama wa juu katika mlolongo wa chakula. Vitu vingine vinavyosababisha uchafuzi wa hewa huathiri pia rasilimali za maji. Kulingana na EPA, zaidi ya tani milioni 300 za dawa za kuua wadudu hutumiwa kila mwaka, mara nyingi zikiishia kwenye njia za maji, na wengi wao wamewekwa katika orodha ya vitu vinavyosababisha kansa. Pesticides katika miili ya maji inaweza kusababisha samaki kuua na kupitia uharibifu wa nyenzo za wanyama, pH ya chini na viwango vya oksijeni, haiwezekani kwa maisha. Matumizi ya mbolea yana athari kama hizo. Kiwango cha juu cha nitrojeni, phosphate na fosforasi katika njia za maji inaweza kuchochea ukuaji wa mimea ya uvamizi, tena kuanzisha hali ya ubora wa maji iliyobadilishwa. Ubora wa maji pia huharibiwa na uchafuzi wa hewa kupitia mvua ya asidi. Mvua ya asidi hutokea wakati uchafuzi kama vile sulfuri dioksidi na oksidi ya nitrojeni huchangamana na unyevu katika hewa katika mchakato unaoendeshwa na mwangaza wa jua. Matokeo ni mvua yenye viwango vya pH vya asidi. Mvua ya asidi yaweza kusababisha matatizo ya mara moja ya mimea na wanyama au kifo kwa viwango vya juu. Athari ni mbaya hasa wakati viwango vya pH vya njia za maji vinapobadilika. Uchafuzi wa udongo waweza pia kutokea, na kufanya mazingira yote yawe yasiyofaa kwa uhai. Jambo lenye kutatanisha zaidi ni athari za muda mrefu za sumu katika mazingira. Vitu vingi vyenye uchafuzi vinajulikana kukusanywa katika tishu za mimea na wanyama. Udhibiti mkali zaidi wa viwanda unahitajika ili kupunguza uchafuzi zaidi. Ingawa EPA imebainisha maji ya maji kutoka kwa kilimo kama chanzo kikubwa cha uchafuzi wa maji, kanuni hazipo kudhibiti sekta hii. Wakati huohuo, dawa za kuua wadudu na vichafuzi vingine vinaendelea kuingia kwenye njia zetu za maji, na hivyo kuongeza hatari ya uharibifu zaidi. Katika kipindi fulani cha maisha yao, zaidi ya asilimia 70 ya wanyama wa nchi kavu hutegemea maji. Hata hivyo, licha ya maonyo hayo, uchafuzi wa maji unaendelea. Maji ya taka, iwe ni halali au la, huendelea kutupa bakteria, vimelea, na kemikali zenye sumu katika njia za maji. Mazingira ya pwani yanaendelea kuathiriwa na mafuriko ya mafuta, yakikufa wanyama-pori na kusababisha uharibifu wa mali wa mamilioni ya dola. Ikiwa hatua hazitachukuliwa, maji yenyewe tunayokunywa yako hatarini. Chris Dinesen Rogers amekuwa akifanya masoko mtandaoni kwa zaidi ya miaka minane. Ameendeleza biashara yake mwenyewe ya sanaa kupitia SEO na media ya kijamii na ni mshauri anayejitolea katika SEO na maendeleo ya wavuti. Uzoefu wake wa kazi ya zamani ni pamoja na kufundisha wanafunzi wa kabla ya uuguzi kuanzia biolojia, anatomia ya binadamu na physiology. Rogers amekuwa akifanya kazi katika sekta ya uhifadhi kwa zaidi ya miaka kumi na kwa hivyo anajua vizuri kuwa anafanya kazi nje.