EARTH SCIENCE 100 DeLaney

Water Pollution: Its Impact on Earth

Cadence DeLaneyEarth Science 10010.27.24

Hypothesis

Water pollution, in comparison to other forms of environmental destruction, has the most profound impact on the biosphere.

Definition

Water Pollution:

• "The release of substances into subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans" (Nathanson, 2024).
• "Substances interfere with beneficial use of the water or with the natural functioning of ecosystems" (Nathanson, 2024).
• "Chemicals, trash, or microorganisms, water pollution may include the release of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat, into bodies of water" (Nathanson, 2024).

Water Pollution's Impact on the Natural Processes of the Earth and its System

• "Water pollution kills. In fact, it caused 1.8 million deaths in 2015... Every year, unsafe water sickens about 1 billion people" (Denchak, 2023).
• "the proliferation of newly introduced nutrients stimulates plant and algae growth, which in turn reduces oxygen levels in the water" (Denchak, 2023).
• "Marine ecosystems are also threatened by marine debris, which can strangle, suffocate, and starve animals" (Denchak, 2023).

How is Water Pollution Impacted by Earthquakes?

Water Quality

• "serious impacts on water quality can occur when strong earthquake shaking damages sewer lines, gas lines, or any infrastructure containing hazardous materials, releasing contaminants into the water" (USGS, n.d.).
• "The impact of an earthquake on river water quality is massive, and the quality of life and environment typically changes as a result of a quick drop in the environment system" (Jafarpour et al., 2024).

14. Conclusions

Water Pollutions Effects on Earth's Hydrosystems

• "The earth's hydrological cycle links interactions between the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and anthroposphere, and it is also profoundly affected by human activities and socio-economic development" (Singh, 2024).
• "effects of water pollution include disruption of aquatic ecosystems" (Singh, 2024).
• "Monitoring and managing water quality indicators, such as dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), are essential to assess pollution levels and protect water resources" (Singh, 2024)

Long-Term Consequences to the Earth

1.

Physical Impact on Marine Life

"entanglement, ingestion, starvation" (The Ocean Cleanup, n.d.)

2.

Chemical Impact

the buildup of persistent organic pollutants like PCBs and DDT (The Ocean Cleanup, n.d.)

3.

Migrational Impact

"Transport of invasive species and pollutants from polluted rivers to remote areas in the ocean" (The Ocean Cleanup, n.d.)

4.

Economic impact

"Damage to fisheries, shipping, and tourism" (The Ocean Cleanup, n.d.)

Impacts on natural processes of Earth's oceans

Humans

(Nunez, 2010)

Animals

(Nunez, 2010)

Plants

"bioaccumulation of toxic substances, which not only affects plant health but also poses a threat to organisms further up the food chain that consume these contaminated plants"

"fuel algae blooms that then create dead zones, or low-oxygen areas where fish and other aquatic life can no longer thrive"

"High levels of nitrates in water from nutrient pollution can also be particularly harmful to infants, interfering with their ability to deliver oxygen to tissues and potentially causing 'blue baby syndrome'"

(Gallagher, n.d.)

• "water particles mix with carbon dioxide sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, forming a weak acid" (Ohm, 2018)
• "water vapour absorbs more of these gases and becomes even more acidic" (Ohm, 2018)

Atmospheric Water Pollution

"Air pollution contributes to one in ten deaths globally" (Ritchie, Roser, 2017).

Viable Solutions

Chemical and Fuel Disposal

Pesticides, Herbicides, etc.

Medcial Waste

"Maintain your vehicle’s maintenance... to prevent oil and other fuels from leaking onto the road. Leaky seals, hoses, and gaskets often leak fluid from cars and end up in the local water table, or runoff into nearby streams, rivers, and other bodies of water" (Pace, 2023).

"Make sure to blow or sweep it back onto your grass if it gets onto paved areas, and avoid applying fertilizer on the grass right before it rains, so it doesn’t wash into storm drains and waterways" (Pace, 2023).

"Never flush pills, powders, or liquid medicines down the toilet or dump them outside, whether on land or water. These drugs can accumulate in the water and be consumed by fish and other wildlife" (Pace, 2023).

"Put used oil or antifreeze in a sturdy container and take it to a local service station or other approved center. Your community may have a recycling center that will accept the used motor oil and recycle it. Community collection centers and drop-off sites also exist in some areas" (Pace, 2023).

Vehicles

Proposed Solutions

I propose...

• Conscientious monitorization of pollution levels around large cities
• higher degrees of filtration in storm drains/sewage systems,
• more environmentally sound ways to dispose of trash and other pollutants.

Water Pollution

Conclusion

Given the evidence provided (water pollution's effect on natural processes, hydrosystems, long term consequences, and even atmospheric water pollution)remains the most detrimental form of pollution to the entire biosphere.

• Denchak, M. (2023, January 11). <em>Water pollution: Everything you need to know</em>. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know#whatis">https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know#whatis</a>
• Gallagher, M. (n.d.). <em>Impact of water pollution on plants</em>. GreenPacks. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from <a href="https://greenpacks.org/how-does-water-pollution-affect-plants/#:~:text=Effects%20of%20Water%20Pollution%20on%20Plants%201%201.,Accumulation%20of%20Toxic%20Substances%20in%20Plant%20Tissues%20">https://greenpacks.org/how-does-water-pollution-affect-plants/#:~:text=Effects%20of%20Water%20Pollution%20on%20Plants%201%201.,Accumulation%20of%20Toxic%20Substances%20in%20Plant%20Tissues%20</a>
• Jafarpour, K., Leangkim, K., Anuar, A. N., Yuzir, A. M., Ros, F. C., Said, N. F., &amp; Asanuma, J. (2024). Impact of earthquake on river water quality based on combination of satellite data and groundwater analysis. <em>Watershed Ecology and the Environment</em>, <em>6</em>. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000056">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000056</a>
• Nathanson, J. A. (n.d.). Water pollution. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved October 27, 2024, from https://www.britannica.com/science/water-pollution

References

• Nunez, C. (2010, March 16). <em>Water pollution is a rising global crisis. Here's what you need to know.</em> National Geographic. <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/freshwater-pollution">https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/freshwater-pollution</a>
• Ohm, C. (2018, September 28). <em>Atmospheric water pollution</em>. Water Pollution. <a href="https://www.water-pollution.org.uk/atmospheric-water-pollution/#:~:text=Atmospheric%20Water%20Pollution%201%20In%20the%20atmosphere%2C%20water,as%20rivers%20and%20lakes%2C%20aquatic%20life%20is%20harmed.">https://www.water-pollution.org.uk/atmospheric-water-pollution/#:~:text=Atmospheric%20Water%20Pollution%201%20In%20the%20atmosphere%2C%20water,as%20rivers%20and%20lakes%2C%20aquatic%20life%20is%20harmed.</a>
• Pace, B. (2023, March 13). <em>16 ways to reduce water pollution</em>. Green Coast. <a href="https://greencoast.org/ways-to-reduce-water-pollution/">https://greencoast.org/ways-to-reduce-water-pollution/</a>
• Ritchie, H., &amp; Roser, M. (2017, October). <em>Air pollution, Our overview of indoor and outdoor air pollution</em>. Our World in Data. <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution">https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution</a>

References

• <em>How does an earthquake affect groundwater levels and water quality in wells?</em> (n.d.). USGS science for a changing world. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-does-earthquake-affect-groundwater-levels-and-water-quality-wells#:~:text=Water%20quality%20can%20also%20be%20affected%20by%20earthquakes%2C,is%20often%20temporary%2C%20lasting%20only%20hours%20or%20days.">https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-does-earthquake-affect-groundwater-levels-and-water-quality-wells#:~:text=Water%20quality%20can%20also%20be%20affected%20by%20earthquakes%2C,is%20often%20temporary%2C%20lasting%20only%20hours%20or%20days.</a>
• Singh, V. (2024). Water pollution. In <em>Textbook of environment and ecology</em> (pp. 253–266). Springer Nature Singapore. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8846-4_17">https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8846-4_17</a>
• The Ocean Cleanup. (n.d.). <em>What are the long-term effects of plastic pollution in the oceans?</em> Retrieved November 18, 2024, from <a href="https://theoceancleanup.com/faq/what-are-the-long-term-effects-of-plastic-pollution-in-the-oceans/">https://theoceancleanup.com/faq/what-are-the-long-term-effects-of-plastic-pollution-in-the-oceans/</a>

References