Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 20: Problem 2

Discuss each of the following categories of water pollutants and the problems they cause: pathogens, organic wastes, chemical pollutants, and sediments.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Pathogens are harmful microorganisms that cause diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. Organic wastes can lead to oxygen depletion in water bodies, causing the death of aquatic life. Chemical pollutants, originating from industrial waste and pesticides, can lead to harmful diseases and are often toxic to aquatic life. Sediments, being particles transported by water, can harm aquatic life and degrade water quality by reducing light penetration.

Step by step solution

01

Discussing Pathogens

Pathogens are microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi that can cause disease in humans and animals. They contaminate water through infected animal or human waste, untreated sewage and contaminated surface runoff. Diseases caused by water pathogens include cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery.
02

Discussing Organic Wastes

Organic wastes refer to any organic material such as plants, food scraps, or sewage, which are biodegradable. Problems associated with organic waste in the water can be oxygen depletion in water bodies, which can lead to the death of aquatic organisms, bad smells, and problems with the overall water quality.
03

Discussing Chemical Pollutants

Chemical pollutants are substances introduced into the water through industrial waste, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. They can have harmful effects on both human health and the health of aquatic life. These compounds can cause diseases like cancer, hormonal problems and can be toxic to aquatic life.
04

Discussing Sediments

Sediments in water pollution refer to particles of organic or inorganic matter that are transported by, suspended in or deposited by water. This can lead to problems such as reducing light penetration in water affecting photosynthesis, harming aquatic life, and degrading water quality.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

What practices and consequences led to passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972?

How may sewage from individual homes be handled in the absence of municipal collection systems? What are some problems with these on-site systems?

What are the principles involved in removing biological nutrients from waste, and what is accomplished by doing so? Where do nitrogen and phosphate go in the process?

Describe the TMDL program. How does it address nonpoint-source pollution, and what role do water quality criteria play in the program?

Name and describe the facility and the process used to remove debris, grit, particulate organic matter, colloidal and dissolved organic matter, and dissolved nutrients from wastewater.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Ecology Research

Read Explanation

Environmental Policy

Read Explanation

Physical Environment

Read Explanation

Pollution

Read Explanation

Environmental Research

Read Explanation

Energy Resources

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free