The aim of this paper is to explain the effects of water pollution in the environment. Water is a very essential resource in the life of human beings and other life on earth. Nevertheless, contaminated water has adverse effects on human beings either directly or indirectly. This essay looks at the direct effects of water pollution on human beings. It will also discuss the effects of water pollution on marine life and how this impacts on human beings. Finally, the essay the essay will look at general effects of water pollution, like the effect on wildlife, and how these affect human life. The main view point of the essay is the effect of polluted water on human life.

Consumption of contaminated water causes many devastating diseases in human beings. The World Health Organization estimates that 107 major diseases contributing to the global burden of disease are due to water pollution (Bartram et al, 2002 P.537 Para 1). The effects come from consumption of contaminated water. This leads to bacterial, parasitic and viral disease. Chemical contamination, for example lead and silver-arsenic compounds leads to poisoning. This kind of poisoning can lead to damaging of body organs causing chronic disease in human beings. The regret is the high rate of mortality of the younger population from contaminated water (Gleick, 2002 Para 1). The immunity of children compared to that of adults is weak. Once the children get diseases from water contamination, in most circumstances they die. To the adults it is the burden of disease, while to the children it is the burden of death. For example, diarrhea due to bacteria, vibrio cholera, can kill a child in minutes. Such is an example of bacteria which is spread through water poisoning. Gleick (2002 Para 7) outlines four categories of diseases caused by water to human beings. The first is water-borne diseases like cholera and amoebic dysentery. These are caused by consumption of water contaminated with human faeces. Second are the water-washed diseases like scabies and lice-borne disease. These are caused by contamination of skin with polluted water. Third are the water-based diseases like schistosomiasis; and fourthly, the water-related diseases like malaria and filariasis which are spread by insect vectors.

Plant water life and animal water life has not been spared by water pollution. Although agricultural activities provide nitrogen and phosphorus to aquatic life, it is hard to regulate the amount of nitrogen or phosphorus that enters into water masses. The nutrients thus enter the aquatic ecosystems leading to adverse effects to the aquatic life (Smith et al, 2002 para 5). The nutrients bring about a number of problems like limitation of oxygen, killing fish, algal blooms and loss of biodiversity. Coral reefs and the loss of aquatic plant beds are also problems caused by these effects. Degradation of aquatic ecosystem is also a major damage caused by these nutrients. This has caused the problem of eutrophication to be widely spread among the rivers, estuaries, and oceans due to the enrichment that is caused by phosphorus and nitrogen. Non-point water pollution has led to contamination of surface water and contributed greatly to the threat of eliminating aquatic life forever. Selenium is another pollutant that is causing devastating effects to aquatic life (Lemly, 2004 Para 3). Industrial activities and basic agricultural practices are some of the events that lead to releasing of selenium pollutant to surface water. Both urban and rural areas from the arctic to the tropics are affected by this problem. These activities have led to increase in water-borne concentrations of selenium and the damage to aquatic life is immense. Lemly (2004, Para 5) argues that selenium pollution which has been overlooked is one of the most dangerous threats to aquatic life. This is because the effect of selenium is long-lasting and its effect is hard to control. It causes death of fish, other water animals as well as essential water plants, disrupting the aquatic environment. Other forms of life in water like the microorganisms are also affected. Since the ecosystem needs them for balance, the cycle repeats itself and the end result translates to elimination of aquatic life.

The birds of the air and wildlife in general have not been spared by water pollution. The ability of water to vaporize and saturate the air enables it to circulate the pollutants in the entire environment. This brings effects into every form of life that exists on the earth. Over the recent years, several uncommon diseases coupled with unusual mortalities have been observed in marine mammals and wild birds (Tanabe, 2002 Para 4). This is as a result of human contaminants due to water pollution. Some of the chemicals like chlorine affect the physiological processes in these animals. For example, endocrine diseases have been of notable increase in wild life as well as marine mammals (Tanabe, 2002 Para 7). Research shows that animals like albatrosses and cetaceans that have difficulties to metabolize toxic contaminants die quickly. This may eliminate such species completely if nit checked. Soil organisms and nutrient balance is another aspect that water pollution impacts greatly. Roelofs, Hornung and Bobbink (2003, Para 3) connote that soil acidification results from acid rain that comes about due to contamination of water masses with nitrogen and ammonia. This leads to increase in toxicity levels in the soil and the soil loses its buffering capacity. The result is that soil loses its ability to support life. This translates to adverse effects in human life.

In conclusion, water is a very essential resource to life. It is essential to not only the life of human beings but of animals and plants. However, when water is polluted, it brings adverse effects that can even lead to termination of life. The effects come in form of diseases and death to living organisms. Effects to plant and animals translate to an indirect effect to human beings. Thus is because human beings depend on plants and animals for life. Human activities are the major practices that lead to contamination of water. It is the responsibility and duty of human beings to check their activities so as to control water pollution. Controlling human activities will see a decline in the concentrations and the rates at which water is being polluted. This will in turn contribute to a healthy society.

Works Cited

Bartram Jamie, Fewtrell Lorna, Kay David, and Pruss Anette. Estimating the burden of water, sanitation and hygiene at a global level. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. 2002. Print.

Gleick, Peter H. Dirty water: Estimated deaths from water related diseases: 2000-2020. Pacific Institute Research Report. 2002. Print.

Lemly, Dennis A. Aquatic selenium pollution is a global environmental safety issue: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. Science Direct. Vol 59. 1 (2004): 44-56. Print

Roelofs Jan, Hornung Michael, and Bobbink Roland. The effects of airborne nitrogen pollutants on species diversity in natural and semi-natural European vegetation. Journal of Ecology. Vol 86. 5 (2003): 717-738. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2745.1998.8650717.x

Smith H.V, Sharply A.N, Horwarth R.W, Correll D.L, Caraco N.F, and Carpenter R.S. Non-point pollution of waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Ecological Society of AmericaVol 8. 3(1998): 559-568. Print. doi: org/10.1890/1051-0761 (1998)008[0559:NPOSWW]2.0.CO;2

Tanabe, Shinsuke. Contamination and toxic effects of persistent endocrine disrupters marine mammals and birds: Marine pollution bulletin. Science Direct. Vol 45. 1-12 (2002): 69-77. Print.