Water contamination is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated threats to public health. While water contamination has been around for a long time, the effects are still felt today. According to a recent Gallup study, 56% of Americans are concerned about drinking water quality. On the other hand, 53% are worried about pollution in reservoirs, lakes, and rivers.
Water contamination doesn’t just affect you at the moment. It can have far-reaching consequences that impact your lives for decades after drinking contaminated water. If you’re concerned about how water contamination impacts you, this article gives you all the information you need.
Types and Sources of Water Contamination
There are many sources of water contamination, including industrial and agricultural operations, sewage spills, and even runoff from heavy rains. Here are some examples of how different types of contaminants can affect your health:
- Microbial – Bacterial or viral infections caused by drinking contaminated water. Some examples include cholera, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A.
- Chemical – Poisoning from toxic chemicals that enter your body through ingestion or absorption through the skin. Examples include:
- Lead poisoning is caused by old pipes containing lead.
- Mercury poisoning from eating fish containing methylmercury.
- Arsenic poisoning from well water contaminated by mining operations nearby.
- Nitrate toxicity in infants who consume formula prepared with contaminated well water.
Such contaminants can lead to several health problems. Data also shows that drinking water makes up around 20% of an individual’s exposure to lead. Hence, water can have a significant impact on your life. You might have to lead an unhealthy life if exposed to lead or other harmful chemicals through water.
Immediate Health Impacts
The most immediate health impacts of water contamination are skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections. If you drink contaminated water, you may experience diarrhea and vomiting. If a person bathes in or swims in contaminated water, they could develop skin irritation or rashes.
The more severe effects of drinking and bathing in contaminated water include cholera, severe diarrhea, and typhoid fever. These health issues can lead to fever, headache, muscle aches, and abdominal pain.
Long-Term Health Ramifications
Water contamination doesn’t just pose immediate health risks; it can have profound long-term consequences on human well-being. Prolonged exposure to contaminated water can lead to various chronic health issues, some of which may not manifest until years after exposure. Here, we delve into the intricate web of long-term health ramifications from contaminated water sources.
Cumulative Toxicity
Specific contaminants, such as heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury, accumulate in the body over time. Regular exposure to even low levels of these substances can lead to chronic poisoning, resulting in symptoms like cognitive impairments.
The process of bioaccumulation, where these contaminants build up in aquatic organisms, can further amplify their presence in the food chain. This can expose humans to higher levels through consumption.
The toxicity can increase over time. For instance, the permissible level of inorganic arsenic in drinking water is ten ppb. The levels don’t build up to 10 ppb or more instantly. Arsenic or other chemicals keep increasing unless the water is treated. It starts from below 10 ppb and gradually increases until people start experiencing harmful impacts.
Developmental Disorders
Children and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of waterborne pollutants. Some contaminants disrupt developmental processes, potentially leading to birth defects, cognitive impairments, and behavioral disorders. For instance, exposure to certain pesticides and industrial chemicals has been linked to developmental delays and learning disabilities.
One example of how water leads to developmental disorder is seen in the Camp Lejeune incident. According to TorHoerman Law, many veterans were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. This has led to the victims experiencing health impacts like various cancers, ALS, multiple Myeloma, etc.
The children of pregnant women who were exposed to water contamination were found to be at a higher risk of developmental disorders. They were also at a higher risk of neurobehavioral diseases, leukemia, lymphoma, etc. This led to an outrage among those affected by water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
Hence, many veterans and their family members have filed lawsuits against the government for releasing contaminated water. You can also file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit if you were stationed at Camp Lejeune between the said years.
Hire a lawyer for your case and collect evidence that can prove your health condition is linked to the contaminated water. This will strengthen your case and increase your chances of winning.
Carcinogenic Risks
Chronic exposure to specific waterborne pollutants, especially those categorized as carcinogens, can significantly increase the risk of various types of cancers. For example, long-term consumption of water contaminated with chemicals like benzene or vinyl chloride has been associated with higher rates of cancer development.
Neurological Disorders
Emerging research suggests a potential link between certain water contaminants and neurological disorders. Exposure to pollutants like lead and manganese has been implicated in cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. These effects may not become apparent until years after exposure, making early prevention crucial.
Respiratory and Cardiovascular Effects
Some contaminants can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma when ingested or inhaled. Long-term exposure to water pollutants has also been associated with cardiovascular problems, including increased heart disease and hypertension risks.
Environmental Consequences
The effects of water contamination can be felt in many ways. The environment is affected by the increased presence of pollutants, which causes damage to aquatic life, soil, and air quality. In addition to these environmental consequences, there are also social impacts that affect our daily lives.
Water pollution has been linked with various health issues, such as cancer, liver damage, and even birth defects in humans. It can also impact mental health by causing depression or anxiety due to its toxicity.
Socio-Economic and Community Effects
Water contamination can long-term impact the economy, community, and human health. Water contamination can lead to human illness, which could mean lost work time or death. This can affect the overall economy and productivity of a region.
Additionally, water contamination may cause people to move away from an area because they don’t want their families exposed to harmful chemicals. This will result in lower property values and decreased tax revenue for local governments.
Regulatory Measures and Preventive Strategies
While research and education are critical to preventing water contamination, they should not be the sole responsibility of individuals. Regulatory measures should also be taken to ensure compliance with regulations. In fact, one way you can help prevent water contamination is by being aware of what regulatory measures are in place. That can help you to ensure compliance with them.
The EPA has developed several standards for water quality and wastewater treatment facilities nationwide. These standards include requirements for testing drinking water for harmful contaminants such as lead and chlorine.
Some of these standards are:
- Setting limits on how much contamination is allowed before it becomes unsafe.
- Establishing minimum treatment requirements for wastewater systems.
- Regulating discharges from industrial facilities into surface waters.
- Requiring permits before construction projects begin.
- Limiting certain chemical discharges into surface waters through Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).
Different standards are practiced across the globe. According to an article published in the Frontiers Journal, concentration-based standards are the most common permissible mass of pollutants per liter in various countries. However, in the US, load-based standards are applied.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope that this article has helped demonstrate the many ways in which water contamination can affect your life. It is important to note that not all waterborne pathogens are necessarily harmful. Some may even be beneficial. However, people everywhere need to understand how their actions affect themselves and others around them.
