Contaminants that affect your body
It is known that water pollution is one of the main sources of gastrointestinal disease in children under one year. Conditions caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoan pathogens that spread through the fecal-oral route and can potentially be transmitted by tap water, used for various activities at home (personal hygiene and recreation).
Types of Water Contaminants:
Heavy Metals
EPA Water Quality Analisys Report
Heavy metals are very widespread and in many cases very useful, for example, lead which is widely used for piping, and cadmium own nature of high molecular weight substances. Speaking as pollution, heavy metals have health effects and affect different organs.
The most dangerous heavy metals in our water supply are:
It is very important to obtain your home's water quality analysis report. You can request this report at EPA's website. Click the bottom below to request it:
Lead
In humans, exposure to lead can result in a wide range of biological effects depending on the level and duration of exposure. Various effects occur over a broad range of doses, with the developing fetus and infant being more sensitive than the adult. High levels of exposure may result in toxic biochemical effects in humans which in turn cause problems in the synthesis of hemoglobin, effects on the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, joints, the reproductive system and the nervous system.
Chromium
Is known for its negative health and environmental impact, and its extreme toxicity. It causes allergic and asthmatic reactions, is carcinogenic and is 1000 times as toxic as trivalent chromium. Health effects related to chromium exposure include diarrhea, stomach and intestinal bleeding, cramps, and liver and kidney damage.
Super Bacteria
Bacteria are common single-celled organisms and are a natural component of lakes, rivers and streams. Most of these bacteria are harmless to humans; however, certain bacteria, some of which normally inhabit the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, have the potential to cause sickness and disease in humans. High numbers of these harmless bacteria often indicate high numbers of harmful bacteria as well as other disease-causing organisms such as viruses and protozoans.
The most dangerous super bacteria in our water system:
Legionella
Is a bacterium living free in the environment and is present in all aquatic habitats from lakes and rivers, to ponds and hot springs.
What are the symptoms? Pneumonia: cough, fever, difficulty breathing. A simple urine antigen test confirms if the infection causing organism is legionella.
Salmonella
Salmonella is one of the leading causes of intestinal illness all over the world as well as the etiological agent of more severe systemic diseases such as typhoid and paratyphoid fevers. While water is known to be a common vehicle for the transmission of typhoid Salmonella, non-typhoid salmonellae is mainly known as food borne pathogen.
Chemicals
Include organic and inorganic compounds dissolved and/or dispersed in water. Various inorganic contaminants from domestic, agricultural and industrial discharges or soil erosion products are dissolved or dispersed in water . The main ones are chlorides, sulfates, nitrates and carbonates. Also waste acid, alkaline and toxic gases dissolved in water such as oxides of sulfur, nitrogen, ammonia, chlorine and hydrogen sulfide.
The most dangerous chemicals in our water system.
Chlorine
It is a dangerous toxin that has many uses, like disinfecting and bleaching. Studies have shown that extended exposure to chlorine can produce free radicals in the body. Free radicals are carcinogenic and cause tremendous damage to our cells. Children exposed to large amounts of chlorine can potentially suffer asthma attacks. In one study, rats exposed to chlorine and chloramines developed tumors in their kidneys and intestines. Chlorine can severely irritate and even burn the skin directly exposed to this substance, as well as the eyes and throat.
Pesticides
Are the only toxic substances released intentionally into our environment to kill living things. These include substances that kill weeds (herbicides), insects (insecticides), fungi (fungicides), rodents, and others.
Wastewater discharges pollutes water, for both, soil irrigation and consumption, with bacteria and highly toxic elements. Therefore, it is necessary to purify it through water treatment plants to prevent contamination of the environment, this will allow reusing these waters for crop irrigation.
Pollution caused by the uncontrolled dumping of industries into waterways is very significant. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, wastewater had been discharged into rivers and oceans which have caused a havoc that remains today. Wastewater discharges are a problem governments are trying to regulate and have established heavy penalties.
Water may also be contaminated naturally, while following its own course. Sometimes it can come in direct contact with minerals and organic substances present both in the Earth's crust and in the atmosphere.
