Water pollution occurs when unwanted materials find their way into the water bodies. These materials change the quality of water often making it unsafe for human and animal use. Water is a crucial natural resource that is commonly used to sustain the life of most living things. This means that human beings require harmless drinking water for survival. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, about 80 percent of human diseases are waterborne (Bidhuri, Taqi, & Khan, 2018). This means that drinking water in most countries in the world is unsafe for human use. About 3.1% of the annual deaths recorded in the world can be attributed to the use of contaminated water. Human activities are the major causes of water pollution. Water pollution has led to both short-term and long-term effects on human health. The cases of waterborne infectious diseases are on the rise across the world especially in those areas with no access to safe drinking water. Most of the causes of water pollution are related to human activities. Some of the human activities that have led to water pollution include the release of domestic waste into the water bodies, the discharge of industrial effluence into the water sources, the use of pesticides and fertilizers in farming, and the release of solid waste into the water sources. Domestic waste contributes to the largest percentage of water pollution. Most households all over the world produce domestic waste that causes water pollution if not correctly disposed of. For instance, untreated domestic sewage may contain toxic materials such as solid wastes, plastic litter, and bacterial pollutants that contaminate the water sources (Galadima, Garba, Leke, Almustapha, & Adam, 2011). Careless disposal of domestic waste has become a significant source of water pollution. The industrial revolution had huge benefits on the economy of most nations across the world. However, industrialization had negative impacts on the environment, especially water contamination. Most industries release their untreated industrial waste into the water bodies. Most industrial effluent contains toxic materials that can have harmful effects on human health. The waste materials released by the industries contaminate the surface and groundwater making it unsafe for human and animal use. Also, industries are responsible for the release of heavy metals such as mercury and lead into the water bodies. These metals are harmful effects on aquatic life when they accumulate to certain levels. The industries also release poisonous gases that mix with rain and form toxic rain. Those individuals who harvest such rain consume toxic industrial material, and this affects their health. The excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in farming also contributes to water pollution. Pesticides and fertilizers contain toxic materials. During heavy rains, the pesticides and fertilizers are washed away into the rivers, and other water bodies are hence contaminating the water. Some of the toxic materials in these farming products seep into the soil and contaminate the underground water making it unsafe for use. Once aquatic animals such as fish consume these toxic materials, they are introduced into the food chain and may be consumed by humans indirectly through feeding on the aquatic animals. The rapid growth in population and urbanization has also contributed to water pollution. This is because the rise in population and congestion in urban areas has led to an increase in the careless disposal of solid wastes such as polythene papers and plastic (Schwarzenbach, Egli, Hofstetter, Von Gunten, & Wehrli, 2010). The solid wastes eventually find their way into the water bodies by being carried by the surface runoff during heavy rains. Solid wastes have harmful effects on aquatic life and human health. After addressing the various causes of water pollution, it is essential to discuss the effects of water pollution on human health. There is a significant relationship between water pollution and most human diseases. Most of the disease-causing microorganisms thrive in contaminated water hence cases of water-borne diseases are common in both developing and developed countries. The outbreak of infectious diseases is often attributed to heavy rainfalls and floods. The fecal pollution of the water sources leads to the spread of most water-borne diseases since most individuals get infected through drinking contaminated water (Shuval, 2003). Water pollution poses some health hazards to human beings. Some of the health risks associated with water pollution include various infectious diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Some of the health risks related to water pollution are discussed below. Polluted and untreated drinking water spreads some bacterial infections in human beings. Some of the bacterial diseases caused by the drinking of contaminated water include typhoid, cholera, and shigellosis. Typhoid is caused by a bacterium known as Salmonella typhi the bacteria are spread primarily through drinking contaminated water. Also, the disease can be spread through the consumption of contaminated food and unwashed raw vegetables. Typhoid is a common infection among those individuals who have no access to safe drinking water. In severe cases, the disease can cause death due to dehydration. The common symptoms of typhoid infection include fever, headaches, and constipation. Sometimes internal bleeding may occur in the small intestines. Cholera is the most common bacterial infection that is spread through contaminated water. Cholera outbreaks are frequent in both developed and developing countries worldwide, especially during heavy rains and flooding (Diaconu, Falconer, O’May, Jimenez, Matragrano, Njanpop-Lafourcade, & Ager, 2018). The disease is caused by a bacterium called Vibro cholerae. The bacteria are spread through drinking contaminated water. Some of the symptoms associated with cholera include diarrhea and vomiting. The fatality rates for this disease are high in those areas without access to quality medical care. Shigellosis is another bacterial disease that is spread through contaminated water. The infection is caused by a bacterium called Shigella spp . Some of the symptoms associated with the disease include diarrhea where the stool is often bloody. The infection also causes abdominal pain to the patient. The infection also affects the digestive tract causing inflammation of the intestines which can be painful to the patient. The fatality cases associated with this disease are many especially if health care is not available. Apart from bacterial diseases, water pollution is also attributed to the spread of common viral diseases. An example of a viral disease spread by contaminated water is Infective Hepatitis. The infection is caused by the Hepatitis virus and has some effects on human health. Hepatitis infects the liver and is often associated with symptoms such as jaundice, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. If untreated for a long time, Hepatitis infection may cause death to the patient (Gerba, & Rose, 2018). The virus is spread from the infected individuals through fecal pollution of the water sources. The last category of infectious diseases spread through contaminated water to humans is a protozoan disease. The diseases include Cryptosporidiosis and Amoebic Dysentery. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a protozoon known as Cryptosporidium parvum . The infection is associated with symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. The protozoon is resistant to disinfection and affects the immune system of the patients. The disease can be fatal if treatment is not availed to the patient. Amoebic Dysentery is the most common protozoan disease. The disease is caused by a protozoon called Entamoeba histolytica, and it is spread through the ingestion of cysts found in contaminated water. The infection is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody stool (Lin, Ercumen, Haque, & Hubbard, etc., 2018). Often, the patients may experience fevers and chills, and mucous in the stool. In addition to infectious diseases, water pollution poses other health risks to humans. For instance, heavy metals such as lead and mercury that are released into water sources from industries may cause cancer and cardiovascular diseases when consumed by humans. The metals get introduced into the food chain the moment they are ingested by aquatic animals such as fish (Harada, 1995). When humans consume these aquatic animals as food, heavy metals are introduced into their systems. The hazardous effects of these metals in the human body include causing cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, harmful components of pesticides and insecticides may find their way into the human body and cause cancer and other related health problems.
Conclusion
Water pollution is a global issue that needs to be addressed. Water pollution poses a threat not only to human health but also to other flora and fauna in the ecosystem. Control of water pollution is the first step towards reducing the effects it has on human health. Community awareness programs should be initiated to educate the members of society on the danger that water pollution poses to their health. Also, efficient methods of waste disposal should be launched at community levels to curb water pollution.
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References
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