Chemical Water Pollution Caused by Every
Day Detergents
By Eric Bagai
Water pollution by chemicals (such as detergents) is a big
concern in the global context.
Many laundry detergents contain approximately 35 percent
to 75 percent phosphate salts.
Phosphates can cause a variety of water pollution
problems.
For example, phosphate tends to inhibit the biodegradation
of organic substances.
Non-biodegradable substances cannot be eliminated by
public or private wastewater treatment.
In addition to, some phosphate based detergents can cause
eutrophication.
Eutrophication deprives the water of available oxygen,
causing the death of other organisms.
DETERGENTS--THE
MAIN POLLUTANTS
One of the main sources of chemical pollutants is everyday
detergents.
Specific
contaminants leading to water pollution include a wide range of chemicals (such
as bleach) and microbes.
Several
chemicals that we use our daily life are harmful elements and compounds. These
could be magnesium or calcium based substances that affect water.
Detergents
sometimes could be carcinogenic, so they should be eliminated from the water.
According to Enviroharvest Inc, “The detergents can contain suspected carcinogens, and ingredients that
do not fully biodegrade.”
THE HAZARDS
OF DETERGENTS TO ENVIRONMENT
Detergents also contain oxygen-reducing substances (“i.e.”
a chemical compound that readily transfer oxygen atoms) that may cause severe
damage to the fishes and marine animals.
This
may also lead to eutrophication.
Eutrophication
is a process by which a water body becomes enriched in dissolved nutrients
(e.g., phosphates, calcium and magnesium).
It
has negative impacts on environment, especially on aquatic animals because
water rich in nutrients stimulates the growth of aquatic plant life, resulting
in depletion of oxygen.
A
few more harmful components of detergents such as anthropogenetic components
such as herbicides, pesticides and heavy metal concentrations (e.g., zinc,
cadmium and lead) can cause the water to grow murky thus blocking out light and
disrupting the growth of plants.
Turbidity
also clogs the respiratory system of some species of fishes. Pathogens from
these toxic water bodies bring about in human or animal hosts diseases, which
may be fatal.
Furthermore,
these contaminants alter the chemical composition of water that includes
electrical conductivity, temperature, acidity and eutrophication.
HAZARD TO
HUMAN HEALTH
Chemicals could be a source of drinking water
contamination.
Drinking
water contaminated by detergents can be hazardous to human health.
Humans
become ill with a range of symptoms such as skin irritation, sore throat,
nausea, stomach cramps, and liver damage.
This
can be poisonous and accounts to death in several cases. Such contaminated
water is also not preferable for the growth of crops e.g., rice, wheat and
soybean.
DETERGENTS
AND FOAMS
Detergents are surface-active agents, which tend to
produce stable, copious foams in rivers.
These
foams generally form a thick and dense layer over the surface of the water,
extending over several hundreds of meters of the river water.
These
foams also prove to be an unhygienic source of domestic water.
FACTS
Water pollution is a serious problem today.
Many
of the chemical substances which are disposed in water are toxic.
Disease
causing microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses are mainly responsible for
waterborne diseases in both humans and animals.
Apart
from severe health hazards that these detergents pose, the elements (e.g.,
lead) present in them can lead to acidity.
The
use of better, biodegradable detergents that are friendlier to the environment
should be encouraged.
Eric Bagai is a senior
writer in the high-technology field, to which he can offer more than seven
years of experience as a copywriter. He has written several articles for eHow
and holds a Master of Arts in creative writing from Oregon State University.
RELATED POSTS:
CLICK HERE . . .
..
CLICK HERE . . .
.
CLICK HERE . . .
http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2017/01/ingredients-in-detergent-detergents-do.html
.
.
CLICK HERE . . .
Multi-Media Filter, Highly-Activated Carbon Filter,
Zeolite-Process Water Softener With Brine Tank,
Fiberglass Ballast-Type Pressure Tank
(fully automatic backwash & regeneration)
|
PURICARE
Water
Treatment
Systems
.
.
...
Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo, Philippines
...
CLICK HERE . . . to view company profile . . .
CLICK HERE . . . to view company profile . . .
Industrial Water Treatment Systems |
Water Treatment Systems for Large-Scare Poultry Tunnel Ventilation |
Tachmina Laminated Sand Filter |
No comments:
Post a Comment