How Does Water Pollution Affect The Environment And Animals

Sometimes pollution affects the entire food chain.

How does water pollution affect the environment and animals. Acid rain can change the chemistry and quality of soils and water. Most water dwelling animals tend to suffocate or drown on being trapped and unable to swim. Proliferation of toxic algae species also impacts the health of both wildlife and humans. According to the american heritage science dictionary pollution is defined as the contamination of air water or soil by substances that are harmful to living organisms humans are obviously affected by pollution as seen by disease like asthma or cancer but animals are victim to its effects too.

How water pollution affects animals quite aside from the detrimental effects that contaminated water can have on humans it also can be catastrophic for entire eco systems. But water pollution affects every single living thing on this planet. Harmful algal blooms and dead zones. The water from your tap may be filtered by a water treatment facility before it gets to you but ultimately it comes from either surface or groundwater sources.

Pollution in the water can reach a point where there isn t enough oxygen in the water for the fish to breathe. Water becomes polluted from toxic substances dumped or washed into streams and waterways and the discharge of sewage and industrial waste. Many species have experienced pollution events that have caused death or a threat to their habitat. For example water bodies can become too acidic for some animals to survive or have normal physiological functions.

Polluted water used for irrigation also contaminates the soil and the agricultural produce. The fish can actually suffocate. Sewage plants are invaluable for two reasons. These pollutants come in many forms organic inorganic even radioactive and can make life difficult if not impossible for humans animals and other organisms alike.

While water pollution has many impacts on the environment its effects are most readily visible in the lakes and streams where pollution kills fish and other aquatic life. How air pollution harms habitat habitat is the place in which animals live including in and on the soil as well as in water. From the tiniest plant to the largest mammal and yes even humans in between we all rely on water to survive. When these algae flourish because of nutrient pollution in the water they produce toxins that poison.

Unregulated or improper disposal of waste from wastewater treatment plants as well as from many unscrupulous industrial factories and plants can tip horrible cocktails of chemicals into bodies of water. This may lead to health issues in herbivorous animals who feed on agricultural plants and leftovers. They prevent water pollution and are also able to recycle water. The pollution produced by sewage leaks contaminates water with bacteria and toxic elements.