ASSIGNMENT.

2
SUBJECT:
HS&E

DEPARTMENT:
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. SYED NASIR SHAH

SUBMITTED BY:
MUHAMMAD NAJAM UL HASSAN

REG NO:
20-ME-04
Q:Identify what makes water a significant cause of
health problems?
What diseases could be caused due to polluted
water?
ANSWER:
Anything which is present in the water and after drunk by the human
or animals, it effects the heath of humans or animals is called pollutant.
The presence of such thing degrades the quality of water and it causes various
diseases in humans and animals.
Here we discuss pollutants and diseases caused by them.
 DOMESTIC WASTE
It is the very common factor that pollutes the water in a very large scale. People
throw the waste of home in fresh water. It makes the water unsafe to use and for
drinking purpose also. There are many pathogens present in the domestic waste
which effects the quality of water. Many organic things also present in domestic
waste. Since organic things decomposes in the presence of oxygen, so the amount
of oxygen in the water decreases day by day and the amount of oxygen present in
the water determines the quality of water. Therefore, the quality of water also
become low and it has adverse effects on the health of humans as well as animals
present in the water.
On the other hand, the excess number of nitrates and phosphates which is
present in the plant nutrients. Domestic wastage is primary source of plant
nutrients. The presence of nitrates and phosphates causes the production of
Algae. When the Algae dies, the microorganisms use oxygen in the process of
decomposition of Algae. Due to this the amount of oxygen present in oxygen
reduces. Hence it decreases the quality of water and it has negative effect on
human health and animals as well as plants.

DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
Domestic wastewater also greatly effects the fresh water. There are some
domestic activities which produces the wastewater,
toilets
personal washing
 showering
bathing
household washing using domestic detergents.
washing dishes and cooking equipment, on a scale comparable to
domestic cooking, after using them on the premises
swimming pools at homes and hotels where they are provided free
for residents and when the effluent is discharged in combination
with other domestic sewage effluent.

If the drainage system is efficient then it cannot affect the quality of pure
water which is used for drinking purposes. But if this water mixes with the
pure water then it effects the quality of pure water and then this is unsafe
for drinking purposes. As in detergents, there are many kinds of salts and
acids which effects the quality of water.

INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Many industries dipped the wastage in the ground and dropped into the
drains which causes the many diseases. Many toxic substances are also
involving into the industrial wastage which damages the health of
humans, animals and plants as well.
The construction and continual operation of power plants, particularly those
fueled by fossil fuels can have impacts on water quality and supply. Many
toxic synthetic chemicals that cannot be broken down at all by natural
processes are deliberately introduced to our water systems. Even in tiny
amounts, some of these substances can cause serious harm to people,
plants, and animals.
As the numbers of industries increases day by day so this threat increases
day by day.
As the industry cannot looks towards the harmful effects on human health
of the wastage of industrial wastage.
Here we discuss some contaminants that effect the human health greatly.

 Asbestos: This pollutant is a serious health hazard and carcinogenic.

Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and cause illnesses.
 Lead: This is a metallic element and can cause health and
environmental problems. Lead is harmful to the health of many
animals, including humans, as it can inhibit the action of bodily
enzymes.
 Mercury: It is a metallic element and can cause health and
environmental problems. Mercury is also harmful to animal health as
it can cause illness through mercury poisoning.
 Nitrates: The increased use of fertilizers means that nitrates are
more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes.
 Phosphates: The increased use of fertilizers means that phosphates
are more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes.
 Sulphur: This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine
life.
 Oils: Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on
the water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light
for photosynthesis. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds.
 Aluminum: This is greatly affecting the marine life. Aluminum is
considered a non-essential metal. Elevated levels of aluminum can
affect some species ability to regulate ions, like salts, and inhibit
 respiratory functions, like breathing. Aluminum can accumulate on the
surface of a fish’s gill, and due to this effect fishes cannot breathe
and causes the sudden death.

MINING

Mining is the process of crushing the rock and extracting coal and other
minerals from the underground. These elements, when extracted in the raw
form, contain harmful chemicals and can increase the number of toxic
elements when mixed up with water, which may result in health problems.
Mining activities emit a large amount of metal waste and sulfides from the
rocks, which is harmful to the water.

BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS

When the fossil fuels fires in the atmosphere then the toxic substances
which are very harmful to the humans and marine life. When these toxic
substances mix with the water vapors present in the atmosphere causes
the acid rain. Then these substances mix into the fresh water and becomes
unfit for drinking purposes. If drank, it causes various adverse effects on
human health.
 CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

Chemical fertilizers are used by farmers to protect crops from insects and
bacteria. They are useful for the plant’s growth. However, when these
chemicals are mixed up with water, they produce harmful pollutants for
plants and animals. Also, when it rains, the chemicals mix up with the
rainwater and flow down into rivers and canals, which have serious
damages for aquatic animals.

GLOBAL WARMING
It is also a source of water pollution. Due to global warming, greenhouse
effect increases the temperature of water which results in the death of
aquatic life. This effect then causes the water pollution.
 ANIMAL WASTE
The waste of animals washes into the rivers and canals. Due to this many
viruses and bacteria present into the wastage of animals are mixed up to
the pure water and polluted it. It causes various diseases like cholera,
diarrhea etc.
 DISEASES CAUSED BY WATER
POLLUTION
Due to the drinking of polluted water, there are lot of problems to the human health.
Here we discuss some diseases caused by polluted water.

 CHOLERA:
It is caused by a bacteria called Vibrio Cholerae .
Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated
water. Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.

 DYSENTERY:
It can cause by bacteria which are present in the polluted
water.
  DIARRHEA:
Due to this disease body does not absorb the enough water
and nutrients, and it is caused by polluted water.

 HEPATITIS A:
It effects the human liver directly and has very harmful
effects on human life. It is also caused by polluted water.

 MALARIA:
This disease spread due to Mosquitos which are gain growth on
the surface of water. Then the Mosquitos bite the humans and caused
Malaria.

 POLIO:
This disease also caused by a virus called poliovirus which is also
present in polluted water. This virus enters the blood and effects the
nervous system of human body.
 FLUOROSIS:
It has negative effects on the bones. It is caused by the high
level of fluoride which is present in the ground water sometimes in large
amount.
 TYPHOID:
It is the common disease due to the polluted water. It is caused
by the bacteria present in the polluted water.
 AIDS:
 The people affected by this disease have very weak immune
system. Due to which they effected the other diseases caused by the water
pollution.

THE
END