Effects of water pollution on human health
1)Biological pollutants like worms, viruses, bacteria etc. - various diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis and worm infections.
2)Chemical pollutants
a)Inorganic compounds
Phosphates-Methaemoglobinemia, Damage to respiratory and vascular system
Fluorides- Dental fluorosis, stiffening of joints, knock knee syndrome.
b)Organic compounds
Pesticides, DDT, dyes, phenol, chloro compounds- acute poisoning, brain and blood abnormalities, arthritis.
c)Heavy metals
Mercury- Minamata disease, mental retardation, convultion, dysphasia, numbness
Lead- damage to liver and kidney, mental retardation, abnormality in fertility and pregnancy, abdominal pain, constipation.
Cadmium- Itai-itai, cancer of liver and lungs.
Copper and zinc- harmful to health
3)Physical pollutants- are carcinogenic and also cause methaemeglobinemia.