Introduction
With three quarters of the earth's surface (about 70%) covered by water - an important resource for humans and the environment - and much of the remainder covered by soil - made of mineral and organic constituents -, it is not surprising that water (e.g. groundwater, lakes, rivers, streams, lagoons, oceans) and soil serve as the ultimate sinks for most anthropogenic chemicals. Until recently, the primary concern with water pollution was the health effects due to pathogens and, in fact, this is still the case in most developing countries. In developed countries, however, treatment methods have largely eliminated bacterial disease organisms from the water supply, and attention has been turned to chemical contaminants.
It is known that water pollution affects all living species and the complete functioning of the ecosystem that lives in the waters. Polluted water also causes soil pollution.
Water and soil pollutants include oils and petroleum, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), solvents, pesticides, endocrine disrupting chemicals, emerging pollutants such as nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, dioxins, nitrates, phosphates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), lead and other heavy metals.
To better understand the problem of water pollution, see the following videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Paj8B11fJ0Q
