Written by: Lifestyle

Common Chemicals That Cause Waterborne Diseases

Learn about the different types of chemicals that can contaminate your water and find out how to identify the symptoms of water-related illnesses.

Common Chemicals That Cause Waterborne Diseases

Water is essential to life, and it’s crucial to keep it clean. Unfortunately, water isn’t always clean, and harmful chemicals can make it lethal.

The threat of waterborne diseases is too real, and millions of people worldwide suffer from health problems caused by contaminated water. Let’s explore some common chemicals that cause waterborne diseases and how to protect ourselves.

Pesticides and Herbicides

Farmers use pesticides and herbicides to protect their crops from pests and weeds. These chemicals can enter the water supply through runoff and cause serious health hazards. Consuming water contaminated with pesticides can lead to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive problems.

Chlorine

Chlorine is a common additive that treats water and makes it safe to drink. However, excessive chlorine can lead to skin irritation and respiratory problems. Long-term exposure to chlorine can increase the risk of rectal and bladder cancers.

Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring element that can enter the water supply through corroded pipes and fixtures. Regular exposure to lead can lead to serious health problems, including kidney damage, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning.

Mercury

Mercury is a natural element that often enters the environment through mining and industrial processes. When it enters the water supply, it can cause irreversible brain damage and developmental delays in young children. Pregnant women who consume mercury-contaminated water can also pass it on to their unborn babies.

Arsenic

Arsenic is a highly toxic element that occurs naturally in some groundwater sources. Consumption of water contaminated with arsenic can lead to skin lesions, bladder, lung, and liver cancer, and other serious health problems. Arsenic contamination is widespread in many developing countries and affects millions of people.

Keeping your water supply clean and free of these harmful chemicals that can cause waterborne diseases is important. These chemicals are just a few of the common causes of waterborne diseases, and it’s important to be aware of all the dangers to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Take the necessary steps to ensure that drinking water is free from contamination. These steps include regularly testing your water supply, installing water filters, or switching to bottled water.

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Last modified: June 28, 2023