Many people would be agree on statement that said water is the source of life. Since human’s body are approximately 70% are liquid, then water undoubtedly is the most vital component of our life. With the raise of new products in human’s life it is an inevitable situation that people use many of branches of organic chemistry and branches of inorganic chemistry in the process of making those product.
It is shocking enough to face the fact that products we used every day like list of harmful toiletries product contains harmful chemical even more knowing that some of that chemical are included in list of chemical known to cause cancer which is one of the deadliest decease in this world makes us should be more concern for what we have consumed for our bodies.
Moreover knowing water as the biggest component in our body, we should be more cautious to what kind of water we consumed everyday. Is it possible that water we use are polluted ? If it is possible what things or chemicals are polluting the water ? These concern bring us here to get to know what are the list of inorganic water pollutants.
List of Inorganic Water Pollutants
This article will give you insight what are the possible inorganic water pollutant that could be polluting you water source. Below are the list :
1. Ammonia
This chemical is mostly found in waste of food processing water pollutant. Ammonia with the chemical symbol of NH3 widely used in agricultural. Consuming an excessive amount of it could cause toxicity which will disturbing blood system circulation. To avoid another harmful reaction of ammonia in household usage it is suggested not to mix this chemical into any liquid containing bleach, as a poisonous gas may result.
2. Arsenic
There are many list of inorganic water pollutants. This chemical is found in many inorganic water pollutant. This chemical with symbol of As and atomic number 33 is mostly found in industrial waste as it is used as alloying agent, as well as in the processing of glass, pigments, textiles, paper, metal adhesives, wood preservatives and ammunition.
Arsenic is also used in the hide tanning process and, to a limited extent, in pesticides, feed additives and pharmaceuticals. This inorganic arsenic is included in group 1 carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) meaning that is is certainly possible has strong relation with the cancer decease.
3. Barium
This chemical is more less has similar effect and usage as Arsenic. This chemical is produced an by reduction with aluminium. With the chemical formula of Ba, an excessive consumption of this chemical could cause cardiac irregularities, tremors, weakness, anxiety, shortness of breath, and paralysis.
This chemical is usually found in industrial waste especially metal industry. So, to avoid this side effect of this chemical it is suggested only consume Barium under the maximum suggested amount of usage, the concentration suggested were were 0.23 and 2.5 mg/liter for water consumption.
4. Chloride
This chemical with formula of Cl is one of chemical that found in water pollutant especially in waste of salt storage areas, sewage effluent, animal manure, and industrial waste. This chemical is also found in gas drilling waste. This chemical mostly found polluted a well water. Even though have mild effect on human’s body and excessive intake of chloride water could cause poisoning. It is suggested to have chloride under 250mg/L . (Want to know more about this chemical read this : Sodium Chloride Uses – Interactions – Side Effects)
5. Chromium
As this element used in were used in dyes, paints, and leather tanning industry, some of these industries waste contain high level of this chemical in it. Chromium which chemical symbol is Cr has drinking water standard of f 0.1 milligrams per liter (mg/l) or 100 parts per billion (ppb) for total chromium. In chromium VI it is known that this chemical is on carcinogenic means could cause cancer.
6. Copper
There several water pollutant that contain this chemical, but it is mostly found because of corrosion in water plumbing. Although it is still safe to consume this chemical under the suggested amount of 0,3mg/L per day, an excessive intake of this chemical would cause severe stomach cramps and intestinal illnesses. This chemical has symbol of Cu and has been used since 9000BC.
7. Hydrogen sulfide
This chemical with formula of H2S is originally in gas state. This chemical could be found in several inorganic water pollutant such as electric power waste, oil and gas extraction operations waste, sewage treatment plants, large pig farms and other confined animal feeding operations, Portland cement kilns, municipal waste landfills, coke ovens, sulfur products and hydrogen sulfide production, asphalt production and storage and geothermal power plants.
When water polluted by this chemical it could cause collapse, coma, blurred vision, hemorrhage, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. To avoid this effect there are several ways including chlorination, aeration, and nitrate addition to the polluted water.
8. Mercury
This chemical is one of the most harmful chemical when it is consumed in excessive amount. This chemical is found in several water pollutant agent such as scale gold mining, fossil fuel burning and primary production of non-ferrous metals. Other sources such as cement production, consumer products waste, contaminated sites and chlor-alkali industry also contributes in relatively small percentages.
According to The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mercury could cause loss of peripheral vision, weakened muscles, impairment of hearing and speech, and deteriorated movement coordination. The most recent research in handling this chemical contained water pollutant is using nano technology in order to cleaning this chemical from its polluted water.
9. Uranium
Even though it is rare but in certain cases people found uranium polluting their water, this happen in some areas that mining or refining nuclear fuels take place or in other word radioactive waste. Human exposure to this harmful chemical could disturb functioning of the kidney, brain, liver, heart, and other systems. To avoid this harm, most of nuclear mining or refining taken place in non-resident area.
10. Zinc
This compound is used in wide varieties of industry including corrosion resistant coatings, in dry-cell batteries, in alloys (mixtures of metals) such as brass and bronze and in the manufacture of paints, plastics, rubber, dyes, wood preservatives and cosmetics. As the matter of fact, these industry waste could polluted the water with Zinc contained in it.
Among other industries, Zinc contained waste is mostly found from metal production processes, from industrial combustion of coal, from waste incineration and from worn rubber tires on vehicles. An excessive consumption of this chemical could cause nausea and stomach cramps and a long-term exposure to high concentrations of it may cause “metal fume fever” which affects the lungs and the body’s temperature control system.
So, those are list of inorganic water pollutants you have to be aware of. Do some preventive actions by knowing this kinds of pollutants will make you feel safer and hopefully enjoy a better life.