Contaminated rivers threat to flora, fauna, human health

Rivers are contaminated with trace and hazardous metals from both anthropogenic and natural sources. The spread of heavy metal is mostly due to human activities such as metal mining, smelting, foundries and other metal-based industries.

Additionally, heavy metals are introduced into the environment through agricultural practices, including leaching from sources like landfills, waste dumps, livestock and chicken manure, runoff from automobiles and roadwork.

Their presence above the limit in water will cause serious threats to flora and fauna because of their non-biodegradability. These have hazardous effects on crops, including grains and vegetables, cultivated in soil and water contaminated with these heavy metals.

Metals such as copper detected in the rivers are essential trace elements necessary to maintain human metabolism. However, when present in higher concentrations, it can exhibit toxic effects. On the other hand, certain metals like mercury, cadmium and lead have direct harmful impacts on human health.

Heavy metals’ inherent toxicity, non-biodegradability and propensity for bioaccumulation make them a severe hazard to both human health and the environment.

For example, consuming arsenic-contaminated water causes arsenical skin lesions, which are a late indication of arsenic toxicity. Arsenicosis is a chronic sickness caused by drinking water with high arsenic levels for an extended period of time.

Recent research reveals that relatively little cadmium exposure might cause skeletal damage, including low bone mineral density (osteoporosis) and fractures. High levels of mercury can have negative consequences such as nerve, brain and kidney damage, lung discomfort, eye irritation, skin rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea.

The World Health Organization has classified these metals as being of significant public health concern.

Mitigating metal contamination

The report emphasised the critical need for proactive actions to address metal contamination, water quality issues and implement efficient remediation methods.

According to the CWC, prioritising water resource protection is vital for sustaining ecosystem health and protecting public health from the hazardous effects of heavy metal poisoning.

Exploring new metal technologies for water treatment and incorporating innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of water treatment processes is necessary, suggested the report.

Simply Put: Toxic water