EESA10 Lecture 3

Monday, May 27, 2013 12:10 PM

Cue Column:

Note-Taking Area: Waterborne Hazards & Human Health Liquid natural capitol Water is everywhere (even in body, air) Moderate climate - moderate peaks World's problems Water Quantity In Canada, we have enough water But mostly used as a luxury Some parts of USA don't have enough water Sometimes water has to be transported Withdrawal: total amt of water removed from water source Can be returned to original source for reuse Quality Not much fresh water Check diagram (3 pie charts) Stress Water stress: <1700 cubic meters/year/person Water scarcity: <1000 cubic meters/year/person Sometimes water far from agricultural area Sources far from cities, rural areas Precipitation in short period of time (but large amts of precipitation) Withdrawal - lakes and rivers can shrink as a result How we use world's fresh water Look at slide Hydrological poverty Countries fighting over water sources Not about low income/money Amount of water they have Result: diarrheal disease/death Water & Your Health Swimming Drinking water City is responsible for taking water samples At their facility Water can change Hard water - more solids Soft water - contains less ; uses more lead pH, acidic in water More lead dissolved in acidic water Check image of land layers Unconfined - opened to surface Not reliable source Confined aquifer - water squeezed btwn layers under pressure Better in terms of pollution b/c more difficult to contaminate Quality Check slide image of sources of water contamination Contaminants in drinking water Microbes Most famous Coliform, E. coli, Salmonella, Cholerae norwalk, Hep A, These can go through filters Test Fecal coliform test (test for E. Coli)
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norwalk, Hep A, These can go through filters Test Fecal coliform test (test for E. Coli) Case study: Walkerton Water contamination of E. Coli Couple 100s ill, few died Lots of farmland Cow manure on field Add rain, manure washed out Knew of high levels of E. Coli, but failed to report to public Radionuclides Radium, those broken down and taken by water Radiation Impacts genetics, cancer risk Radon Gas w/out colour/odour Can easily evaporate Main source is air not water Inorganic contaminants: arsenic Metalloid Carcinogen - cause skin cancer/change pigmentation Other health problems Case study Bangladesh Ppl didn't have enough water Drilled # of wells Concentrations of arsenic Medium sized wells are least contaminated; whereas deep and shallow ones are more contaminated WHO found, more income, more deeper well Nevada & Arizona Natural contamination Rocks contain arsenic Nova Scotia Well water have arsenic Frequently exceeds national drinking water guidelines for arsenic (yellow) Black shale beds (nova scotia) Salt water has high levels Inorganic contaminant: fluoride Helps to prevent dental health Too much can cause problems such as Dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis (bone diseases) Case study India Levels of fluoride Africa Eastern parts b/c of volcanoes The activity of these bring surface fluoride Quebec (Maria) Similar to Bangladesh Needed wells, but contained fluoride Inorganic contaminant: lead Many diff problems Biggest problem for children (IQ, behaviour etc.) Low income, low housing (still have lead piping) Inorganic contaminant: nitrates Mostly from fertilizers Stops RBCs from transferring oxygen Bluish Methemoglobinemia (oxygen starvation) Nitrates in water

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 Nitrates in water But when come into body, convert into nitrides Nitrides ARE TOXIC These cause the health problems Industrial contaminants: pesticides & herbicides Check slide Chlorinated hydrocarbons In water Doesn't break down easily Industrial contaminants: MTBE (Methil-Tert-Butyl-Ether) Added to gasoline Replaced lead Easily moves thru ground Can leak from storage tanks very easily if not sealed etc. properly Disinfection Byproducts Disinfectants react w/ organic matter or inorganic ones

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