Lecture 7: Chemical Pollution of Water

• chemical elements- atoms from only a single chemical element.
• chemical compounds- atoms from 2 or more chemical elements.
• arsenic pollution: considered one of most hazardous chemicals, mobilized through weathering and volcanoes,
• Lead Pollution: naturally occurs in crust, damaging effects on children, massive concern over it leaching into water supply.
• Nitrate Pollution: blue baby syndrome, causes a lack of oxygen in blood, linked to hypertension. will be a globally persistent and growing problems in future due to legacy stocks.
• Salinisation: detected by increase on chloride concentration of water, increase in salinity of soil, acidification, chemical weathering, erosion, saltwater intrusion, over-abstraction of groundwater.
• Mitigation: identify new, unpolluted water sources, treat raw water, establish a monitoring regime, communicate with populations regarding risks.