Beach closures have also been more frequent being something many families, and residents have once enjoyed. These toxic chemicals have been found in fish and wildlife, which have been deposited into the lake by manufacturing sites and other industrial companies. (Glutting, 2003)Runoff pollution, pollution that comes from a single location has also added to the lake’s devastation. Storm water, irrigation runoffs, sediments, fertilizers, and fecal matter deposits, are some of the discharges contributed by sewage treatment plants. These runoffs have contributed to the beach closures, and the unsustainable condition of biological life in the lake.
It was literally a dumping ground and it even caught on fire a few times due to the toxic wastes. The phosphorus levels in Lake Erie are increasing due to the pollution causing harm to the fishes that reside in it. In 2014, Lake Erie had so much algae from pollution that it caused the City of Toledo to be left without fresh water. This algae was caused by the excessive amount of phosphorus in the lake. This excessive amount of Phosphorus is caused when the fertilizer is dumped into the lake by farmers.
It also have some very harmful effects on humans and nature. It creates large amount of pollution, destroys the nature and also increases the diseases in human societies. As in documentary about “The Ethics of Fracking” by Marleen troy PhD (Environmental Engineer), Bernard Prausak and Rabbi Mordechai Liebling.
Water Quality and Contamination Report 1 Schrita Scott Water Quality and Contamination SCI207: Dependence of Man on the Environment Instructor Carrie Myers February 25, 2014 Water Quality and Contamination Report 2 Water Quality and Contamination Introduction: When it comes to water quality and contamination, first and foremost ground water is present below the surface in porous rocks and is prone to contamination by natural and human activities. Large amounts of chemicals like soap, detergents, fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceutical are often times discharged into fresh water aquifers almost daily. These contaminants leak into the soil in which it then dissolves into ground water. Different contaminants have different rates of solubility and degradation once they reach the underground water table, either by simple flow or by the downward movement of rain water. The ground water may become contaminated with both organic and inorganic substances which may include heavy metals like Cadmium, Chromium and Nickel, etc.
When we refine or even dig up oil sands we produce harmful chemicals. Since Alberta oil sands are located near major rivers some of those chemicals end up in the rivers. The most famous case is with the Athabasca River, where the water is contaminated by many harmful chemicals. The Athabasca water ecosystem is slowly being poisoned and so are the people that use the water for their water supply. The oil sands maybe a large part of our social and economic structure, but they are slowly ruining our environment.
It did so as the river was so heavily polluted from an oil spill a few months back. As this happened, all the pollution was heading downstream towards Lake Erie. This was an alarming wakeup call that made people realize how bad the condition of the lakes were. Pollution in the lakes has always been a concern to people since the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. That law was in place to prevent any litter or debris that could cause problematic issues to shipping lanes.
Conversely, Chemical plants can contaminate the pure water or create harmful diseases to humans and the Earth. The West Virginia chemical spill demonstrates the dangers chemical plants pose to our environment, and it is important to understand the devastating
Furthermore, the influx of chemicals brought deep into the ground for extraction purposes have mixed with ground water, leading to lethal contamination of local drinking water. Amongst these results, fracking often yields high amounts of methane gases to the atmosphere. If fracking continues at high rates it will evidently threaten local habitats while also contaminating ground waters and while polluting
The methane concentration is seventeen percent higher in the drinking water near sites where fracking is performed. The water is used by near by cities and towns. This water has been seen to cause sensory, respiratory, and neurological damage to those who are exposed to it. The chemicals used in the mixture are chemicals known to cause cancer. Fracking is also hard on the environment.
Another leading cause of pollution in Lake Huron is air pollution. Past environmental studies have shown over three million kilograms of carcinogens polluting the air (Statistics 2003). Currently studies show the working group in Lake Huron have clean up day to help promote clean air (Statistics 2009). Other contributing causes to the pollution in Lake Huron are fertilizers which have caused major algae blooms, causing an imbalance in nutrients, a collapse in the salmon fishery, and chemicals from pesticides. Fish stocks have significantly declined due to the increased pollutants (Harvey