Water Pollution and Biodiversity Quiz

3% of fresh water is available for human consumption
Water is contaminated by sewage, toxic chemicals, metals, and other substances
Water pollution affects surface water (rivers, lakes, oceans) and groundwater
Waterways are clogged with harmful materials like oil, metals, detergents, plastics, pesticides, fertilizers, and human/animal waste
Approximately 2 million metric tons of effluents are discharged into the world's water daily
In developing countries, over 90% of raw sewage and 70% of untreated industrial waste are released into surface water sources
Kandy Lake in Sri Lanka is polluted due to eutrophication and is unsuitable for drinking

Loss of biodiversity
Sewage increases water acidity, releasing heavy metals that kill aquatic life
Industrial chemicals accumulate in animal tissues, causing long-term toxic effects
Eutrophication leads to phytoplankton and algal blooms
Turbidity reduces light availability for plant growth

Pathogens cause diseases like Hepatitis, diarrhea, typhoid, intestinal worms, and cholera (9% of children's deaths under age 5 in 2015 were related to diarrhea)
Poisoning: Chromium, used in dyes and leather, is linked to lung and other cancers
Lead, used in mining, causes metabolic issues, intelligence problems, convulsions, coma, kidney failure, and death
Arsenic, used in car batteries and building, is linked to skin problems and various cancers

Contamination and degradation of the Earth's land surfaces and soil
Occurs when waste is not disposed of properly or when chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers enter the soil
Causes of Land pollution:
- Garbage (solid waste)
- Industrial waste
- Agricultural waste
- Atmospheric pollution

Household waste is a significant contributor to land and soil pollution
In Pakistan, 18 million metric tons of solid waste are generated annually, increasing by 2.4% each year
Solid waste includes glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, batteries, tires, and oil, and waste from industrial sites (e.g., wood, metal, paint, plastic)
Few landfill sites in Pakistan; rubbish is often dumped in open areas, burned, or poorly recycled
Toxic substances seep into the ground, contaminating soil and groundwater

Industries discharge chemicals, metals, and plastics into the environment, causing land pollution
Mining companies release toxic metals (e.g., mercury, copper, lead) harming soil and leaching into groundwater
Agricultural chemicals (e.g. pesticides, fertilizers, insecticides) poison soil, making it unsuitable for plant growth

Trees grow slowly and die prematurely
Soil becomes unsuitable for farming
Rubbish sites create breeding grounds for rodents and insects, spreading diseases (e.g., salmonella, typhoid, cholera, dysentery)
Methane gas can lead to fires and explosions
Decreasing soil fertility and crop yields due to salinity and the destruction of helpful organisms (e.g bacteria, earthworms)
Biomagnification occurs, where metals and chemicals from the soil accumulate in the food chain, harming humans
Short-term exposure to contaminated soil can lead to skin and respiratory problems
Long-term exposure can cause serious health problems like cancer and congenital illnesses

Excessive use of artificial light negatively impacts human health, wildlife, and plant cycles
Types of light pollution:
- Over-illumination
- Glare
- Light clutter
- Light trespass
- Sky glow
Effects of light pollution:
- Disrupts human sleep cycles, causing fatigue, headaches, stress, and anxiety
- Disrupts animal daily rhythms, affecting their ability to hunt
- Confuses migrating birds
- Alters plant growth cycles
- Makes it difficult to observe stars

Excessive noise that is harmful or causes discomfort
Can disturb sleep, conversation, and concentration
Causes physical damage to eardrums
Measured in decibels (dB)
WHO sets outdoor night noise limits at 40 dB; industrial/commercial/traffic areas should not exceed 70 dB
Causes of noise pollution:
- Machines
- Transport
- Festivals
- Concerts
- Traffic in large cities (cars, motorbikes, trucks, buses, loudspeakers, ceremonies)
Effects of noise pollution:
- Stress
- High blood pressure
- Sleep disturbance
- Hearing loss
- Risk of heart diseases
- Hearing impairment (e.g., rickshaw drivers, shopkeepers, traffic police)
- Disrupts whale navigation

Reducing trash production
Recycling
Preventing ozone layer thinning (e.g., using alternative energy, avoiding CFCs and halons, following the Montreal Protocol)
Alternative energy resources (HCFCs, HFCs)
Educating the public

Ranked among top 10 countries most affected by climate change (according to German watch)
Ten Billion Tree Tsunami program
Early warning and information systems for disaster preparedness
Biodiversity conservation