Water Pollution

Description
Water pollution is any contamination of water with chemicals or other foreign substances that are detrimental to human, plant, or animal health. These pollutants include fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural runoff; sewage and food processing waste; lead, mercury, and other heavy metals; chemical wastes from industrial discharges; and chemical contamination from hazardous waste sites. Worldwide, nearly 2 billion people drink contaminated water that could be harmful to their health.
What NIEHS is Doing on Water Pollution
Swine Flu Susceptibility Linked to Arsenic Exposure
Arsenic and Type 2 Diabetes
Does Pfiesteria Produce Toxins? New Research Suggests Not
Harmful Algal Blooms and Cystic Fibrosis: A Surprising Connection
Well Water Should Be Tested Annually to Reduce Health Risks to Children
General Information
Don’t Be Bullied by Bacteria! Join the Fight for Clean Water! (516KB)
Environmental Health Perspectives, Environews by Topic: Water Pollution
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (English) (270KB)
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (Spanish) (250KB)
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Water (Arabic) (640KB)
For Educators
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Arsenic: An Element of Suffering (122KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Caring for Children Amidst Chaos (67KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Cleaner Air and Water on the Fly (142KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Consider the Source (1.5MB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Great Lakes - Make the Human Health Connection (971KB)
EHP Student Editions Lesson: Lettuce Explore Perchlorate in Food (91KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Rescuing Water from the Roof (178KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: RoboLobsters (510KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Streamside Schematic (940KB)
EHP Student Edition Lesson: Water Alchemy (234KB)
Related Topics
Agricultural Health
Children’s Health
Consumer Health Links: Environmental Health
Hazardous Material/Waste
Pesticides
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Last Reviewed: June 30, 2009