Water pollution picture

This resource is also available in The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific trash vortex, spans waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan. The patch is actually comprised of the Western Garbage Patch, located near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch, located between the U.S. states of Hawai'i and California. These areas of spinning debris are linked together by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, located a few hundred kilometers north of Hawai'i. This convergence zone is where warm water from the South Pacific meets up with cooler water from the Arctic. The zone acts like a highway that moves debris from one patch to another. The entire Great Pacific Garbage Patch is bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a gyre as a large system of swirling ocean currents. Increasingly, however, it also refers to the garbage patch as a vortex of plastic waste and debris broken down into small particles in the ocean. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is formed by four currents rotating clockwise around an area of 20 million square kilometers (7.7 million square miles): the California current, the North Equatorial current, the Kuroshio current, and the North Pacific current. The area in the center ...

Water pollution occurs when a body of water becomes contaminated, usually by chemicals or microorganisms. Water pollution can cause water to become toxic to humans and the environment. Water is an essential resource for all life on Earth. If a water source becomes contaminated due to pollution, it can lead to health issues in humans, such as cancer or cardiovascular conditions. This article explores the causes of water pollution, how it can affect human health, and what people can do to help prevent it. Share on Pinterest Image credit: JEAN AURELIO PRUDENCE/L’Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images Water is a natural resource that all living creatures require. Clean water is also used in manufacturing and for social and economic development. However, according to the United Nations (UN), The UN and the • Over half the global population do not have safely managed sanitation services. • Around 2 billion people live in countries with high levels of water stress, meaning the amount of water available is less than the amount required. • Experts estimate that by 2025, half the world’s population will live in a water-stressed environment. • Around 785 million people do not have basic drinking-water services. • Since the 1990s, water pollution has worsened in Water is sometimes referred to as the universal solvent, as it dissolves more substances Below are just some of the many ways that water pollution can occur. Sewage and wastewater After being used, water becomes wastewater. Wast...

Portsmouth and Brunel University analysed hundreds of water samples across Langstone (pictured) and Chichester harbours. Photograph: Paul White Aerial views/Alamy Portsmouth and Brunel University analysed hundreds of water samples across Langstone (pictured) and Chichester harbours. Photograph: Paul White Aerial views/Alamy Bianca Carr, the co-founder of the Campaigners in Hampshire and Sussex joined forces with Portsmouth and Brunel University London to analyse hundreds of water samples across Chichester and Langstone harbours. In more than 288 samples, researchers have so far detected more than 50 compounds across 22 sites. These include pharmaceuticals and diabetes medicines as well as a chemical produced by the liver after cocaine use. The team also discovered pesticides, including some that are banned in the UK. Read more Prof Alex Ford, from the University of Portsmouth’s school of biological sciences, said: “We know there are billions of litres of sewage discharges annually around the UK but the impact of these discharges are not clearly understood. “This project is enabling us to determine what chemical contaminants are in our marine life and coastal waters. We have found a large variety of prescribed and illegal drugs plus a variety of pesticides in coastal waters and marine organisms, such as crabs and oysters. “This is important, because we know that aquatic ecosystems are under threat from pharmaceuticals and farming practices, such as biocides and fertilisers....