Geography
Explain how human activities are degrading water bodies all over the globe.
Water Bodies
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Answer
Water bodies are fast degenerating, primarily due to human activities. Some of which are enumerated below:
- Household wastes — Domestic waste water is mixed with other wastes such as plastic, detergent, animal dung and human excreta and is together known as municipal waste. This pollutes water bodies.
- Industrial wastes — Factories produce toxic wastes which when discharged into water bodies, pollute the water and cause irreparable harm to aquatic creatures.
- Agricultural wastes — Agricultural wastes mostly consist of fertilisers and pesticides. They may be carried off from the farms to the rivers and lakes as surface runoff during rains or floods. They pollute the aquatic ecosystem by promoting rapid growth of algae and subsequent depletion of oxygen in water.
- Oil spills — Crude oil is transported across oceans in tankers. Accidents and leakages often cause oil spills that damage the marine ecosystems. Offshore drilling operations also contribute to oil spill.
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