Environmental Health Issues, Coursework Example

Abstract

Water in its pure form does not exist in our natural environment. Water is found contaminated by a host of contaminants that exist naturally and also others that exist due to human activity. Contamination of water due to human activity is usually due to over usage of water, inefficiency in its usage, and also allocation of water in an inappropriate manner. There is concern however on the increasing toxic levels in the Ontario waterways. The toxic substances are found to inhibit the use of the waterways for beneficial purposes. The major critical pollutants in question are mercury, dieldrin, PCBs, mirex dioxins and furans, DDT and its metabolites, octachlorostyrene (OCS), chlordane and hexachlorobenzene (HCB).

Introduction

This paper posits to discuss environmental health issues in the perspective of chemical contamination of ground or surface water.  In reference to the objective of this paper, the major types of contaminants are micro-organisms (like bacteria, viruses and parasites. Escherichia coli is a common micro-organism), heavy metals (like mercury, lead, arsenic, copper and cadmium. These heavy metals may find their way into water ways through industrial waste among other sources.), endocrine- disrupting substances such as pesticides and industrial waste among others. The biochemical actions of majority of the chemicals introduced in the pharmaceutical and personal care products are hardly understood. Yet in the view of this, these products are continuously being disposed into the environment through the domestic and industrial sewage systems as well as rain water run-off (Muir, 2009).

Describe the problem and its significance

There is concern however on the increasing toxic levels in the world’s waterways. The toxic substances are found to inhibit the use of the waterways for beneficial purposes. The major critical pollutants in question are mercury, dieldrin, PCBs, mirex dioxins and furans, DDT and its metabolites, octachlorostyrene (OCS), chlordane and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). For instance, there are over 3,000 chemical substances that escape the censorship of the environmental media in Canada.  Lack of adequate information on the hazardous properties of majority of these substances and their release into the waterways and the environment compounds the problem. Depending on their biotransformation extent, degradation and the matrix properties, these contaminants find their way into the water ways sometime in their life cycle (Muir, 2009).

Describe prevention and control measures

In controlling pharmaceutical contamination of the aquatic environment in Canada there are several legislations meant to govern the water management. Other laws that are relevant to water management though not directly addressing water issues are laws regulating the use of pesticides and urban development. In Ontario several ministries are involved in various aspects relating to water management. The provincial governments have the responsibility over the management of water resources, authorization regarding the use as well as development of the water resources. Legislation in control of pollution and water supply is in their jurisdiction.  In May 2000 Justice Dennis O’ Connor was mandated to examine a tragedy that involved E.coli 0157:H7 bacteria that infected the community water supply. The outcome of the probe was recommendations for a multiple barrier water management strategy to prevent re-occurrence of such a tragedy in the future. The protection of the source was found to be the most effective and accurate measure in the protection of Ontario’s drinking water. The provincial government developed a strategy targeting the development of a water-shed based source water protection program. The strategy also factors in appropriate legislative framework that would address the pertinent issues involved (Muir, 2009). The great lakes commission has stepped up its agitation for increased funding for the core programs meant to protect, restore, and effectively manage the great lakes.

Discuss barriers to reducing the problem

The influence of giant multinational pharmaceutical companies on contamination of Canadian water ways is a matter of great concern. Pharmaceuticals companies are usually exempted from regulatory schemes that seek to eliminate or reduce contamination of water ways. In spite of a prolonged fight by environmental scientists, the regulatory authorities offer little attention to the dangers posed by widespread pharmaceutical contamination. There is a scarcity of comprehensive, water quality reports that would disclose the levels of pharmaceuticals found in water ways. Since the regulatory authorities have failed to establish any proper guidelines for drug contamination in water, as well as take harsh legal measures against the pharmaceutical companies responsible for contaminating the water ways (Singh et al, 2008).

References

Muir, D.C.G. (2009). Evaluating Persistent and “Pseudo-Persistent” Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment. Ontario: Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Accessed July 22, 2011from http://www.cawq.ca/en/docs/central_symp/044/book_of_abstracts.pdf

Singh, A., Rudra, R.P., & Gharabaghi, B. (2008). Application and Evaluation of CANWET for Watershed Water Budgeting. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada