The issue of water body pollution has posed a great challenge to the Environmentalists globally. This essay will attribute one of the causes of this phenomenon to agricultural activities which negatively affect both animals and man resulting to death and diseases.
One of the major reasons of water pollution in rivers, lakes and seas could be identified as agricultural practices. This is to say, that when sediments in the soil from fertilizers and pesticides used for farming are washed by rain which eventually dumps it into water bodies like rivers and lakes thereby resulting in pollution. These chemicals which are rich in nitrogen and phosphorous ,when deposited into the water exacerbates the growth of algae which uses up the oxygen in the water and thus does not only result in the death of flora and fuana but also renders the water unsafe for human consumption. For instance, a survey done in South-East Nigeria showed that incessant usage of fertilizers as the most source of water pollution in that area.
Furthermore, these practices have adversely affected the quality of water bodies resulting in a significant increase in respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis. These ailments are triggered by breathing in airborne contaminants from polluted water which interfers with gaseous exchange in the lungs leading to respiratory diseases and consequently cardiac dysfunction. Also, aquatic animals like fish rely on oxygen in the water for survival. This is hampered when the water quality is compromised through industrial or agricultural activities. Being unable to withstand such hostile environment so they die off causing extinction of some species.
In conclusion, water contamination by agricultural products is a major encumberance to the survival of marine lives and humans breeding respiratory diseases and death.