Question

List two main causes of the pollution of the river Ganga. State how pollution and contamination of river water prove harmful for the health of the people of neighbouring areas.

Answer 1

Pollution is a very major issue of our environment; there are many types of pollution that causes harm to the environment like; water pollution, soil pollution, and air pollution.

Complete answer:
To answer this question, we have to first know about pollution. There are different sources of pollution and each has a particular effect on the environment and living organisms. The pollution is not caused just because of carbon emissions and fossil fuels, but there are many more pollution including chemical pollution in water bodies and soil due to improper disposal of agriculture activities and release of chemicals. The noise pollution is also a major type of pollution that is caused due to the sounds produced in cities and urban areas.

So, water pollution is caused due to the mixing of harmful chemical toxins in the water bodies. The nutrient pollution that is the phosphate and nitrates are the major pollutants of freshwater. These pollutants are formed from the fertilizers and the farm wastes. The industrial and municipality waste discharge is another major cause of water pollution as this discharge comprises toxins and many different pollutants.

Now, the two main causes of pollution of Ganga River are; industrial waste release and the cremation of the corpse in the river side and ashes get released into Ganga. The pollutants released in the water bodies is a threat as the people living near the bank of the river or neighbouring area use that water for drinking and other domestic purposes and this causes severe health problems like water borne diseases; cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and skin infection.

Note: Ammonia is a primary pollutant found in air produce from agricultural activities. This compounds when enter in the air as a gas they get combined with the pollutants like sulphates and nitrogen oxides that are used to produce aerosols and cause air pollution and artificial synthesis of ammonia also that is used in the cultivational field cause harmful effects on the nearby water bodies.