Pollution In The Great Lakes

The great lakes themselves from the greatest amount of fresh water on earth, they contain 21 percent of the world’s surface fresh water. Pollution in the great lakes are a growing concern. More and more of our waste is ending up in in the great lakes. Many pollutants such as plastic debris from garbage and discarded clothing have been washed out into the water. Agricultural runoff is a growing problem because of fertilizers and pesticides. Other major pollutants present in the great lakes are pharmaceuticals and synthetic fragrances. All these pollutants end up in our supply of fresh water because of our carelessness. It is our duty to develop more sustainable, and environmentally friendly methods. Plastic pollution accounts for approximately

Chemical pesticides used in the agriculture industry may leach into the soil and eventually into the water system. These chemicals are highly toxic to humans as well as aquatic organisms. It was observed that the concentrations of phosphorus found in pesticides cause the lakes to turn a greenish colour. The greenish tint in the lakes is caused by algae that feed off the phosphorous thus causing algal bloom. There can be 2 types of algal blooms, toxic blooms and nontoxic blooms. Although the term nontoxic sounds pleasant, it still has negative effects on the environment. Toxic algal blooms produce toxins that are extremely dangerous to people and animals, they can cause illness or even death. These blooms can also create dead zones in the water. Dead zones are a section of the lake in which oxygen has been depleted to the point that most animals and bacteria cannot survive, and is commonly caused by chemical runoff that cause nutrient pollution. Because the algae has consumed all the oxygen, aquatic animals are required to leave the affected region in order to survive. There is ongoing research on controlling algal blooms. Considering that algae feed off of phosphorous, phosphorous inactivation products can be used to reduce the amount of phosphorous that encourages algal growth. The use of phosphorous inactivation

It is easy to just dispose of our waste in the lake in small amounts, whether purposefully or by accidentally, but the truth is it is not being disposed of, it still exists in the water. Many of these pollutants cannot be broken down by a natural process and will be carried down by currents and spread, thus creating a ripple effect. Fresh water is a renewable resource that has been taken for granted. It is evident that they are affected by various forms of pollution, in the long run will end up affecting much of the wildlife and the greater population. Only when this is realized, will then the greater population begin to play their