Effects of pollutants on the aquatic environment

Effects of pollutants on the aquatic environment is a free course. It begins with an introduction to water and goes on to briefly outline the major sources of water pollution (these being sewage works, manufacturing and industrial plants, the farming and animal husbandry sectors, landfill sites and urban surface water run-off). It considers the major water pollutants and describes the effects they have on water.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 The hydrological cycle
• 1 The hydrological cycle
• 2 Sources of pollution
• 2 Sources of pollution
• 3 Organic materials
• 3 Organic materials
• 4 Plant nutrients
• 4 Plant nutrients
• 5 Toxic pollutants
• 5 Toxic pollutants
• 5.1 Pesticides
• 5.1.1 Endocrine disruptors
• 5.2 Acidity and heavy metals
• 6 Physical pollutants
• 6 Physical pollutants
• 6.1 Suspended solids
• 6.2 Immiscible liquids
• 6.3 Discharges contributing to a temperature change
• 6.4 Discharges causing variations in flow rate
• 6.5 Substances causing taste, odour and coloration
• 7 Biological pollutants
• 7 Biological pollutants
• 7.1 Pathogenic bacteria
• 7.2 Coliforms
• 7.3 Faecal streptococci
• 7.4 Clostridium perfringens
• 7.5 Viruses
• 7.6 Protozoa
• 7.7 Helminths
• 7.8 Other biological pollutants
• 7.9 Typical pathogens
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• References
• Acknowledgements