You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic. Pollution of rivers, lakes and seas is a major concern for people who seek to protect the environment. What are the possible causes of water pollution, and what effects does this have on animal life and human society? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.

There are different types of

pollution

created by human beings worldwide each year. Among them,

water

pollution

becomes a major concern that carries negative

effects

on the wildlife and human beings themselves.

Pollution

of rivers, lakes and seas can be caused by different reasons. Population growth, urbanization, excessive use of pesticide and insecticides, plastics and polythene bags are the major threats to our ecosystem.

Firstly

, people use excessive plant fertilizers to promote growth contaminating groundwater.

As a result

, it creates the

water

uninhabitable for aquatic organisms.

For example

, fertilizers and sewage discharge produced by industries increased entering surface

water

leading to a highly toxic environment for aquatic plants and mammals in the Gulf of Mexico.

Moreover

, population growth and urbanization contribute to the overuse of microplastics and polythene bags that cannot be degraded easily in

water

. As an effect, many aquatic animals

such

as sea turtles, dolphins, shellfish and sea lions die from eating these undegradable chemicals. At the same time, our human society

also

suffers from the negative

effects

of

water

pollution

. Contaminated

water

brings many health risks to high-risk individuals

such

as young children, the elderly and pregnant women.

This

unsafe drinking

water

leads to low-birth-weighed babies, diarrhoea and poisoning. According to the WHO, more than 70% of diseases are waterborne.

Furthermore

, many domestic wastes and heavy metals discharged from the factories and industries accumulate in rivers and lakes causing poisoning and toxic

effects

to our immune system. A number of case reports for acute poisoning from lead and other chemicals from contaminated

water

during these years worldwide. In my opinion, the negative

effects

of

water

pollution

on our ecosystem and human beings so that we need to have more education and awareness programmes to control

this

pollution

.