Angel Acuesta 17 October 2020

Aqua Sci1 – 1-5-1

3 Major Stresses on Aquatic Environments

1. Industrial Pollutants

Waste materials and waste water from manufacturing or chemical processes in

industrial and manufacturing facilities contain potentially toxic chemicals that eventually find
its way to aquatic environments. These waste materials and waste water contaminate the
waters, and resulting to the degradation of the water quality which could affect the aquatic
flora fauna found on these aquatic environments. In extreme cases, water pollutants cause
aquatic environments to reduce its oxygen content, important element for organisms, which
leads aquatic environments to support very little life and give off foul smell. Also, due to
possible diseases that may contact in these affected aquatic environments, the health of
people living in human settlements around these areas may be affected negatively.

2. Land Reclamation

Land reclamation creating a new land by raising the elevation of a waterbed or low –
lying land or by pumping water out of muddy morass areas. It is basically a gain of land from
the sea, or wetlands, or other water bodies and make this land productive. However, land
reclamation changes the quality of the surrounding areas of water. Reclamation materials and
pollutants created during reclamation activities pollute the aquatic environment and cause
the water to be more acidic, and certain organisms are unable to adapt in this sudden change
in their environment. This leads to the decline of biological diversity and extinction of habitats
for animals and plants. In addition, land reclamation leads to disappearance of beach and
barriers against impacts of waves on coastal areas and gives way to shoreline change which
affects deposition of sediments.

3. Pits and quarries

Pits and quarries are excavation of surface gravel deposits, top soil down to bed rock
then machines are used to blasts into the bedrock and remove stones which are crushed.
Besides of the pollution from noise and dust from quarrying, it has serious negative impacts
to the aquatic environment. Stone and sand quarrying causes depletion of water and
disruption of the existing movement of surface water and groundwater. Quarrying produces
organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, suspended solids, and nutrients which leads to the
contamination of aquatic environments. These impacts have negatively effects the quantity
and deteriorates the quality of drinking water of organisms, ranging from humans to wildlife
near or downstream from quarry sites.