Water Pollution: MedlinePlus

Water Pollution: MedlinePlus



A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

We all need clean water. People need it to grow crops and to operate factories, and for drinking and recreation. Fish and wildlife depend on it to survive.

Many different pollutants can harm our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. The three most common are soil, nutrients, and bacteria. Rain washes soil into streams and rivers. The soil can kill tiny animals and fish eggs. It can clog the gills of fish and block light, causing plants to die. Nutrients, often from fertilizers, cause problems in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Nitrogen and phosphorus make algae grow and can turn water green. Bacteria, often from sewage spills, can pollute fresh or salt water.

You can help protect your water supply:

• Don't pour household products such as cleansers, beauty products, medicines, auto fluids, paint, and lawn care products down the drain. Take them to a hazardous waste collection site.
• Throw away excess household grease (meat fats, lard, cooking oil, shortening, butter, margarine, etc.) diapers, condoms, and personal hygiene products in the garbage can.
• Clean up after your pets. Pet waste contains nutrients and germs.

Environmental Protection Agency

Related Topics

• Cryptosporidiosis
• Drinking Water
• Environmental Health
• Foodborne Illness
• Oil Spills
• Water Safety (Recreational)
• Poisoning, Toxicology, Environmental Health

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Water Pollution is theNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

• Start Here

  • Primer on Water Quality(U.S. Geological Survey)
  • What Can You Do to Protect Local Waterways?(Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF

After the Storm

08/02/2014 11:57 AM EDT

Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Related MedlinePlus Page: Water Pollution

Wastewater Treatment

08/02/2014 11:57 AM EDT

Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Related MedlinePlus Page: Water Pollution

Water: Human Health

08/02/2014 11:57 AM EDT

Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Related MedlinePlus Page: Water Pollution

Waterborne Diseases & Illnesses

08/02/2014 11:57 AM EDT

Source: National Library of Medicine - 
Related MedlinePlus Page: Water Pollution

• Overviews

  • Coastal Pollution(National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
  • Learn about Water(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Water Quality(U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Water Quality)

• Latest News

  • 1 in 10 U.S. Beaches Fails Bacteria Test, Survey Finds(06/25/2014, HealthDay)

• Prevention/Screening

  • Do's and Don'ts Around the Home(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water)
  • Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water) - PDF
  • Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water) - PDF

• Specific Conditions

  • Acid Rain(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Beach Pollution(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Biological Hazards in Sewage and Wastewater Treatment Plants(Center to Protect Workers' Rights) - PDF
  • Contaminated Sediments in Water(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality: Pesticides(U.S. Geological Survey)
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Hysteria over Pfiesteria(Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF
  • Special Topics in Water Science (Water Pollution)(U.S. Geological Survey)
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• Related Issues

  •  After the Storm(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Coastal Watershed Factsheets(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Cyanobacteria(National Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms)
  • Residential Wastewater Treatment Systems(NSF International)
  •  Wastewater Treatment(U.S. Geological Survey)
  • Watersheds(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • What Is Nonpoint Source Pollution?(Environmental Protection Agency)
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• Tutorials

  • Tox Town(National Library of Medicine)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Protozoan Infections(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: An Italian investigation on non-tuberculous mycobacteria in an urban water...
  • Article: Poisoned well.
  • Article: Ceramic water filters impregnated with silver nanoparticles as a point-of-use...
  • Water Pollution -- see more articles
  • Pfiesteria -- see more articles
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries

  • Water Science Glossary of Terms(U.S. Geological Survey)
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• Directories

  • Beach Advisory and Closing On-line Notification: Find a Beach(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water)
  • Fish Consumption Advisories(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water)
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• Organizations

  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  • Also available in Spanish
  • U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Water Quality
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• Law and Policy

  •  Water: Human Health(Environmental Protection Agency)
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• Children

  • Fish Kids(Environmental Protection Agency)
  •  Waterborne Diseases & Illnesses(National Library of Medicine)
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