• Question: what general affects can water pollutants have on organisms

    Asked by anon-207622 to Scott, Oliver, Natalie, Michelle on 14 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Michelle Valkanas

      Michelle Valkanas answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      What a great question! Pollution can cause a spectrum of problems for organisms. For example, when a lot of debris or undissolved contaminants are in the water it can block a fishes gills causing the fish to suffocate. Also, when metals are dissolved in water it can pass through the fishes scales and enter their organs. High levels of “heavy metals” like lead can cause neurological problems and very high levels can cause organ failure in most organisms (even humans)!

    • Photo: Scott Graham

      Scott Graham answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      water pollutants can have deadly effects on organisms. chemicals can kill marine wildlife such as fish. Other potential effects are metal build up occurring in marine animals. sometime you can have algae blooms where there is plenty of nutrients available for algae to grow in large masses however this can cause the algae to use all the oxygen available causing death to marine life, or some algae can produce toxins which are not only harmful to marine life but animals that may swim in such as dogs. Bluegreen algae is an example of this

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