Emerging Water Pollutants and Wastewater Treatments
23
in each water body and subsequently the variation in its effect on the environment
[87]. Apart from industrial effluents, industrial waste can also exist in solid and
gaseous form and these can also pollute the water bodies through rainfalls, leaching
of the groundwater and surface runoffs. Some of these industrial water pollutants
include personal care products, pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals, phosphates,
lead, surfactants, metals, caustic soda, asbestos, abrasives, mercury and cadmium
amongst others [88–90].
4.2 Municipal Water Pollutants
Municipal water pollutants are related to waste generated from household or domestic
activities. They could be found in solid, semisolid or liquid forms. Prior to the industrial revolution, domestic wastes are disposed by individual residents in a landfill
site. At the emergence of industrialization, the mode of disposal changed to the
use of vehicles and thus emission of CO 2 into the environment increased [91]. The
constituents of municipal waste had changed drastically with industrialization, enormous use of personal care products and detergents had also contributed to the release
of pollutants into water bodies [92]. Moora et al. [93] classified municipal wastes
as domestic harmful materials (such as insecticides containers, medications, and
shoe polish), inert waste substances (demolition, construction, debris, rocks, and
dirts materials), bio-degradable constituents (green wastes, food, paper, wood) and
fossil organic materials (plastics, metals, bottles glass). Municipal waste materials
from landfills and incinerators are transported into water bodies through groundwater
leaching, surface runoffs and rainfall.
4.3 Agricultural Waste Pollutants
The substances disposed into the environment through agricultural activities are
termed agricultural wastes. Some of the agricultural production activities are seed
planting, livestock breeding, meadowland, grazing land, dairy farming, horticulture
and fruit plantation [94]. A number of waste are generated from this process some
of which include products processing waste, rural domestic waste, materials eroded
from farmlands, poultry manure, livestock manure, vegetation, inorganic mineral
and salt from irrigation. It can also be classified as biodegradable, environmentally
friendly and reproducible [95, 96]. The pollutants are disposed into the water bodies
by these activities, thereby polluting the environment. Some of these pollutants are
found in rivers, lakes and coastal oceans through irrigation and surface runoffs.
A long-term accumulation of such pollutants leads to environmental hazards in
plants, animals and humans. The severity of water pollution depends on the type
of agricultural activity, soil type and groundwater level [97].
23
in each water body and subsequently the variation in its effect on the environment
[87]. Apart from industrial effluents, industrial waste can also exist in solid and
gaseous form and these can also pollute the water bodies through rainfalls, leaching
of the groundwater and surface runoffs. Some of these industrial water pollutants
include personal care products, pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals, phosphates,
lead, surfactants, metals, caustic soda, asbestos, abrasives, mercury and cadmium
amongst others [88–90].
4.2 Municipal Water Pollutants
Municipal water pollutants are related to waste generated from household or domestic
activities. They could be found in solid, semisolid or liquid forms. Prior to the industrial revolution, domestic wastes are disposed by individual residents in a landfill
site. At the emergence of industrialization, the mode of disposal changed to the
use of vehicles and thus emission of CO 2 into the environment increased [91]. The
constituents of municipal waste had changed drastically with industrialization, enormous use of personal care products and detergents had also contributed to the release
of pollutants into water bodies [92]. Moora et al. [93] classified municipal wastes
as domestic harmful materials (such as insecticides containers, medications, and
shoe polish), inert waste substances (demolition, construction, debris, rocks, and
dirts materials), bio-degradable constituents (green wastes, food, paper, wood) and
fossil organic materials (plastics, metals, bottles glass). Municipal waste materials
from landfills and incinerators are transported into water bodies through groundwater
leaching, surface runoffs and rainfall.
4.3 Agricultural Waste Pollutants
The substances disposed into the environment through agricultural activities are
termed agricultural wastes. Some of the agricultural production activities are seed
planting, livestock breeding, meadowland, grazing land, dairy farming, horticulture
and fruit plantation [94]. A number of waste are generated from this process some
of which include products processing waste, rural domestic waste, materials eroded
from farmlands, poultry manure, livestock manure, vegetation, inorganic mineral
and salt from irrigation. It can also be classified as biodegradable, environmentally
friendly and reproducible [95, 96]. The pollutants are disposed into the water bodies
by these activities, thereby polluting the environment. Some of these pollutants are
found in rivers, lakes and coastal oceans through irrigation and surface runoffs.
A long-term accumulation of such pollutants leads to environmental hazards in
plants, animals and humans. The severity of water pollution depends on the type
of agricultural activity, soil type and groundwater level [97].