Different Kinds of Water Pollutants

BIOLOGICAL IMPURITIES:
Bacteria, Virus, and Parasites -- Years ago, waterborne diseases accounted for millions of deaths. Even today in underdeveloped countries, an estimated 25,000 people will die daily from waterborne disease. Effects of waterborne microorganisms can be immediate and devastating. Therefore, microorganisms are the first and most important consideration in making water acceptable for human consumption.

Generally speaking, modern municipal supplies are relatively free from harmful organisms because of routine disinfection with chlorine or chloramines and frequent sampling. This does not mean municipal water is free of all bacteria. Those of us with private wells and small rural water systems have reason to be more concerned about the possibility of microorganism contamination from septic tanks, animal wastes, and other problems. There is a little community in California, where 4,000,000 gallons of urine hits the ground daily from dairy cows! Authorities say that at least 4000 cases of waterborne diseases are reported every year in the U.S. They also estimate that much of the temporary ills and everyday gastrointestinal disorders that go routinely unreported can be attributed to organisms found in our water supplies.

INORGANIC IMPURITIES:
Dirt and Sediment or Turbidity -- Most waters contain some suspended particles which may consist of fine sand, clay, soil, and precipitated salts. Turbidity is unpleasant to look at, can be a source of food and lodging for bacteria, and can interfere with effective disinfection.

Total Dissolved Solids -- These substances are dissolved rock and other compounds from the earth. The entire list of them could fill this page. The presence and amount of total dissolved solids in water represents a point of controversy among those who promote water treatment products. Here are some facts about the consequences of higher levels of TDS in water:

1. High TDS results in undesirable taste which could be salty, bitter, or metallic.

2. High TDS water is less thirst quenching.

3. Some of the individual mineral salts that make up TDS pose a variety of health hazards. The most problematic are Nitrates, Sodium, Sulfates, Barium, Copper, and Fluoride.

4. The EPA Secondary Regulations advise a maximum level of 500mg/liter (500 parts per million-ppm) for TDS. Numerous water supplies exceed this level. When TDS levels exceed 1000mg/L it is generally considered unfit for human consumption.

5. High TDS interferes with the taste of foods and beverages, and makes them less desirable to consume.

6. High TDS make ice cubes cloudy, softer, and faster melting.

7. Minerals exist in water mostly as INORGANIC salts. In contrast, minerals having passed through a living system are known as ORGANIC minerals. They are combined with proteins and sugars. According to many nutritionists minerals are much easier to assimilate when they come from foods. Can you imagine going out to your garden for a cup of dirt to eat rather than a nice carrot; or drinking a whole bathtub of water for LESS calcium than that in an 8 ounce glass of milk?

8. Water with higher TDS is considered by some health advocates to have a poorer cleansing effect in the body than water with a low level of TDS. This is because water with low dissolved solids has a greater capacity of absorption than water with higher solids.

Toxic Metals or Heavy Metals -- Among the greatest threats to health are the presence of high levels of toxic metals in drinking water - Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and Silver. Maximum limits for each are established by the EPA Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Other metals such as Chromium and Selenium, while essential trace elements in our diets, have limits imposed upon them when in water because the form in which they exist may pose a health hazard. Toxic metals are associated with nerve damage, birth defects, mental retardation, certain cancers, and increased susceptibility to disease.

Asbestos -- Asbestos exists as microscopic suspended mineral fibers in water. Its primary source is asbestos-cement pipe which was commonly used after World War II for city water supplies. It has been estimated that some 200,000 miles of this pipe is presently in use to transport our drinking water. Because these pipes are wearing, the deadly substance of asbestos is showing up with increasing frequency in drinking water. It has been linked with gastrointestinal cancer.

Radioactivity -- Even though trace amounts of radioactive elements can be found in almost all drinking water, levels that pose serious health hazards are fairly rare--for now. Radioactive wastes leach from mining operations into groundwater supplies. The greatest threat is posed by nuclear accidents, nuclear processing plants, and radioactive waste disposal sites. As containers containing these wastes deteriorate with time, the risk of contaminating our aquafiers grows into a toxic time bomb.

ORGANIC IMPURITIES:
Tastes and Odors -- If your water has a disagreeable taste or odor, chances are it is due to one or more of many organic substances ranging from decaying vegetation to algae; hydrocarbons to phenols. It could also be TDS and a host of other items.

Pesticides and Herbicides -- The increasing use of pesticides and herbicides in agriculture shows up in the water we drink. Rain and irrigation carry these deadly chemicals down into the groundwater as well as into surface waters -- There are more than 100,000,000 people in the US who depend upon groundwater for sources whole or in part of their drinking water. As our reliance upon groundwater is escalating, so is its contamination. Our own household use of herbicide and pesticide substances also contributes to actual contamination. These chemicals can cause circulatory, respiratory and nerve disorders.

Toxic Organic Chemicals -- The most pressing and widespread water contamination problem is a result of the organic chemicals created by industry. The American Chemical Society lists 4,039,907 distinct chemical compounds as of late 1977! This list only is comprised of chemicals reported since 1965. The list can grow by some 6,000 chemicals per week! 70,000 chemicals may still be in production in the US. As of December, 1978, 50 chemicals were being produced in greater quantities than 1,300,000,000 pounds per year in the US. 115,000 establishments are involved in the production and distribution of chemicals, with the business being worth $113,000,000,000 per year. According to the EPA, there are 77,000,000,000 pounds of hazardous waste being generated each year in the US. 90 percent of this is not disposed of properly. This would equal 19,192 pounds of hazardous waste disposed each year on every square mile of land and water surface in the US including Alaska and Hawaii!!

There are 181,000 manmade lagoons at industrial and municipal sites in the US. At least 75 percent of these are unlined. Even the lined ones will leak according to the EPA. Some of these are within 1 mile of wells or water supplies. There is still a lack of information on the location of these sites, their condition, and containments. THIS IS A HORROR STORY OF THE MILLENNIUM.

Chemicals end up in our drinking water from hundreds of different sources. There are hundreds of publications each year highlighting this problem. The effects of chronic long term exposure to these toxic organics, even in minute amounts, are extremely difficult to detect. Contaminated drinking water may look and taste perfectly normal. The users symptoms might include recurring headache, rash, or fatigue - all of which are hard to diagnose as being water related. The more serious consequences of drinking tainted water are higher cancer rates, birth defects, growth abnormalities, infertility, and nerve and organ damage. Some of these disorders may go unnoticed for decades!! Just how toxic these chemicals are may be illustrated by looking at two examples: TCE is a widely used chemical which routinely shows up in water supplies. Just two glassfuls of TCE can contaminate 27,000,000 gallons of drinking water! One pound of the pesticide, Endrin can contaminate 5,000,000,000 gallons of water.

"The Feasibility of Calamansi (Citrofornella microcarpa) Juice as Sink Cleaner"

Introduction:
Calamondin or Kalamansi (Kapampangan: kalamunding, (× Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a fruit tree in the family Rutaceae and a member of citrofortunella that was developed in and is very popular throughout Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, where it is most commonly used for cooking. In the west it is variously known as acid orange, calamondin orange, or Panama orange. It is a shrub or small tree growing to 3-6 m, and bears small citrus fruit used to flavour foods and drinks. Although sometimes described as a nativePhilippines or other areas of Southeast Asia, the tree is in fact the result of a hybrid between species in the genera Citrofortunella and unknown in the wild. Hybrids between Citrus subspecies have been cultivated for so long that the origins of most are obscure. It is generally held that most species in cultivation are ancient apomictic hybrids and selected cultivars of these hybrids, including crosses with other genera such as Fortunella and Poncirus. The kalamansî is usually described as a cross between Citrus reticulata (Tangerine or Mandarin orange) and Fortunella margarita (Kumquat).The researcher wanted to make a cheap liquid sink cleaner in the mean time utilizing the resources around. So the researcher came up with the question: Can a Kalamansi juice be a liquid sink cleaner?
This study attempts to determine the potential of kalamansi juice as liquid sink cleaner. Specifically it will answer the following questions:
a.) How does the sink treated with kalamansi product differ from the sink treated with water and soup:
a.1.) Quality (cleanliness)
of the

a.2.) Smell (odor)
a.3) Price

Significance:
This study aims to help the society in their problems economically. This study will give knowledge to the people and make them realize that kalamansi is not only in the field of foods but also in the field of cleaning. This study aims to replenish the hunger of the people in a cheaper liquid sink cleaner.

If the study will be successful then there will be a useful effect in the economy of the Philippines.

Hypothesis:

The calamansi juice can clean the sink because of its acid contain and it has a better odor than the ordinary cleaning

Review of Related Literature:
A smooth and slightly spiny plant, growing to a height of 3 to 5 meters. Leaflets are elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 4 to 8 cm long. Petioles are narrowly and scarcely winged, about a cm long. Flowers are axillary, solitary, rarely in pairs, white, and short-stalked. Fruit is yellow when ripe, nearly spherical, 2 to 3.5 cm diameter, 6- to 7-celled, and thin-skinned. The skin or peel is green to yellowish green or yellow, loosely adhering to the flesh. The flesh contains a few light orange seeds. Bleaching agent: Cut fruit and apply directly on freckles. http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kalamansi.html
Calamondin, a native citrus plant in the Philippines and China, is cultivated in Southeast Asia and elsewhere as an important crop. In the U.S. and Europe, it is grown mainly as an outstanding ornamental. The tree, which is often trained as a bonsai, will bloom year-round; filling the air with the aroma of citrus blossom. Flower and fruit often will appear at the same time. The tree has upright branches with very few thorns and can grow up to 10 feet high. Its 3-inch evergreen leaves are broadly oval and pale green below like those of the kumquat. Its flowers are white and small. The 1 3/4 inch-wide fruit is small, depressed, globose and deep orange-yellow when ripe, loose-skinned and, segmented. The pulp is very acidic. Mature fruit can be produced year round. It is said that it is an acid citrus, a group that includes lemons and limes. The flesh is orange, juicy and acid, with a fine lime-orange flavor. Because of this, it is usually grouped with the limes. The small seeds are few, with characteristic green cotyledons. One bite of this fruit can pucker your mouth. The fruit, when ripe, is very sour when first tasted. Subsequent tasted fruits make your mouth sweet. If the fruit is picked too soon, it is bitter. http://www.geocities.com/verymad_scientist/

Uses of Calamansi.
1) Juice. Squeeze halved calamansi (4 to 5 pieces, but it depends on the user) to a cup. Strain it. Add honey or sugar. It's a good source of vitamin C.
2) Zinger for ginger tea. Ginger tea + 1 tbsp calamansi juice + honey/sugar.
3) Tequila shots. Others use lemon, but mostly we use calamansi here.
4) Natural Air Freshener. Halved calamansi and put them in a bowl. Their peelings could do the trick, too.
5) Deodorizer. Can be placed in the fridge to eliminate odor. Or say you’ve just finished cleaning some fish (or handling something unpleasant in smell), you may rub some to eliminate the icky odor.
6) Skin whitening Agent. Definitely good for the dark knees and elbows and armpits…
7) Dip. Basic Filipino Dip = soy sauce, calamansi (optional vinegar)
8) Marinade. Soy sauce. Calamansi. Vinegar. Pepper. Garlic.
9) Dandruff Treatment. Cover halved calamansi with a cloth (prevents the pulp from getting stuck in your hair). Rub gently to the scalp.
10) Bleach. Its juice is proven to remove minor stains on clothes.
11) When we - my bros and sisters - were still kids, we would carefully peel and part its segments, and devour them as if they’re the sweetest thing on earth.
12) Hair highlights. In a punk, funky mood? Comb calamansi juice through the hair or into some strands and leave it there. The sun will lighten the strands faster, giving the hair a sun-streaked look. (I have not actually done this, but I have friends who have tried this trick.) http://www.tipsandtricks4me.com/2008/03/13-ways-to-use-calamansi.html

Definition of Terms:

Calamansi fruit juice - Juice that is extracted from the calamansi fruit

Ordinary Cleaning Materials - cleaning materials consist of soap and water

Sink Cleaner - a substance that can clean the sink

METHODOLOGY:

Material and Equipment:

Calamansi fruit (unripe)
Measuring Cup/spoon
Knife
Strainer
Cleaning Materials
Container

Preparation

First, gather all the materials needed and then wash the calamansi fruit. Measure the mass of the calamansicalamansi fruit crosswise then after slicing the calamansi fruit squeeze it in the strainer until the last drop. You may do whatever you want to do with the peelings and seeds. Measure the volume of the juice gathered in the measuring cup. Put the juice in the container. fruit in grams. After that slice the

Application

Look for uncleaned sink.. look for the part of the sink which you consider dirty.. after that divide that part into two parts. The first part will be treated with the calamansi fruit juice and the other part will be treated with the soap.. after cleaning those parts compare them..

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

This chapter tries to discuss about the results of the experimentation presented in a tabular form. In this chapter you can see the evaluation o the product. It tries to tell whether the product is effective or not.

In trial 1 these are the results presented in tabular form.

Legend:

Not Clean = 1 Fair = 3 Clean = 4

Poor = 2 Neat & Clean = 5

The results are quite the same but they just differ in their odor. It answer the question which of the sink smells good. So these results may tell that the calamansi fruit juice is good in cleaning the sink and it has good smell.

Trial 2

The results of the trial 2 differs only in their in terms of odor. The trial tells that the calamansi and ordinary cleaning materials (soap & water) are just the same in terms of cleaning power just differ only in the terms of odor beacause the sink treated with ordinary cleaning materials is just odorless while the sink treated with calamansi fruit juice extract smells calamansi scent.

Conclusion:

The calamansi fruit juice has a cleaning power the same as the cleaning power of ordinary cleaning materials (soap & water) based on the representation of the results and the calamansi fruit juice also has the the good scent while the ordinary has none and in terms of price the ordinary cleaning materials is cheaper and less time consuming than the ordinary materials in terms of preparation.

Weakness:

These study has the weakness of not including or considering many variables and that makes these study weak!.

Strength:

These study has the strength of its background because the calamansi itself can clean the sink for it a pH of 3.5 which is acidic.

Recommendation:

I strongly recommend that if you will add some considerable variables and add more trials.