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Rising before the Kenyan dawn, Sabina immediately removes herself from bed and turns
to tend to her child. Her newborn cries for her, yearning for the attention and care that Sabina has
given to her older children. But her encompassing arms will not hold her baby for much
longer—it is time to retrieve their first water collection of the day. Slipping into worn-down
sandals, feet caked in dirt, Sabina begins the four mile trek to the nearest source of water: a
muddy, contaminated river. She endures blockades of thorns, uneven and unpaved trails, and the
constant threat of running into the unknown. Upon arriving at the river, she bends down and fills
her jug with the opaque water, swimming with toxins and muck. This is the drinking water for
Sabina and her children, and will continue to be their source of water every single day for the
entirety of their lives. Dear reader, you have just walked one morning of one day in Sabina’s
shoes.
This is the price that Sabina has to pay every day in order to provide for her family—the
loss of time and opportunities. And yet, she willingly exchanges them both for contaminated
water and muddy shoes. Why? Because water is a necessity. Sabina has no choice but to walk
and retrieve the sickening water, because it is for survival. While our lives vastly differ from
Sabina’s, we too have to make an individual journey, every day, for survival. Yet we do not have
to think twice about the water we consume, always filtered to a crystal-clean state. Due to our
nonexistent lack of clean water, there is no need to think about the negative effects of
contamination. Why worry if we are able to simply press a button and relish from drinking a
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I first encountered Sabina’s story in 6th grade, and at 12 years old, I was immediately
hooked on the topic of contaminated water. It is a topic that can be traced back to any country,
whether it be ocean water polluted with oil, or a watering hole that is shared with the neighboring
animals. No matter the source, it is without a doubt that consuming contaminated water will lead
to harmful, and sometimes lethal, outcomes for the human body. Yet to what extent can the body
consume contaminated water and have no physical differentiation between one who is healthy,
and one who is not? Learning about the signs of water contamination are crucial to
While physical appearance provides the most tangible evidence for water contamination
effects, the symptoms may go beyond the outer layer of skin. In Sabina’s case, having to walk
that long in poor conditions only to retrieve mucky water must have negatively impacted her
mental health. The intangible symptoms of water contamination are of equal importance to those
on the outside, and must be properly recognized so a solution can be found for both. With
concern to both the mind and body, I have been led to my question: How does water
contamination impact the physical and mental health of the human body?
to first be able to comprehend exactly what polluted water is, and how it happens. According to
the National Resources Defense Council, “Water pollution occurs when harmful
or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the
environment” (Denchak). These harmful chemicals and substances are the results of poor water
treatment that come from one of the two categories of pollution: point-source and
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nonpoint-source. Point-source, as stated within the name, refers to the pollution where the
contaminants enter into the environment through an “easily identified and confined space”
(National Geographic Society). Whether it be through a pipe or a sewage treatment plant, the
contaminants enter the water through these unsafe and harmful passageways. Contrary to
widespread area. A commonly referred to example for nonpoint is agricultural runoff, which
poses a significant health issue due to the runoff containing harmful pesticides and insecticides
(National Geographic Society). Pertaining to either source of pollution, water contamination can
occur in multitudinous ways. In a personal interview with education coordinator Justin Fivella
from the Contra Costa County Water District, he revealed numerous sources of contamination
that the average day citizen may not think to call hazardous. The prime example of them was
medication, as in the medication that one takes for an illness or other medical reasons. Mr.
Fivella stated that “people will take their medication, go to the bathroom where it will end up in
the toilet, it goes out [to the treatment plant], and ultimately contaminates the drinking water.
Removing it is a pain, and if the amount of medicine found rises, we will be looking at a huge
problem [within] the next decade.” All forms of water contamination are closely monitored
within the United States since there is access to filtration. However, this does not apply to
third-world countries where the state that the water is collected in is the state that the water will
be utilized.
In a second personal interview, interviewee Sarah Clayton, a recorder of the water quality
for the Henry C. Garnett Water Purification Plant, proclaimed that in Bakersfield alone, the
purification plant has the capacity to “clean up to 100 million gallons of water a day.” This
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demonstrates the rapid demand of water within the United States, and the accessibility that is
granted to the people because of the successful water filtration system. On a daily average, 70
million gallons of water is recycled and provided to the people within city territories. This is just
on the daily, and the number vastly increases as the weather becomes warmer or there is a
surplus of water that is available for leisurely activities. Despite the inalienable right that
everyone should have access to clean water, this privilege does not carry over into third-world
countries, where having filtered water is abnormal for communities. To support this, in her
interview, Mrs. Clayton revealed that “[third-world countries] do not have a filtering system like
we do, and [they] have to retrieve their water from nearby rivers, wells, watering holes, etc.”
Around June 14, 2019, the World Health Organization reported that approximately 735 million
people lack any drinking water service, which is compared to the 5.3 billion who have a
clean-water service at their disposal (“Drinking-Water”). While the numbers compared are
monumentally different, those 735 million people are still entitled to clean drinking water. The
repercussions that they face are debilitating to the body, and in extreme cases, may be lethal.
Being able to recognize the anatomical changes when one consumes contaminated water is
significant information that will potentially lead medical assistants to providing a cure for the
As for the physical being of the human, there are only so many contaminants a body can
consume before it begins to face lethal consequences; consuming contaminated water has
continuously been proven to negatively impact human health, and potentially lead one to death.
Repeatedly emphasized in their textbook Dietary Reference Intakes, the Institute of Medicine
claims, “Water is the largest single constituent of the human body and is essential for cellular
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homeostasis and life” (Institute of Medicine 73). Kids are taught from a young age that they will
not survive more than a couple days without water, which truly reinforces the importance of the
resource in one’s life. However, ingesting contaminated water will only cause damage to the
body's systems, and transmit diseases such as diarrhea, polio, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and
many others (The Last Well). The vast majority of these deaths can all be traced back to the
chemicals that are ultimately dumped into the water; the source that contributes the largest
chemical dump is eutrophication (the excess amount of nutrients found in water). Eutrophication
mainly occurs due to agricultural runoff since there are harmful chemicals in fertilizer and
animal waste. Some of the most toxic chemicals are found in these fertilizers, including lead,
zinc, chromium, and others that are too challenging to even pronounce (Hepp). These elements
will then enter the human body and wreak havoc on the health of the individual. Lead
specifically can be harmful to the body, especially for young children. An intake of lead (even
the smallest dosage) can cause damage to the nervous system, negatively influence the proper
functioning of blood cells, impair growth and hearing, and in rare cases, inflict death (“Basic
Information about Lead”). The harm does not stop with lead, it is just one of the many elements
As mentioned within the previous paragraph, typhoid fever is another disease that occurs
due to a bacterial infection. The symptoms include a high fever, headaches, loss of appetite, and
stomach aches. In the more rare cases, typhoid fever may cause internal bleeding, and death can
occur. For countries with advancements in medicine, there is normally accessibility to antibiotics
that will treat the disease (“The Negative Effects). However, in third world countries, access to
medicine is not as common, so the death rate due to this aggressive disease is higher. Alongside
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typhoid fever, diarrhea is the most common illness that affects about 1.7 billion victims annually,
and kills more than 500,000. This illness is caused by parasites, most commonly the
Cryptosporidium a nd the Giardia Intestinalis, that attack the immune system and cause loose,
water stools, fever, abdominal cramps, loss of nutrients/water, nausea, and bleeding in severe
cases (“Water”). Due to the extreme weight loss and lack of hydration, the number of deaths
from diarrhea only grows every year in places where there is no water filtration.
The number of illnesses that can be obtained through drinking contaminated water is
endless, and all have the potential to bring harm to the body. From simple, small cases of
salmonella to extreme ones like botulism (a rare form of poisoning caused by toxins), there is
without a doubt a harsh impact from polluted water. Scientific research has repeatedly proven the
damage on the human body, and scientists are still researching newer cases. While remedies have
been found for a majority of the sicknesses, access to these are challenging for countries that face
poverty and can not afford medical care. These countries face the harshest outcomes due to the
lack of treatment. Ultimately, polluted water is bound to harm a physical being… but what about
mental health? The first thought about water contamination may be the illnesses, yet there seems
to be problems that take place deeper within that are in dire need of addressing.
While most may seek the outward appearance from water contamination, the effects go
beyond the surface, and can ultimately impair the brain from proper functioning. As discussed
earlier, lead is a harmful chemical that damages the functioning of the human body and also
impacts the brain. In 2017, there were a total of 1.06 million deaths from lead exposure with
63.2% inheriting a idiopathic developmental intellectual disability. The largest impact from lead
is on children, since they are still developing and need to absorb as much nutrients as possible,
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no matter how harmful. If there is a high exposure of lead to children, it will attack the brain and
nervous system, which renders children as more susceptible to convulsions, comas, and death.
Additionally, lead exposure will cause long-term effects on the development of the child’s brain
which may lower their IQ, and inflict behavioral changes (“Lead Poisoning and Health”). Large
amounts of lead exposure are not only harmful to children and neurological development, but
also to the body of any age group. Scientists have discovered that in a long-term effect to lead
exposure, there have been cases where the brain develops Alhzeimer’s disease, all from drinking
water with traces of lead (Bondy). In fact, water traced with any contaminant has been
scientifically proven to have a negative impact on the neurological aspect of the brain.
problem-solving, and other skills, is diagnosed in approximately 250,000 people each year.
Research has shown that this disease is caused by a number of toxins within the brain, with
contaminated water as one of its largest sources. In cases of agricultural runoff and metals from
unsanitized pipes, metals that enter the drinking water are extremely harmful and will take a toll
on the brain (“Understanding Dementia”). As another toxic chemical to the brain, copper has
been proven to cause adverse neurological effects, alike those of lead. Once the metal enters the
Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. There have also been recorded cases of gastrointestinal
symptoms from victims of copper enhanced water (Bondy). Hazardous chemicals like this have
no place in drinking water, which should demonstrate the severity of this issue.
While the research on neurological damage continues to this day, there have been some
advancements from the findings of past cases. Contaminated water causes extreme harm to
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developing brains, thus the severity mainly pertains to younger children. This is an ongoing
medical issue that should meet the same attention as illnesses to the physical body. Yet this
should not be an issue in any regard, for it is not a privilege to have clean water, but rather an
inalienable right. Organizations around the globe are collaborating to produce a change to the
ongoing water-contamination crisis. Everyday, money is donated to projects that provide water
filters, water-well construction, and animal donations to third world countries who may not have
the financial capabilities of affording clean water. This outreach to struggling communities truly
illustrates that everyone is capable of helping others, whether it be a small donation or simply
Conclusively, the abundant amount of information provided has led me to the answer for
my question: due to the toxic chemicals that are found within contaminated water, the human
body is exposed to a variety of illnesses while the brain may experience neurological damage.
Constantly proving that harm will occur, scientists continue to research the potential outcomes of
contaminated water so there can be a combat to the pollution that occurs in the first place.
Simply throwing away trash, or properly filtering polluted water will steadily decline the amount
of deaths each year. When asked how we can focus on decreasing the amount of polluted water,
Mr. Fivella answered everyone must “be very careful with what you put down the sink”, and to
“be even more careful about what is going down your storm drains, that’s what leads to the
rivers.” Proper treatment of water would drastically benefit the larger population, and allow for
developed countries to focus more attention on those that lack filtration within their community.
Thanks to the organization World Vision, Sabina was supplied with water filters that
instantly removed the toxic chemicals found within the muddy river water. While the trips to the
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river will persist, clean water is now accessible for Sabina and her family. No more will they
have to ponder over the cleanliness of their water for World Vision brought them a solution. For
survival, we all must pay the price of walking in our own muddy shoes, so instead of asking what
can be done for me, consider what can be done for all. Let us unite and help wash one another’s
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Works Cited
“Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 18
Nov. 2019,
www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-w
ater#health.
Bondy, Stephen C, and Arezoo Campbell. “Water Quality and Brain Function.” International
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5800103/.
Clayton, Sarah. Water Recorder for Henry C. Garnett Water Purification Plant. Personal
Denchak, Melissa. “Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know.” NRDC, 13 Mar. 2020,
www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know.
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water.
Fivella, Justin. Education Coordinator for Contra Costa County Water District. Personal
Hepp, Nancy. “Water Quality.” Water Quality - The Collaborative on Health and the
Environment, 2017,
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www.healthandenvironment.org/environmental-health/environmental-risks/global-enviro
nment/water-quality.
Institute of Medicine. “Read ‘Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride,
www.nap.edu/read/10925/chapter/6.
“Lead Poisoning and Health.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 23 Aug.
2019, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health.
National Geographic Society. “Point Source and Nonpoint Sources of Pollution.” National
www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/point-source-and-nonpoint-sources-pollution/.
The Last Well. “The Negative Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health.” The Last Well, 21
www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_health/dementia-health-drinking-water-quality.htm.
“Water.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and
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