Water Pollution and Water-Borne Diseases

BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) refers to the amount of the oxygen that would be consumed if all the organic matter in one liter of water were oxidized by bacteria. The BOD test measures the rate of update of oxygen by microorganisms in a sample of water and thus, indirectly BOD is the measure of the organic matter present in the water. The greater the BOD of wastewater more is its polluting potential. 

Dissolved oxygen is essential for the aerobic bacteria that break down organic matter in water, which is the process known as self-purification.

Minamata disease is caused by mercury poisoning. It results in numbness, muscles weakness, loss of hearing, speech and reduces vision. 

Arsenic comes from bedrock as well as surface leaching. Chronic exposure leads to repeated diarrhoea, peripheral neuritis, hyperkeratosis, transverse striations on fingernails, peripheral vascular insufficiency, vasospasm, hyperpigmentation leading to 'Black Foot Disease', lung inflammation, skin and lung cancer.

• Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human wastes and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation.
• Sanitation at public places can be maintained by Proper drainage,Garbage management and Sufficient public toilet facilities.
  
• So, the correct answer is 'All the above'.

• An endemic disease is a disease that exists permanently in a particular region or population. Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of some endemic diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio
• Hence the disease caused due to improper sanitation in public place is endemic diseases.
  
• So, the correct answer is 'Endemic'.

• A disease can spread from one person to population by improper sanitation in public places because many disease-causing organisms can survive on the surface of the improperly sanitized public toilet seat, and for an infection to occur, the germs(bacteria, virus) would have to be transferred from the toilet seat to your urethral or genital tract, or through a cut or sore on the buttocks or thighs, which is possible.
• Hence A disease can spread from one person to population by improper sanitation in public places.
• So, the correct answer is 'improper sanitation in public places'.

• Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human wastes and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation.
  
• Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio because these diseases can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route when food or water is contaminated.
• Hence Disease caused due to poor sanitation is typhoid and polio.
• So, the correct answer is 'Both B and C'.

• Many disease-causing organisms can survive on the surface of the improperly sanitized public toilet seat, and for an infection to occur, the germs(bacteria, virus) would have to be transferred from the toilet seat to your urethral or genital tract, or through a cut or sore on the buttocks or thighs, which is possible.
• Hence when Atul is traveling from Mumbai to Nagpur by train, in between, he felt uneasy because he used an improperly sanitized public toilet.
• So, the correct answer is 'He used an improperly sanitized public toilet'.

Water-borne diseases are caused by the ingestion of water contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms, specifically bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

The Blackfoot disease affects the peripheral vascular system. It is endemic in nature. It is associated with the consumption of inorganic arsenic from the artesian wells. Arsenicosis is caused by exposure over a period of time to arsenic in drinking water. Arsenic contamination in water may also be due to industrial processes, such as those involved in mining, metal refining, and timber treatment. WHO's guideline value for arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 mg /litre.