EESA10 Midterm 2020

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General Information on the London Smog of 1952

For the decades leading up to 1952 there was some release of air pollutants like fire and burning fossil fuels, but nothing alarming.

Sometime in the middle of December, people began burning more coal to heat their homes. It was also burned in industry. When coal is burned it releases lots of sulphuric acids.

The weather didn't cooperate. It was colder than usual and there was no wind. Cold air is heavier than warm air so the polluted air rested near the ground

The combination of the weather and burning of fossil Fuels is what made it so bad

Species of birds, small animals, and plants are beginning to come back.

How did the London Smog of 1952 end?

When the temperature rose and wind started blowing the air was cleaned and diluted naturally

How did the London Smog of 1952 effect human health?

People started feeling burning sensations in their throats due to the sulphuric acids in the air. Because sulphur acids are soluble, they dissolve into the saliva in your throat after you inhale it from your air.

The smoke also caused health issues.

In a short period of time, about 4000 people died, and many others were very sick

Why was the London Smog of 1952 Significant?

It changed the entire politics of how we look at air pollutants.

At the time, there was nothing that governments or health-care workers could do

Began the conversion toward clean and renewable energy. Now it is a completely different environment, there is still air pollution.

This event impacted other parts of the world. It made developing countries begin to create a clean air act.

General Information on the Indonesian fires 1997

It lasted from mid 1997 to early 1998

A common century-old practise is to slash and burn. Companies burn and cut down trees to create agricultural land.

These were not natural fires, they were man made.

Lots of gases were released into the air
The amount of forest burnt totaled over the size of Texas

Why were the Indonesian Fires of 1997 so bad?

Normally these fires are naturally put out by monsoons (heavy rain storms producing a lot of water)But that year monsoons didn't come until later

In addition to the practise of slash-and-burn, these fires were so bad because of a combination of industrial-scale logging, draining peatlands for conversion to oil palm and fast-growing tree plantations, and a massive government program to drain swamps and convert them to rice paddies

What were the Human Health Impacts of the Indonesian Fires of 1997?

A commercial aircraft crashed because of the smog.

40 people perished in the wildfires

What is the relationship between natural air pollution and man-made air pollution?

Natural things like volcanoes release air pollution, but the Earth can cope with it. However, when human caused air pollution joins the natural sources, it causes a greater impact.

Ex. Vehicles (which are one of the main sources of air pollution) release primary air pollutants. After they are released, they start transforming into secondary air pollutants because of the sun and other natural reasons.

Vehicles (diesel and gasoline) emit what air pollutants?

Carbon, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrous Oxide, Nitrous Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Particulate Matter, Lead (previously,) and Volatile Organic Compounds

NOT mercury

Electric Power Plants (coal and oil) emit what air pollutants?

Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Nitrous Dioxide, Particulate Matter and Mercury

NOT Carbon, Carbon Monoxide, Lead, or VOCs

Heating Buildings (oil, and natural gas) emits what air pollutants?

Carbon Dioxide, Particulate Matter

NOT Carbon, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrous Oxide, Nitrous Dioxide, Mercury, Lead, or VOCs

Manufacturing (coal, oil and natural gas) emits what air pollutants?

Carbon Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide (small amount,) Particulate Matter, and Mercury (small amount)

NOT Carbon, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrous Oxide, Nitrous Dioxide, Lead or VOCs

What contributes most to Asthma?

Asthma can develop because of different reasons, and there are many different types of asthma, but sulphur dioxide is one cause

Particulates and/or SO2 can irritate bronchial passages leading to severe difficulties in breathing

Indoor air pollution significantly contributes

Chronic Bronchitis (Health Effect of Outdoor Air Pollution)

What is it?
Results in a cough with a lot of mucus for years (long term) it is often the worse in the morning. Caused by ultra-fine particulate matter in the air.

How does it occur?
Occurs when an excessive amount of mucus is produced in bronchi which results in a lasting cough
SO2 and smoking is related to Chronic bronchitis

Pulmonary Emphysema (Health Effect of Outdoor Air Pollution)

What is it?
- Weakening of the wall of alveoli, they become enlarged and loose their resilience
-People's alveoli cannot expand and deflate easily.
-People get out of breath going up and down steps.
-This is caused by nitrogen gases. The severity of the illness depends on the levels of pollution in the air.
Shortness of breath is the primary symptom
Severity of symptoms depends on the concentration of gases

What causes Pulmonary Emphysema?

NO2 is related to emphysema (inhaling nitrogen gases)

General Health Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution

-Lung Cancer
-Heart disease
-Toxic poisoning (can cause sudden death)
-Eye irritation and red eyes (this will often pass after a few hours)
-Birth defects

Human Alteration of Earth's Atmosphere

CO2 increased 30% since the beginning of the industrial revolutions
Often CO2 can be seen in Toronto
Climate change affects human health

What percentage of the Geosphere has been transformed by Human Action?

⅓-½ of land surface has been transformed by human action
Coal mines completely change the landscape of that ecosystem
Companies spend money to try to clean up

What is a Biosphere

The sum of all ecosystems.

Trees clean the air, so therefore clear-cutting forests affects the biosphere

How does Pollution impact our Health?

We are affected by everything combined. Sometimes affected more by one at a certain time.
Lots of people argue that modern technology will solve our problems.

Why is the Population of all frogs declining?

It was concluded that it was not just one factor, it was many factors:
Increase UV Traces of toxic
chemicals
Infections (fungi and bacteria)
Predators

Inequalities in Environmental Health

-Environmental factors are responsible for 25 % of all preventable diseases
-Most Environmental diseases are preventable.
-In developing countries diarrhea and respiratory infections are heading the list
-A major problem in Africa is lack of clean drinking which is plotted with both chemical and biological contaminants (such as e.coli) disease caused from unsafe water are preventable. It can be prevented by adding chlorine to the water. It has improved, but there is still progress to be made.

When did protecting the Environmental become a part of mainstream public health practises?

1878

1. What is Particulate Matter

What is it?
A Primary air pollutant

Suspended particles found in the air (dust, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets)

Big and small (ranging from PM

Where is Particulate Matter Found?

-Vehicles, factories, construction sites, tilled fields, stone crashing, and all kinds of burning
-Some formed in the air
-Could be from a construction site or on a chemical level

PM 10 (2.5-10)

Key Sources
-Natural and Mechanical Sources

Penetration and Fate in Body
-Settle out in trachea and bronchi; are removed via mucociliary escalator. are particles between 2.4 to 10 microns, we can breathe them in and cough them out, but they don't often go into our lungs and can't go into our bloodstream.

PM 2.5 (0.1- < 2.5) "fine"

Key Sources
-Combustion

Penetration and Fate in Body
-Reach small airways and alveoli; in alveoli, they are removed by macrophages. can travel into out lungs and alveoli and can be removed through our bodies immune system. Our bodies have mechanisms to remove them.

PM

Key Sources
-Combustion (especially of diesel fuel)

Penetration and Fate in Body
-Can pass through alveolar walls into the bloodstream. The MOST dangerous. They go through our bronchi and lungs and into our bloodstream. They can then be transported to other parts of the body.

What is Carbon Monoxide (CO) (Primary Air Pollutant)

A Odourless, colourless gas that can be partially produced.

How can CO poisoning be prevented?

-Never leave a car engine running in a shed or garage or in any enclosed space
-Proper selection, installation, and maintenance of appliances
-Correct use of appliances
-Good ventilation
-Use CO detectors Remember to change the batteries

How is CO formed?

-Incomplete burning of carbon containing fuels (It is released during the burning process when there is not enough oxygen.)
-Heaters, wood stoves, gas stoves, fireplaces, water heaters, automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke
-Bigger problem for indoor air pollution, not a large problem outside.
-It is difficult to find out if there is a high level of CO

Who is impacted most by CO?

-1 000 people die each year in US as result of CO poisoning (indoor air)
-Fetuses, infants, elderly people with preexisting diseases and people with heart and respiratory illnesses are at high risk for adverse health effects.

Example
-The recent CO poisonings during Ice storm event Jan. 2014
-A mother, father, and 2 sons, all died recently because they left the fireplace on all night.

What are the health effects of CO?

You might feel a bit tired or nauseous, like you have food poisoning or the flu.

Interferes with the delivery of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body

Worsen cardiovascular conditions

Can cause Fatigue, Headache, Weakness, Confusion, Disorientation, loss of coordination, Nausea, Dizziness, or Death

3. Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO2, NO3) (Primary Air Pollutant)

Form in any type of combustion process
Involve in formation of ground level ozone
Form nitrate particles, acid aerosols
Contribute in formation of acid rain
Transported over long distance

4. Sulphur Oxides (SO, SO2, SO3) (Primary Air Pollutant)

Burning of coal and oil, extraction of metals from ore
SO2 dissolve in water vapour to form acids
Acids react with other gases and particles and form sulphates
Transported over long distances
Respiratory illnesses, aggravates existing heart and lung diseases
Acids in rain are not the end, they can react with other elements in the atmosphere to cause solids called sulphites.

Differences between Sulphur Oxides and Nitrous Oxides

Differences
1. Sulphur dissolves in water so it affects the upper respiratory system (throat) nitrous oxide doesn't dissolve as well in water so it travels further into your respiratory system (into your lungs)
2. Nitrogen oxide is released during all types of combustion, specifically during internal combustion ie. while using a car engine, while sulphur is released especially while bringing coal (especially soft coal)

5. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) (Primary Air Pollutant)

What is it?
-Variety of organic compounds used as solvent in industry, automobiles
Hydrocarbons (HC): methane, butane, propane
-Some produce photochemical smog
-Some are found in natural gas like hydrocarbons. These don't exist as a liquid, but as a solid.
-These can play with other chemical compounds to transform.

Example
-If you want to paint a wall, some paints have a lot of VOC's, but now people try to pick paint with less VOCs. They evaporate at room temperature. For days your room can smell.

Similarities between Nitrous Oxides and Sulphur Oxides

1. Air pollution is a global problem that travels, i.e.. an issue in asia can travel here.
2. Both gases dissolve in water so contribute to the the formation of acid rain (the ph is not 6,7 but more like 4 or 5) it causes acid lakes and soil, and impacts vegetation, also of buildings and historic buildings

6. What is Lead (Pb) (Primary Air Pollutant)

What is it ?
-Metal
It is extracted from the ground and used in different products.
-Vehicles and industrial sources
It was used for years in Leaded gasoline
-We added it into gasoline to improve burning efficiency, however this caused a lot of lead to be released into our atmosphere, and that slowly deposited onto the soil and objects.
-This harmed plants as they absorbed the lead, and then entered our food chain. So now we don't include it in our gasoline.
-Currently, we don't find much lead in the atmosphere, but it is still in the soil, especially on the soil surrounding highways.

Who is most impacted by lead air pollution?

Particularly affects young children (Children are more likely to get lead into their systems, ie. eating soil that contains lead)

Heavier burden of exposure on poor and nonwhite populations

What is the chemical on non-stick pans that can kill small birds?

Taphalon

What are the health impacts of lead (as an air pollutant?)

-Kids that are exposed to lead while they are young, can have lower IQ and neurological developments, as well as blood pressure, cardiovascular which can lead to cancer.
Humans can accidentally eat soil in the form of dust.
-Effects IQ, cognitive & neurological performance more broadly
-Cardiovascular mortality, increased lung cancer risk, kidney toxicity, high blood pressure, reproductive effects, and oral health impacts

7. What is Ground Level Ozone (O3) (Secondary Air Pollutant)

What is it?
-It is good in stratosphere, but this is not the good ozone, that filters uv rays from the Earth, this is Ozone at the ground
-It is unhealthy in high amounts on the ground

What are the health effects of ground level ozone?

Lung damage (small airways)

Shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and nausea

Irritate and damaged eyes, nose, sinuses and throat

Lung damage results in shortness of breath, heart enlargement, coughing or nausea

Similar to allergic reactions.

How does ground level ozone form?

VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight \= Ozone

Summertime pollutant, time of the day, seasonal, climate

Highest in the afternoon because traffic is at its peak, and that is often the hottest time of the day.

People who exercise outdoors during the concentration peek. It is better to exercise in the morning in the summer to avoid ozone.
In Toronto in the summer sometimes there is a chemical smog and people are encouraged to stay home.

Places that have warm weather all year long have a year-long problem with ozone or photochemical smog. There is not much photochemical smog in the North.

Forms in the atmosphere when Volatile organic compounds, gases, heat and sunlight all or most are at their peak.

What is Smog?

Smoke + fog \= Smog

The term was first used in 1905 in England

2 different types of smog Sulphurous smog, and Photochemical smog

Sulphurous Smog

- Cause by industry (especially coal)
- Also called Industrial Smog
- Occurs in urban areas (where there are many factories)
- Often called "London Smog" because of the smog in 1952

Photochemical Smog

- Often called Brown Air
- Often called LA Smog because it is a constant problem there
- Occurs in dry and sunny places
- Along with burning fossil fuels this occurs because of the burning of trees and organic waste
- Occurs because of reactions of chemicals in the atmosphere
-It can contain Nitric Acid (NHO3,) PANs (Peroxyacyl Nitrates) Formaldehydes and other aldehydes and Ozone )O3)

Why do we study Indoor Air Pollution?

Buildings are now more airtight to conserve energy on heating and cooling. If these building have inadequate ventilation, it can cause dangerous indoor air pollution due to chemical build up.

People spend about 90% of their time indoors, which is why the quality of our indoor air is so important

Children, pregnant women, elderly, and people with chronic illnesses are more sensitive

Sensitive populations often spend even more time indoors (elderly and children.) So it became an important topic of study.

How much more hazardous pollutants are found inside than outside?

Contains 2-5 times higher concentration of hazardous pollutants than outdoor air

13 Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants

- Building Material and Furnishing
- Asbestos Insulation
- Wet or Damp Carpet
- Furniture made of Certain Pressed Wood
- Cleaning Products and Air Fresheners
- Certain Hobbies
- Pesticides
- Cooking
- Bathing
- Heating
- Radon
- Smoking
- Outdoor Air Pollution

How does Cooking affect indoor air pollution?

When you burn food, it releases gases. (You can smell the burnt smell.)

Some non-stick pans has taphalon. If you overheat it (ie. from putting it on the stove without food on it) there will be 12-14 docs that will evaporate from the taphalon into the air. This is harmful to health; many bird owners noticed their small birds would die suddenly.

How does bathing cause indoor air pollution?

Tap water often contains chlorine. The chlorine evaporates into the air, which some people are sensitive to.
If you want to replace the fish water, you have to leave it for 24 hours so that the chlorine can evaporate.

Sick Building Syndrome

Nonspecific symptoms experienced by occupants of a building.
Inadequate Ventilation is the most cause of sick-building syndrome.

Building Related Illness

Specific diagnosable illness, linked to a specific feature of building.

Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution (General Information)

-Hard to detect by our senses
-Symptoms include Headaches, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, itchy nose, scratchy throat, itchy/watery eyes.
-Can cause asthma
-Symptoms take years to develop
-Some scientists relate cancer to buildings

What is Asbestos?

A group of six different fibrous minerals that vary in colour and appearance. They have separable, long, strong and flexible heating resistant fibers. Vary in color and appearance.

They don't break down chemically, biologically, dissolved in water, or absorbed by plants or soil. They just become smaller and smaller until they cannot be seen by the naked eye. Once they are small, they can be inhaled. Fibers and particles may remain suspended in the air and carried long distances

Where is asbestos found?

They are used in Building materials (roofing shingles, ceilings and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products,) as well as friction products (automobile brakes and transmission parts)

An asbestos mine was operating for many years in Canada. In industrialized countries, nearly everyone has asbestos fibers in their lungs (this amount is usually so small that it doesn't cause any issues.) It is often released during demolition work and remodeling.
People can be exposed through their drinking water (from wither natural sources or old cement pipes.) If it is in a wall, it is safe because it can't evaporate. It goes into the air when it is mechanically disturbed or touched.

Health Effects of Asbestos

It only causes health issues to people surrounded by it in large quantities. In developing countries it is more of an issue.

It affects the lungs and the membrane that surrounds the lungs. Although uncommon, it can causes scar-like tissue.
Can cause difficulty breathing, harsh cough, heart enlargement (due to the harsh cough.)
It can lead to disability and death (after a few years of working in industry.)
Can cause plaques in the pleural membranes.
Increase risk of getting types of cancer (lung, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, kidney.)
The likelihood of lung cancer due to asbestos increases by 20 folds if the person smokes (the combination is very dangerous.)
Not related with birth defects
It is discovered by providing urine, feces, and mucus.

What is formaldehyde?

What is it?
A Volatile organic compound (VOC).
A naturally occurring gas that is colourless, and has a strong smell.
They become a gas at normal room temperature.
This material is used as insulation (the pink stuff).

Where is formaldehyde found?

Glue or adhesives in pressed wood products (particleboards, MDF, plywood)
Preservatives in some paints and cosmetics
Coatings that provide permanent press quality to fabrics and draperies
Finish used to coat paper products
Certain insulation materials
Released by burning wood and natural gas, by automobile and by cigarettes.

Health Effects of Formaldehyde

The release of these pollutants are highest at the beginning than decrease until they are none.

Allergic reactions
Watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat
Skin rashes
Nausea
Coughing
Chest tightness
Asthmatic reactions
Cancer
Some people very sensitive

How does mold form?

How does mold form?
Need moisture, high humidity, or water vapour. Mold is a fungus

Where does mold form?

Bathrooms and kitchens
Gym areas
Locker rooms
Leaky roof areas
Damp basements
On or within wood, paper, carpet and foods
Can grow behind wallpaper, tiles and in the wall.

How to Prevent Mold Growth

People use dehumidifiers to prevent the growth of mood.
The way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture (maintaining the relative humidity between 30-60%.)
Mold often goes undiscovered.
It produce tiny spores, and causes discoloration and odour problems.
Can clean mold using special chemicals or bleach.
However, air that is too dry is not healthy either.

Health Effects of Mold

Major source of indoor allergens
Trigger asthma
Produce Toxins
Produce Irritants
Releases an unpleasant smell. Can release toxins and chemicals. Unhealthy for everyone, especially kids.

Second-hand smoke General Information

Smoking is NOT an environmental hazard, it is a social-hazard. Second-hand smoke is and environmental Hazard; it is also known as "environmental tobacco-smoke"

Health Effects of Second-Hand Smoke

Second-hand smoke contains 4 000 compounds (CO and Formaldehyde), and 40 are carcinogens.
A non-smoker exposed to secondhand smoke has a 25% increased chance of developing lung cancer.
EPA estimates that each year there are 3 000 lung cancer deaths among nonsmoking adults in US
Children are especially susceptible; it increases the likelihood of bronchitis, ear infections, SIDS (an infant suddenly dies for no reason,) asthma, pneumonia and hearing loss.
In adults it increases the likelihood of heart disease, heart attack, lung cancer, hearing loss, eyes, nose and throat irritation
Deaths are projected to increase as the number of smokers increase in developing countries.
More than 8 million people are projected to die from smoking-related causes by 2030

Third hand smoke

Some of the 4000 chemicals of second-hand smoke get absorbed in materials like carpet, clothes, hair etc. and will stay there for a while and then be released.
If you enter a home where they smoke, you can smell it and feel it.
This can affect health, although research is limited

What is Radon Gas?

What is it?
Colorless, odorless, tasteless
It is naturally occurring from the radioactive decay of uranium

Where does radon gas form?

From soil and rock into basements and lower floors indoor air
Dissolved in groundwater, pumped into wells and then into homes
In construction building blocks
Normally forms in soil.
It can enter into your home through the walls next to the soil (ie. the basement.)
It is heavy so it stays near the floor.
It is volatile, so it can enter the water system, but it evaporates very quickly.
Natural hazards in some regions
Begins series of rapid breakdowns

Health Effects of Radon Gas as an Air Pollutant

Increase risk of cancer, specifically lung cancer.

Radon and some progeny are alpha emitters;

Air Dust General Information

Heating and cooling -forced air system
Dust particles
Pollen or other debris
Duct Cleaning Service Providers
Air circulates through entire houses so pollutants can be transported very easily. It is important to clean ducts regularly. This is also a fire-hazard.
Examples include Dust Mites, Pollen, Mold, Pet Dander, Bacteria, and Viruses

Where is water found?

In our water bottle
in our bodies (especially the brain)
In the air
We exhale moisture, so the more people in a room the more water in the air
in coffee (mostly water)
The material in out clothing absorb water (some more so than others)

How much of the Earth's surface is covered by water?

71%

How does Water Sculpt the Earth's Surface?

Through surface runoff and precipitation.
WHO recognizes sentiments as the Number 1 pollutant

How many gallons of untreated sewage water and industrial waste are dumped into United States water yearly?

1.2 trillion gallons

How does Water moderate climate?

Normally it is warmer by the seashore because water has a large capacity of heat. Large bodies of water hold heat during the summer and release it during the winter
This means that most places near the seashore don't experience dramatically different seasons.
Removing and diluting wastes and pollutants

Quantity of Water on Earth

Most water on Earth is salty, and most fresh water is frozen in ice caps.

Only a small portion of Earth's freshwater is readily available (Canada has a lot of it in the great lakes.)

Because Ground water needs to be pumped, it is not readily available

water scarcity

Minimum activities require 1700 cubic metres per year per person.
If less than that is readily available, there is water scarcity.
Africa, and southern parts of the US struggle to find water.

Water Transportation

Water has to be transported safely and effectively, with minimal loss.
Las Vegas can afford to do this, but many countries can't afford that kind of investment.

What percentage of people in the world don't have access to clean drinking water?

1 out of every 6 (over a billion people)

Moonsoons

Lots of precipitation arrives during a short period.
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Often occur in poor played that lack the resources to collect and store the water for future use.

How do we use the world's fresh water?

Most water is used for power plant cooling in Canada
Less power plants in the US, but in the South they use it for irrigation
Most water when used for irrigation isn't returned to its usual place
85% of water use for irrigation is consumed and not returned to it's water basin
In Canada Toilets flushing is huge.
Canadians shower often

Hydrological Poverty

One out of six people do not have regular access to clean water.
Diarrheal deaths kill over 2 million children annually
It doesn't relate to household income.
Comes from not having enough safe drinking water.
Many people still live in this type of poverty.
Especially rural areas in Africa- water sources are far from the village.
Women have to walk many kilometres to get the water.
Sometimes this water is microbiologically contaminated.
Children are particularly sensitive.

Swimming Water Information

Swimming water that is properly disinfected with water is important.
40% of American rivers and 46% of American lakes are so polluted that fishing, swimming, or aquatic life is not possible

What makes mineral water different?

There is lots of salt and less carbon dioxide

tap water General Information

Contains chlorine to control the bacteria.
Minimal amounts of chlorine is added to the water
Also contains minerals and other inorganic compounds such as calcium
The City of Toronto is responsible legally to analyze drinking water and record it daily. This information is available to everyone. Believe them if it is an entire system.
Hard water is water with a lot of salt and is not good for long term use.
The salts in water give water a little bit of a nice taste. distilled water doesn't have a nice taste. Certain bottled water tastes better than others.
What in Toronto comes from Lake Ontario, and then it is purified

What is added to tap water?

Calcium, Potassium, Chlorine, magnesium carbonate, salts, chlorine.

Sometimes flouride

What does a Brita Filter filter out?

Only coarse fractions like sand. Doesn't filter lead.

Why does tap water sometimes have to be boiled?

This does not kill heavy metal and other pollutants.
Does filter e. Coli, which is why there was a water boil advisory during the E. Coli outbreak in Walkerton

Surface Water

Used more in Urban Areas.
Comes from rivers and lakes.

Ground Water

Used more in Rural Areas.
Comes from Wells and Springs.
Where there is no centralized water system, people have to drill their own wells.

Unconfined Aquifer

Is higher up than the other one. If there is an impermeable layer beneath it, the water is unconfined because it is open to the air. It is not too deep. It is easily accessible. It is easily contaminated. However it is easier to asses and clean the contamination

Confined Aquifer

Between 2 impermeable layers. These layers create pressure for the water. It is harder to contaminate, because it can be contained only at the aquifer recharge area, but it is very hard to clean. If you drill into this area, the water will come to the surface without a pump.

Factors that impact the quality of Water

Water pH
Hardness
Turbidity
Taste
Odor
Microbes and Chemicals

Water pH

The pH determine the concentration of hydrogen. It is measured with an instrument. Safe is around 7 which is neutral.

Hardness and Softness of Water

If it is too soft, there aren't enough minerals.
If you shower with soft water it will feel like you didn't rinse the soap off, because of the chemistry of soap and water.

Potential Sources of Water Contamination

Pesticides
Fertilizers
Nitrates
Industry
Chemical Spill
PCBs/ Benzene
Landfills
Landfills present great risks for contamination if it leaks into the ground water or runs into a lake.
Toxic Waste
Leaking Gas Tank
Air Pollutions (air pollution is connected with soil and groundwater)
Smog
Smoke
Acid Rain
Gas Tanks (Underground storage tanks of gas beneath) gas stations can leak.
Chlorine Fluoride
Municipal Treatment
Copper and Lead Pipes
Septic Tanks