{"id":12527,"date":"2024-01-26T07:55:10","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T06:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12527"},"modified":"2024-01-26T07:55:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T06:55:10","slug":"what-pollutes-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-pollutes-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What Pollutes The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Mississippi River is an important water source for many states, which can be polluted by runoff from a variety of sources, including factories, farms, sewage plants, and storm water. Pollutants can have devastating impacts on the local environment and human health. The following facts provide a snapshot of the current status of pollution in the Mississippi River:<\/p>\n
The pollutants that enter the Mississippi River have detrimental effects on wildlife and the environment. Toxic pollutants such as mercury and lead have severe impacts on wildlife, particularly fish, leading to impaired reproduction, deformities, and death. These pollutants also alter the chemical makeup of the water, making it difficult for aquatic species to survive. In addition, the algae bloom caused by nutrient runoff creates unbalanced ecosystems, where animals and plants become more vulnerable to predation.
\nThere are also the issues of water contamination that threaten the health of humans who consume fish from the river. Humans are particularly at risk for consuming chemicals that bioaccumulate in fish, as well as for ingesting pathogens from the water, such as E. coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium.<\/p>\n
Two of the primary sources of pollution in the Mississippi River are sewage runoff from wastewater treatment plants, and runoff from industrial and agricultural activities. Sewage runoff from wastewater treatment plants is the primary source of organic pollutants, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which can lead to oxygen depletion and the growth of toxic algae blooms. Industrial and agricultural activities, meanwhile, can lead to the contamination of the river with heavy metals, fertilizer, and pesticides, which can end up in the water and can have devastating consequences on the health of humans and wildlife. In addition, urban runoff, which contains metals and pesticides from farms, as well as chemical compounds from factories, is also a major source of pollution.<\/p>\n
The government of the United States has taken various actions to reduce the levels of pollution in the Mississippi River. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, established water quality standards, the monitoring of discharges, and the prevention of ongoing pollution of waterways. The act also provided for the development of control programs for major pollutants, including toxic chemicals, oil and grease, and suspended solids.
\nIn addition, the EPA has developed several programs to reduce the amount of pollution that enters the Mississippi River. These include the Total Maximum Daily Load program, which requires states to establish a limit to the amount of pollutants that can be discharged into the river from a specific source; the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which sets limits for discharges for toxic substances; and the National Aquatic Resource Surveys, which monitor waterways for pollutants.<\/p>\n