Question

Which of the following is a cause of pollution of water resources?
1. Dead aquatic plants
2. Deforestation
3. Dead aquatic animals
4. Radioactive substances

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Radioactive substances

The correct answer is Radioactive substances.

• Radioactive waste is a source of water pollution.
• Radioactive substances are used in nuclear power plants, industrial, medical, and other scientific processes.
• They can be found in watches, luminous clocks, television sets, and x-ray machinery.
• There are also naturally occurring radioisotopes from organisms and within the environment. If not properly disposed of, radioactive waste can result in serious water pollution incidents.

• There are two sources of radioactive contamination in drinking water.
  • The first is naturally occurring radionuclides that are contained in the soil that water moves through. Some areas are susceptible to contamination from phosphate-rich soils and rock.
  • The second source of radioactive contamination comes from man-made sources.
• Radionuclides found in drinking water are members of three radioactive series, uranium, thorium, and actinium, and include the naturally occurring elements radium, uranium, and the radioactive gas radon. 

• Deforestation: 
  • ​Deforestation is the permanent removal of trees or a decrease in the forest area to make room for something besides the forest.
  • Forests cover more than 30% of the Earth's land surface, according to the World Wildlife Fund.