<br />Introduction<br />Water is one of the most important sources of life, yet its pollution poses a direct threat to human health and the environment. When water sources become contaminated with chemical or biological agents, they become a vector for the transmission of many infectious diseases, putting public health at serious risk.<br /><br />Causes of Water Pollution<br />1. Wastewater and Sewage: Discharging untreated water into rivers and lakes causes the growth of pathogenic bacteria and viruses.<br />2. Pesticides and Agricultural Fertilizers: Contaminate groundwater and surface water, increasing the risk of chemical poisoning and the spread of parasites.<br />3. Industrial Waste: Contains heavy metals and toxic substances that cause chronic diseases such as cancer, liver and kidney damage.<br />4. Plastic Waste: Releases tiny particles known as microplastics, which enter the food chain and affect public health.<br />5. Oil Spills and Heavy Metals: Polluting seas and oceans, leading to the death of marine life and the transmission of toxins to humans.<br /><br /> Diseases Caused by Water Pollution<br />• Cholera: An acute bacterial disease that causes severe diarrhea that can lead to death.<br />• Typhoid: Transmitted through fecal-contaminated water, causing fever and severe gastrointestinal pain.<br />• Giardia and Amoeba: Intestinal parasites that cause cramps and diarrhea.<br />• Hepatitis A: A disease transmitted by drinking or using contaminated water.<br />• Dysentery: A disease that causes bloody diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites.<br /><br />Groups Most Vulnerable<br />• Children under the age of five.<br />• The elderly.<br />• Individuals with weakened immune systems.<br />• Residents of rural or informal settlements that lack health infrastructure.<br /><br />Solutions and Recommendations<br />• Improve sanitation networks and treat wastewater before discharging it.<br />• Regularly check water sources for contaminants.<br />• Provide household disinfection systems, such as boiling or using filters.<br />• Raise community awareness about the risks of pollution and prevention methods.<br /> • Enact environmental laws and penalize entities that pollute water resources.<br />• Encourage the use of organic fertilizers and biological pesticides instead of chemical ones.<br /><br /><br />Al _ Mustaqbal University, the first university in Iraq<br />Prepared by: Shahad Nawras Abbas<br />