Biological pollution: What is, types and examples

Biological pollution: What is, types and examples

By Dr. Kyle Muller

Have you heard of biological pollution but you are not sure what it is? To understand this concept, before we must understand the concept of pollution: this refers to the introduction of substances or subjects in the environment that can be of chemical, physical or biological origin. In this ecology article, we will try to explain everything about the contamination of biological origin, perhaps the most unknown of all. Although surely you listen to news such as the increase of people who have infected by a new coronavirus. Pay attention to the following lines to know better What is biological pollution, its types and examples.

What is biological pollution

Biological pollution It is caused by organisms with a certain life cycle, during which, to perform this cycle, they inhabit environments in which they are able to degrade air quality, water, soil and food, being a Great danger to living beingsbeing able to cause infectious or parasitic diseases. Therefore, biological pollution occurs when an organism of this type infesses an environment like those mentioned, harming many of the living beings that use these resources for their own life cycles.

Among these organisms responsible for biological pollution We highlight:

  • Bacteria.
  • The protozoa.
  • Fungi.
  • The helminths.
  • Viruses.
  • The arthropods.

Types of biological pollution

Now that we have the concept of somewhat clearer biological pollution, we can advance in this issue. Next, we detail the Types of biological pollution what’s:

  • Biological contamination in water: Water can contain organic decomposition and pathogenic microorganisms (protozoa, bacteria and viruses) that mostly come from wastewater, agricultural activities or industrial spills.
  • Biological pollution in the air: Biological air pollutants can be found anywhere, either in closed or open spaces. Both people and animals leave viruses and bacteria that will affect other people and animals. Bad ventilation or relative humidity are factors that help the growth of biological pollutants.
  • Biological pollution on the ground: There are bacteria and viruses that also deteriorate the soil, since this also arrive domestic waste, livestock activities, wastewater, etc.
  • Biological contamination in food: Food can be affected by biological pollutants, which are any type of organism that alters the composition of the food making it not suitable for consumption.

Biological pollution: What is, types and examples - types of biological pollution

Examples of biological pollutants

Biological pollution can be given by different biological pollutantswhich according to their nature are classified as:

  • Bacteria: Pathogenic bacteria cause diseases such as pneumonia, or also food -associated diseases such as salmonella.
  • Protozoa: They are simple unicellular microorganisms that causes diseases in humans. Many of the diseases caused by protozoa are malaria, amebiasis, sleep disease.
  • Virus: acellular infectious agent that to grow and develop within the cells of other organisms. They are the cause of a wide variety of diseases in plants, animals and humans, as well as AIDS, hepatitis, smallpox or measles.
  • HELMINTES: They are free life or human parasites, when they are adults they cannot multiply in humans. These can cause diseases, some examples are the have, worms or leeches.
  • Fungus: Fungi unable to synthesize their own nutrients are forced to live as parasites in living beings. Sometimes these fungi are harmless and do not produce any infection. However, pathogenic fungi can affect any organ, but the most frequent are superficial infections such as skin or nails.
  • Arthropods: Within arthropods mites can cause skin diseases in addition to acting as a source of allergens. Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by the mite of scabies.

Although we can also think about the Classification of biological pollutants In four groups according to the infection risk index:

  • Group 1: In this group are those biological agents that are unlikely to cause diseases in human beings.
  • Group 2: However, those pathogenic biological agents that can cause a disease in the human being are included, although there are effective treatments to treat it and are not easily transmitted.
  • Group 3: Pathogenic biological agents found in this group can cause serious diseases, as well as spread, but there are generally effective treatments. The bacteria that causes tuberculosis or hepatitis or AIDS viruses are examples.
  • Group 4: In this group are the most dangerous pathogens that extend greatly and usually there are no effective treatments.

Causes of biological pollution

Biological pollution is caused by contaminant spills that can be found in solid, liquid or gaseous state. They usually come from the processes that occur in:

  • The industries of different types.
  • Microbiological laboratories.
  • Food production.
  • Agrarian work.
  • Health works, especially in hospitals.
  • The removal of waste.
  • Wastewater treatment.
  • Any activity that has contact with living beings.

It should be taken into account that conditions such as the presence of nutrients, humidity and temperature must be given so that the activity of biological pollutants is favored. If you want to learn more about Causes of biological pollution And of other types in the media in which it occurs, we recommend you consult these other articles:

  • Causes and consequences of water pollution.
  • Soil pollution: causes, consequences and solutions.
  • Why the air is contaminated.
  • Types of contamination in food and their causes.

Biological pollution: What is, types and examples - causes of biological pollution

Consequences of biological pollution

Biological pollution, in short, causes a large number of diseases to living beings of any kind and, in addition, these are very varied diseases. Thanks to the advance of medicine, today, we can treat most of the diseases caused by biological pollutants. Although it is true that new pollutants continue to appear and that it is not always easy to face or find prevention or priests.

This issue is to reflect on the importance of trying to contaminate our environment as little as possible, because depending on where you live and your economic possibilities, you will have more ease of being treated to face the disease or not.

If you want to read more articles similar to Biological pollution: What is, types and exampleswe recommend that you enter our pollution category.

Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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