Water pollution is a contamination of water caused by the entry of substances such as chemicals products and industrial and municipal discharges, which affect the quality compromising the usual uses.

Some of the major water pollutants are: waste water, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, radioactive substances or waste from mines, from nuclear power plants, industries and from medical and research laboratories that use radioactive materials.

The heat released in the rivers from industrial plants and power plants, through the cooling water can be considered a pollutant.

It causes changes in temperature that may affect the ecological balance of aquatic ecosystems and cause the death of the less-resistant organisms and reduce the ability to self-water.

The contaminants contained in polluted water can cause many damages to human health and to the ecosystem balance.

The presence of nitrates in drinking water, for example, causes a pathological condition in children that in some cases can lead to death.

Cadmium present in some sludge used as fertilizer can be absorbed by the crops and bring to humans through food networks, and if taken in high doses, can cause severe diarrhoea and may damage liver and kidneys.

Among the most harmful pollutants to human beings there are some heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, lead and chromium.

Lake ecosystems are particularly sensitive to pollution. The excessive input of fertilizers leached from agricultural land can initiate a process of eutrophication, which is an excessive growth of aquatic flora.

A large amount of algae and aquatic plants which grows deforms the landscape, but especially when it decomposes, consuming oxygen dissolved in water, makes asphyctic the deeper layers of the lake and produces unpleasant odours.

At the bottom of the basin sediments are accumulated from various sources and in the water chemical reactions occur that alter the balance and composition of the ecosystem (when the waters have much limestone there is, for example, the precipitation of calcium carbonate).

Another source of water pollution consists of the so-called acid rains, which have already caused the disappearance of all forms of life from many lakes of northern and eastern Europe and from North America.

The chemical fertilizers used in agriculture and sewage produced by the farms are rich in organic substances (containing mainly nitrogen and phosphorus) that washed away by rain, flow into groundwater or in surface water bodies.

The pollution of the sea is due to accidental or intentional releases of oil and fuel oil, the contribution of pollutants carried by rivers and to discharges from coastal settlements.

The latter, in particular, contain all sorts of contaminants (heavy metals, toxic chemicals, radioactive materials, pathogens) and often are the cause of epidemics of typhus, cholera, salmonellas and other infectious diseases.

The pollutants are carried by currents along the coasts and to deep seas, and at medium and long distance. Obviously, the contamination of the seas goes beyond the borders of the territorial waters of individual states and is the subject of international treaties that seek to limit its extent.

In Siracusa as every day at 12:00 A M, one of the alleged "yellowish spots that are afflicting both our coastlines and the intestines of unfortunate swimmers.”

At first we did not think that in nature could not exist a compound that could boil in the open sea, if not of gastric juice. The Abyssinian brown and white ice together, broken only by the ferment of fermentation.

The crude and fuel oil spilled into the sea form on the water surface an oily film that preventing the atmospheric absorption, causes the death of marine organisms.

In Sicily there are prospects to create marine parks through agreements with Tunisia and Malta. A large marine park in the Channel of Sicily, divided into different areas and in bonds could be one of the most effective for the protection of the ecosystem of the Mediterranean.

The status of coastal waters in Sicily, in conclusion, is not happy and has become worse for the absence of a rational management of the environment and resources. A confirmation has been given by the publication of the Ministry of Health Bathing Water. About 500 km of Sicilian coast are not allowed for bathing because they are polluted and because they are not subject to monitoring sanitation.

There are souls that have blue skies and indigo vibrations in their heart………… there,

where the whales sing in the borders of the sea.

We hope the future will We hope the future will bring more awareness for bring more awareness for saving nature, so that we saving nature, so that we will leave to all human will leave to all human beings, a cleaner world!beings, a cleaner world!

Made by:Made by:Giangreco Alessia,Lo Pumo Maria Giangreco Alessia,Lo Pumo Maria

Chiara,Maria Pietro.Chiara,Maria Pietro.With the collaboration of:With the collaboration of:

Di Clemente Mariaelena,Altavilla Grazia Di Clemente Mariaelena,Altavilla Grazia Maria,Travaglia Silvia,Scarpulla Maria,Travaglia Silvia,Scarpulla Erminia,Sturnio Sarah,Bannò Erminia,Sturnio Sarah,Bannò Mariolina,Parisi Marina,Livera Mariolina,Parisi Marina,Livera

Serena,Popolo Silvia.Serena,Popolo Silvia.

Liceo Ginnasio StataleLiceo Ginnasio Statale““Nunzio Vaccalluzzo”Nunzio Vaccalluzzo”

Di LeonforteDi Leonforte