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Polluted, contaminated water; function in body

Short answer

Polluted water is degraded by sewage, industrial waste, oil, or detergents, making it unfit for use but not necessarily harmful; contaminated water contains pathogens, toxic chemicals, or radioactive matter and is always a health hazard. Water forms 60-70% of body weight, carries nutrients, aids digestion, removes wastes, regulates temperature, and lubricates joints.

Define polluted and contaminated water. Also describe the function of water in the human body.

Polluted water

Polluted water is water whose quality has been degraded by the addition of unwanted matter such as sewage, industrial effluent, oil, detergents or agricultural run-off, so that it becomes unfit for its intended use. It may or may not be harmful to health.

Contaminated water

Contaminated water is water that contains harmful micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoa), toxic chemicals or radioactive substances in amounts that can cause disease. Contamination is always a health hazard.

Function of water in the human body

  • Forms about 60 to 70 percent of body weight.
  • Carries nutrients, oxygen and hormones through blood.
  • Helps digestion and absorption of food.
  • Removes wastes through urine and sweat.
  • Regulates body temperature.
  • Lubricates joints, eyes and mucous membranes.
  • Provides the medium for all chemical reactions in cells.

A person needs roughly 2 to 3 litres of drinking water per day.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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