Surface water contaminants

This lecture covers the pollution of surface water by various contaminants, including nitrogen, inorganics like mercury, and organics such as atrazine. It discusses the impact of agriculture, mining, and urban areas on water quality, as well as the presence of major elements like chromium and phosphate. The lecture also delves into the contamination of water by nuclear, military, and classical industries, highlighting cases like Fukushima and depleted uranium. Furthermore, it explores the dynamics of mercury transport in rivers, the formation of toxic methylmercury, and the degradation of atrazine into metabolites. The presentation concludes by addressing the challenges posed by emerging contaminants from modern cities and the importance of considering biodegradation processes in water treatment.