Question

The water pollutants mainly responsible for the eutrophication are:

• A. $Cd,Pb$ and $Hg$ present in industrial waste
• B. heavy metals present in mining waste
• C. detergents and fertilisers containing phosphate anion
• D. polychlorinated biphenyls

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

detergents and fertilisers containing phosphate anion

Detergents and fertilizers contain phosphates as additives. The addition of phosphorus into water in the form of the phosphate anion $\left(P{O}_4^{3-}\right)$, encourage the formation of algae, which reduces the dissolved oxygen concentration of water. This process is known as eutrophication.