PLEASE HELP!! WILL MARK BRAINLIEST!!! List three ways by which nitrates are transferred from the land to water. In your own words, explain how these might impact the environment and human health. (4 points)

One way that nitrates are transferred from land to water is through agricultural runoff. When farmers use fertilizers on crops, the excess nutrients, including nitrates, can wash away during rainstorms and enter nearby streams, rivers, and eventually larger bodies of water like lakes and coastal areas.

A second way is through leaching from soil. Nitrates are soluble and can easily leach into groundwater during periods of rain or watering. Rural areas that use septic systems for wastewater can also contribute to nitrate levels as improperly treated sewage seeps through the soil and into the groundwater supply.

Lastly, industrial and urban runoff is another way nitrates can transfer to waterways. Urban areas have surfaces like roads and pavements that do not absorb water well, meaning that any nitrates present on these surfaces from industrial waste or atmospheric deposition can easily wash into the drainage systems and then into natural water bodies.

The impact of these transfers can be significant for both the environment and human health. For the environment, an excess of nitrates in water can lead to eutrophication, where water bodies receive too many nutrients. This condition promotes the overgrowth of plants and algae, which can deplete oxygen in the water, killing fish and other aquatic life – a process known as hypoxia.

For humans, the primary health risk associated with nitrates comes from contaminated drinking water. High levels of nitrates in drinking water can lead to a condition in infants called methemoglobinemia or "blue baby syndrome," which affects the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Nitrates have also been associated with increased risk of certain cancers and other health problems when consumed in high quantities over long periods.