What term describes cloudiness in water caused by suspended particles?

• A. Sediment pollution
• B. Turbidity
• C. Hypoxic water
• D. Anoxic water

Answer: (B)

Cloudiness in water caused by suspended particles is turbidity. This term describes how clear or murky water looks when solids like silt, clay, organic matter, or plankton are floating in the water column. Turbidity matters because high levels reduce light penetration, which can limit photosynthesis in aquatic plants and affect ecosystem health. It’s also a practical indicator of water quality and can signal erosion, runoff, or wastewater input.

Sediment pollution refers to the presence of sediments as a pollutant source, not the general cloudiness itself. Hypoxic water means low dissolved oxygen, and anoxic water means no dissolved oxygen; both describe oxygen conditions, not turbidity.