Pollution

By
Dr. Ngangom Mamata Devi

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 Pollution

What is Pollution?

“Pollution is the introduction of substances (or energy) that

cause adverse changes in the environment and living entities .”

Pollution need not always be caused by chemical substances such

as particulates (like smoke and dust). Forms of energy such as sound, heat
or light can also cause pollution. These substances that cause pollution are
called pollutants.

Pollutants can make its way up the food chain and eventually find
its way inside the human body. They may be in the form of gas, liquid,
solid or energy.
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 Liquid pollutants usually come from liquid waste. Liquid
waste includes human excreta (both faeces and urine), industrial
wastewaters and other forms of waste from water-using activities. Factories
generate liquid waste from activities related to washing in the
manufacturing process, cleaning objects and chemical mixing.

Sewage is a mixture of human excreta from water-flushed toilets

and other wastewater from houses and businesses. Sewage and human
waste from overflowing septic tanks and latrines are frequent sources of
pollution. Urban run-off is another type of liquid waste that can cause
pollution. Urban run-off can contain a lot of organic matter. This may come
from open defecation or inappropriate handling of organic wastes produced
from households and businesses.
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 Pollutants also come in solid form. Plastic bags are one of the most
common solid wastes. Solid waste is any solid material that is assumed not
to be useful and is therefore thrown away.

Factories, businesses and households produce different kinds of

solid waste such as paper, plastics, metals, chemicals in solid form, pieces
of cloth or food and animal remains.

Another type of pollution that is common in urban communities is

noise pollution. Noise pollution means unacceptable levels of noise in
work, residential and recreational places. Loud music from music shops and
clubs in an urban community is a known source of noise disturbance. Such
noise may please some, but it disturbs many other people because it
interferes with communication in the daytime and sleeping at night.
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Types of Pollution: There are different types of pollution, which are either
caused by natural events (like forest fires) or by man-made activities (like
cars, factories, nuclear wastes, etc.)

These are further classified into the following types of pollution:

1. Air Pollution: Air pollution refers to the release of harmful contaminants

(chemicals, toxic gases, particulates, biological molecules, etc.) into the
earth’s atmosphere. These contaminants are quite detrimental (harmful), and
in some cases, pose serious health issues. There are two types of air
pollutants:

a. Primary Pollutants: The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are
known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-dioxide emitted from factories is a
primary pollutant. Mamata Ngangom 5
b. Secondary Pollutants: The pollutants formed by the intermingling
(mixture) and reaction of primary pollutants are known as secondary
pollutants. Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a
secondary pollutant.

Causes of Air Pollution: Following are the important causes of air pollution.

i. Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large

amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide released by incomplete
combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.

ii. Automobiles: The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars,
buses, etc. pollute the environment. These are the major sources of
greenhouse gases and also result in diseases among individuals.
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iii. Agricultural Activities: Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases
emitted during agricultural activities. The insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers
emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate it.

iv. Factories and Industries: Factories and industries are the main source of
carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and chemicals.

v. Mining Activities: The dust and chemicals released during the mining
process not only pollute the air but also deteriorate the health of the workers
and people living in the nearby areas.

vi. Domestic Sources: The household cleaning products and paints contain
toxic chemicals that are released in the air. The smell from the newly painted
walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the paints. It not only pollutes the
air but also affects breathing.
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Effects of Air Pollution: The hazardous effects of air pollution on the
environment include:

a. Diseases: Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and

heart diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased in the
last few decades. Children living near polluted areas are more prone to
pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or
indirect effects of air pollution.

b. Global Warming: Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an

imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an increase in
the temperature of the earth. This increase in earth’s temperature is known
as global warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers and an increase
in sea levels. Many areas are submerged under water.
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c. Acid Rain: The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as
nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air. The water droplets combine with
these pollutants become acidic and fall as acid rain which damages human,
animal and plant life.

d. Ozone Layer Depletion: The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and

hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of
the ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer does not prevent the harmful
ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye
problems among individuals.

e. Effect on Animals: The air pollutants suspend on the water bodies and
affect the aquatic life. Pollution also compels the animals to leave their habitat
and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and has also led to the
extinction of a large number of animals species. 9
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Air Pollution Control: Following are the measures one should adopt to
control air pollution:

a. Avoid Using Vehicles: People should avoid using vehicles for shorter
distances. Rather they should prefer public modes of transport to travel
from one place to another. This not only prevents pollution but also
conserves energy.

b. Energy Conservation: A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to

generate electricity. Therefore, do not forget to switch off the electrical
appliances when not in use. Thus, you can save the environment at the
individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such CFLs also controls
pollution to a greater level.
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c. Use of Clean Energy Resources: The use of solar, wind and geothermal
energies reduce air pollution at a larger level. Other air pollution control
measures include:

i. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.

ii. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution,
the pollutants can be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its
effects. For example, if the reactions of a certain raw material yield a
pollutant, then the raw materials can be substituted with other less polluting
materials.

iii. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution. In many

parts of India, petrol and diesel are being replaced by CNG – Compressed
Natural Gas fuelled vehicles.
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iv. Another way of controlling air pollution caused by industries is to
modify and maintain existing pieces of equipment so that the emission of
pollutants is minimized.

v. Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not possible. In that

case, we can have process control equipment to control the pollution. A
very effective way of controlling air pollution is by diluting the air
pollutants.

vi. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is
tree plantation. Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in the
air. Ideally, planting trees in areas of high pollution levels will be extremely
effective.
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2. Water Pollution: Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of
water bodies. Water pollution is caused when water bodies such as rivers,
lakes, oceans, groundwater, and aquifers get contaminated with industrial and
agricultural effluents.

Sources of Water Pollution: Key causatives of water pollution in India are:

➢ Urbanization.
➢ Deforestation.
➢ Industrial effluents.
➢ Social and Religious Practices.
➢ Use of Detergents and Fertilizers.
➢ Agricultural run-offs - Use of insecticides and pesticides.

However, even natural processes such as eutrophication can cause

water pollution. Mamata Ngangom 13
Effects Of Water Pollution: The effect of water pollution depends upon
the type of pollutants and its concentration. Also, the location of water
bodies is an important factor to determine the levels of pollution.

Water bodies in the vicinity of urban areas are extremely polluted.

This is the result of dumping garbage and toxic chemicals by industrial and
commercial establishments. Water pollution drastically affects aquatic life.
It affects their metabolism, behaviour, causes illness and eventual death.

Dioxin is a chemical that causes a lot of problems from

reproduction to uncontrolled cell growth or cancer. This chemical is
bioaccumulated in fish, chicken and meat. Chemicals such as this travel up
the food chain before entering the human body.
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 The effect of water pollution can have a huge impact on the food
chain. It disrupts the food-chain.

Cadmium and lead are some toxic substances, these pollutants upon
entering the food chain through animals (fish when consumed by animals,
humans) can continue to disrupt at higher levels.

Humans are affected by pollution and can contract diseases such as

hepatitis through faecal matter in water sources. Poor drinking water
treatment and unfit water can always cause an outbreak of infectious
diseases such as cholera etc.

The ecosystem can be critically affected, modified and destructured

because of water pollution. Mamata Ngangom 15
Control Measures of Water Pollution: Water pollution, to a larger extent,
can be controlled by a variety of methods. Rather than releasing sewage
waste into water bodies, it is better to treat them before discharge.
Practising this can reduce the initial toxicity and the remaining substances
can be degraded and rendered harmless by the water body itself.

If the secondary treatment of water has been carried out, then this
can be reused in sanitary systems and agricultural fields.

A very special plant, the Water Hyacinth can absorb dissolved toxic
chemicals such as cadmium and other such elements. Establishing these in
regions prone to such kinds of pollutants will reduce the adverse effects to a
large extent.
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 Some chemical methods that help in the control of water pollution
are precipitation, the ion exchange process, reverse osmosis, and
coagulation. As an individual, reusing, reducing, and recycling wherever
possible will advance a long way in overcoming the effects of water
pollution.

3. Soil Pollution: Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with

anomalous (strange) concentrations of toxic substances. It is a serious
environmental concern since it caused many health hazards. For example,
exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the
risk of contracting leukaemia. It is important to understand that all soils
contain compounds that are harmful/toxic to human beings and other living
organisms.
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 However, the concentration of such substances in unpolluted soil is
low enough that they do not pose any threat to the surrounding ecosystem.
When the concentration of one or more such toxic substances is high enough
to cause damage to living organisms, the soil is said to be contaminated.

The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following:

➢ Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)

➢ Excessive industrial activity: Improper industrial waste disposal and
Industrial accidents
➢ Poor management or inefficient (disorganized) disposal of waste
➢ Oil Spills
➢ Acid rain which is caused by air pollution
➢Mining activities Mamata Ngangom 18
What are the Pollutants that Contaminate Soil?

Some of the most hazardous soil pollutants are xenobiotics –

substances that are not naturally found in nature and are synthesized by
human beings.

The term ‘xenobiotic’ has Greek roots – ‘Xenos’ (foreigner), and

‘Bios’ (life). Several xenobiotics are known to be carcinogens.

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 The different types of pollutants that are found in contaminated
soil are:

a. Heavy Metals: The presence of heavy metals (such as lead and

mercury, in abnormally high concentrations) in soils can cause it to
become highly toxic to human beings.
Toxic Metals that Cause Soil Pollution
Arsenic Mercury Lead
Antimony Zinc Nickel
Cadmium Selenium Beryllium
Thallium Chromium Copper

These metals can originate from several sources such as mining

activities, agricultural activities, electronic waste (e-waste), and medical
waste. Mamata Ngangom 20
b. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (often abbreviated to PAHs) are organic compounds that:

➢ Contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

➢ Contain more than one aromatic ring in their chemical structures.

Common examples of PAHs include naphthalene, anthracene, and

phenalene.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been linked to

several forms of cancer. These organic compounds can also cause
cardiovascular diseases in humans. Soil pollution due to PAHs can be
sourced to coke (coal) processing, vehicle emissions, cigarette smoke and
extraction of shale oil.
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c. Industrial Waste: The discharge of industrial waste into soils can result
in soil pollution. Some common soil pollutants that can be sourced to
industrial waste are:

➢ Chlorinated industrial solvents

➢ Dioxins produced from the manufacture of pesticides and the

incineration of waste.

➢ Plasticizers/dispersants

➢ Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

The petroleum industry creates many petroleum hydrocarbon

waste products. Some of these wastes, such as benzene and
methylbenzene, are known to be carcinogenic in nature.
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c. Pesticides: Pesticides are substances (or mixtures of substances) that are
used to kill or inhibit the growth of pests. Common types of pesticides
used in agriculture include:

➢ Herbicides – used to kill/control weeds and other unwanted plants.

➢ Insecticides – used to kill insects.

➢ Fungicides – used to kill parasitic fungi or inhibit their growth.

However, the unintentional diffusion of pesticides into the

environment (commonly known as ‘pesticide drift’) poses a variety of
environmental concerns such as water pollution and soil pollution.

Some important soil contaminants found in pesticides are listed

below. Mamata Ngangom 23
A. Herbicides

➢ Triazines

➢ Carbamates

➢ Amides

➢ Phenoxyalkyl acids

➢ Aliphatic acids

B. Insecticides

➢ Organophosphates

➢ Chlorinated hydrocarbons

➢ Arsenic-containing compounds

➢ Pyrethrum Mamata Ngangom 24

C. Fungicides

➢ Mercury-containing compounds

➢ Thiocarbamates

➢ Copper sulfate

These chemicals pose several health risks to humans. Examples of

health hazards related to pesticides include diseases of the central nervous
system, immune system diseases, cancer, and birth defects.

The challenges faced in soil remediation (decontamination of soil) are

closely related to the extent of soil pollution. The greater the contamination,
the greater the requirement of resources for remediation.
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What are the Negative Consequences of Soil Pollution?

Soil pollution harbours a broad spectrum of negative consequences

that affect plants, animals, humans, and the ecosystem as a whole.

A. Effects on Human Beings: Soil contaminants can exist in all three phases
(solid, liquid, and gaseous). Therefore, these contaminants can find their way
into the human body via several channels such as direct contact with the skin
or through the inhalation of contaminated soil dust.

The short term effects of human exposure to polluted soil include:

➢ Headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

➢ Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing.

➢ Irritation of the skin and the eyes.

➢Fatigue and weakness. Mamata Ngangom 26

 A variety of long-term ailments have been linked to soil pollution.
Some such diseases are listed below.

➢ Exposure to high levels of lead can result in permanent damage to

the nervous system. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead.

➢ Depression of the CNS (Central Nervous System).

➢ Damage to vital organs such as the kidney and the liver.

➢ Higher risk of developing cancer.

It can be noted that many soil pollutants such as petroleum

hydrocarbons and industrial solvents have been linked to congenital
(inborn) disorders in humans.
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B. Effects on Plants and Animals: Since soil pollution is often accompanied
by a decrease in the availability of nutrients, plant life ceases to thrive in such
soils.

Soils contaminated with inorganic aluminium can prove toxic to

plants. Also, this type of pollution often increases the salinity of the soil,
making it inhospitable for the growth of plant life. Plants that are grown in
polluted soil may accumulate high concentrations of soil pollutants through a
process known as bioaccumulation.

When these plants are consumed by herbivores, all the accumulated

pollutants are passed up the food chain. This can result in the loss/extinction
of many desirable animal species. Also, these pollutants can eventually make
their way to the top of the food chain and manifest as diseases in human
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C. Effects on the Ecosystem: Since the volatile contaminants in the soil
can be carried away into the atmosphere by winds or can seep into
underground water reserves, soil pollution can be a direct contributor to air
and water pollution. It can also contribute towards acid rain (by releasing
huge quantities of ammonia into the atmosphere).

Acidic soils are inhospitable to several microorganisms that

improve soil texture and help in the decomposition of organic matter. Crop
yield is greatly affected by this form of pollution.

In China, over 12 million tons of grain (worth approx. 2.6 billion

USD) is found to be unfit for human consumption due to contamination
with heavy metals (as per studies conducted by the China Dialogue).

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How can Soil Pollution be Controlled?

Some important strategies followed for the decontamination of

polluted soil are:

➢ Excavation and subsequent transportation of polluted soils to

remote, uninhabited locations.

➢ Extraction of pollutants via thermal remediation – the temperature

is raised in order to force the contaminants into the vapour phase,
after which they can be collected through vapour extraction.

➢ Bioremediation or phytoremediation involves the use of

microorganisms and plants for the decontamination of soil.

➢ Mycoremediation involves the use of fungi for the accumulation of

heavy metal contaminants. Mamata Ngangom 30
4. Noise Pollution: Noise pollution refers to the excessive amount of noise in
the surrounding that disrupts the natural balance.

By definition, noise pollution takes place when there is either an

excessive amount of noise or an unpleasant sound that causes a temporary
disruption in the natural balance. This definition is usually applicable to
sounds or noises that are unnatural in either their volume or their production.

Usually, it is man-made, though certain natural calamities like

volcanoes can contribute to noise pollution.

In general, any sound which is over 85 decibels is considered to be

detrimental. Also, the duration an individual is exposed plays an impact on
their health. A normal conversation is around 60 decibels, and a jet taking off
is around 150 decibels.
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 Noise pollution has several contributors, which include:

➢ Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills, factories,

etc.

➢ Transportation noises from vehicles, aeroplanes, etc.

➢ Construction noises

➢ Noise from social events (loudspeakers, firecrackers, etc.)

➢ Household noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines, etc.)

Effects of Noise Pollution

1. Hearing Problems: Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been
built to filter can cause problems within the body. Our ears can take in a
certain range of sounds without getting damaged.
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 Man-made noises such as jackhammers, horns, machinery,
airplanes and even vehicles can be too loud for our hearing range. Constant
exposure to loud levels of noise can easily result in the damage of our
eardrums and loss of hearing.

2. Health Issues: Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as

offices, construction sites, bars and even in our homes can influence
psychological health. Studies show that the occurrence of aggressive
behavior, disturbance of sleep, constant stress, fatigue, and hypertension
can be linked to excessive noise levels.

3. Sleeping Disorders: Loud noise can certainly hamper your sleeping

pattern and may lead to irritation and uncomfortable situations.
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Without a good night sleep, it may lead to problems related to fatigue and
your performance may go down in the office as well as at home.

4. Cardiovascular Issues: Studies suggest that high-intensity noise causes

high blood pressure and increases heartbeat rate as it disrupts the normal
blood flow. Bringing them to a manageable level depends on our
understanding of noise pollution and how we tackle it.

5. Trouble Communicating: High decibel noise can put trouble and may
not allow two people to communicate freely. This may lead to
misunderstanding and you may get difficult understanding the other person.
Constant sharp noise can give you a severe headache and disturb your
emotional balance.
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6. Effect on Wildlife: Wildlife faces far more problems than humans because
of noise pollution since they are more dependent on sound. The ill effects of
excessive noise begin at home.

Pets react more aggressively in households where there is a constant

noise. They become disoriented more easily and face many behavioral
problems. In nature, animals may suffer from hearing loss, which makes
them easy prey and leads to dwindling (declining) populations. Others
become inefficient at hunting, disturbing the balance of the eco-system.

Species that depend on mating calls to reproduce are often unable to

hear these calls due to excessive man-made noise. As a result, they are unable
to reproduce and cause declining populations.
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 Others require sound waves to echolocate and find their way when
migrating. Disturbing their sound signals means they get lost easily and do
not migrate when they should.

As of now, there do not exist many solutions to reduce sound

pollution. On a personal level, everybody can help to reduce the noise in
their homes by lowering the volume of the radio, music system and the
television.

Listening to music without headphones is also a good step forward.

Removal of public loudspeakers is another way in which pollution can be
countered.

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