POLLUTION:

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful
materials are called pollutants.

According to National Academy of Science, USA (1966), pollution is defined as, “An

undesirable change in physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water, air,
and soil that may harmfully affect human, animal, and plant life, industrial progress,
living conditions and cultural assets.

 Natural Pollution − Natural pollution are caused by natural forces such as

volcanic eruption and forest fire.
 Man-made Pollution − refer to the release of excess amount of gases or
matter by human activities. For instance, increase in the number of automobiles
adds excess carbon monoxide to the atmosphere causing harmful effect on
vegetation and human health.

The major types of pollution:

 Air pollution
 Water pollution
 Noise pollution
 Soil or land pollution
 Marine pollution
 Thermal pollution
 Nuclear hazards

Reasons for pollution:

Population explosion, urbanization, deforestation, excessive heat, noise, light or

radiation from industrial area

Air Pollution

 Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of toxic substances
in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living
beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials.
  There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases
(including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous
oxides, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both
organic and inorganic), and biological molecules.
 Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death to humans; it can
also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and
may damage the natural environment (for example, climate change, ozone
depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for example, acid rain)

Causes of Air Pollution

Vehicles and Automobiles

When the vehicles such as trucks, cars, motorbikes, etc., are used for transport, gases
are emitted from the fuel. And with the increase in vehicle usage, there is an increase
in vehicular emissions. These are the major sources of Greenhouse gases.

Burning of Fossil fuels

In the rural areas or factories or industries, fossil fuels are burned for fire and energy
to manufacture many products. At this time lots of harmful and poisonous gases are
released into the air. Large amounts of Sulphur, Carbon, and Nitrogen Oxides are
emitted.

Agricultural Activities
To increase the harvest of crops, the farmers use pesticides, fertilizers, and
insecticides to eliminate pests. Using these results in the release of ammonia into the
atmosphere. This is one of the most hazardous gases that pollute the environment.

Factories and Industries

To manufacture and produce products various combustion processes take place in the
factories and Industries. Large amounts of gases are emitted through the chimneys that
directly reach the upper surface of air causing pores in the ozone layer and global
warming.
Mining Activities
This is one of the processes seen quite often in all areas. To extract the minerals from
underground various equipment are used. Lots of chemicals and gases are emitted
during the extraction. Pollutants not only pollute the air but also result in serious
diseases among the people.

Domestic Sources
The products used for house cleaning and painting release a lot of chemicals and toxic
substances. They pollute the air and affect the breath of people.

Arsenal and Nuclear Weapons

The military forces use Nuclear arsenal and chemical weapons for wars. These release
large amounts of chemical substances that are very harmful and poisonous.

Natural calamities – volcanoes, forest fire, dust storm

Effects of Air Pollution

Ozone Depletion
The ozone layer is the layer present in the stratosphere composed of natural gases. It
envelops the Earth from harmful radiations from the Sun. The gases like
chlorofluorocarbons and hydrocarbons deplete the ozone layer and cause holes in it.
Due to the depletion, harmful ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun enter the surface
and may fall on our skin. This causes cancer and other adverse effects on the health of
humans.

Smog
The combination of smoke and fog is called smog. The carbon particles condense and
mix with the fog. The concentration of harmful gases is more in this smog. It is very
harmful to the environment and humans as well. Diseases like flu, cold, asthma,
irritation of eyes, and lung cancer are caused due to smog in humans.
Acid Rain
When the chemicals and toxic substances react with water in the atmosphere, acid rain
is caused. The pollutants like Sulphur dioxide and carbon oxides dissolve in water,
react with it, and deposit as acid rain. This damages plants, animals, soil, and
buildings as well.

Global Warming
The emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere increases the temperature in the
surroundings. Due to this heat is increased and leads to global warming. Glaciers at
sea level also melt due to the increase in temperature.

Effects on Animals
The contaminants may get mixed with water and pollute aquatic life. Besides, the
pollution also affects the environment and the animals living in it. Due to this, animals
may have to change their habitat and roam around for a new place. This in turn further
leads to the extinction of many animals.

Control of Air Pollution

 catalytic converters, precipitators, scrubbers, etc. can be used to capture and

control air pollutants

 large industries and factories must only be built in the outskirts or some
other areas with a low human population.

 Instead of using harmful gases and fossil fuels, natural gases like
Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) can be used for various purposes. This
reduces air pollution and also saves up fossil fuels.

 avoid using personal vehicles and use public vehicles for transport.

 Using natural resources like wind, solar and geothermal energies

 Reducing the use of fuel and fire products.

  Treating the materials emitted from industries and factories.
 Using Compressed Natural Gas CNG for vehicles and engines.
 Increasing tree plantation

Water Pollution: 

 Water pollution is the contamination of water in water bodies such as rivers,

oceans, lakes and swamps.
 The addition of certain substances to the water such as organic, inorganic,
biological, radiological, and heat, degrades the quality of water hence
making it unfit for use.

Causes of Water Pollution

 The chemicals, waste products, and detergents released from roads, highways,
houses, and industries in urban areas are one of the major causes of water
pollution. 
 The improper disposal of sewage causes water pollution. The sewage from
houses, hospitals, and industries is released directly into the water bodies without
any treatment.
 fertilizers play a large role in the cause of water pollution
 Oil spills causes pollution in the marine ecosystem. 
 Industrial sites, construction sites and factories produce toxic chemicals which are
are exposed to rainwater which causes them to be washed into the soil or directly
into rivers, streams, oceans or lakes.
 Deforestation

Effects of Water Pollution

 Diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, etc, are caused due to water pollution.
 Destruction of Ecosystems 
 Eutrophication The increased concentration of chemicals in a water body results in
the growth of algae. The growth of algae on the top of the pond or lake causes the low
 amount of sun rays to penetrate resulting in a decreased amount of oxygen in the
water body, severely affecting the aquatic life.
 Disruption of food chains

Control Measures

 Recycle.
 Chemical treatment of sewage water and industrial effluents should be done before
they are released directly into the water bodies
 Hot water should be cooled before they are finally released from the power plants.
 Regular Domestic Cleaning in tanks, streams and rivers, which supply drinking water,
should be prohibited.
 Excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides should be avoided.
 Organic farming and the efficient use of animal residues as fertilizers also act as
control measures to reduce water pollution.
 Water hyacinth (an aquatic weed) also purifies water by taking some toxic materials
and a number of heavy metals from water.
 Disposal site should be far away from drinking well

Land pollution
 Degradation of soil by outside contaminants is largely the result of
unsustainable agricultural practices, the improper disposal of waste (both
hazardous and non-hazardous), mining, illegal dumping and littering. 
 Land pollution refers to the deterioration of the earth’s land surfaces at and below
ground level. It is caused by the accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that
contaminate groundwater and soil. These waste materials are often referred to as
municipal solid waste (MSW), which includes both hazardous and non-hazardous
waste.

Causes
 Illegal dumping of waste in places such as forests, open fields and
ditches.
 Urbanization
 Changing forest area to agricultural land
 Mining
  Agricultural related land pollution include run-off from pesticides,
herbicides, fertilizer and animal waste. 

Effects of Land Pollution

  Contamination of drinking water
 reduction in the availability of food
 Climate change, which causes flash floods and irregular rainfalls 
 The endangerment and extinction of species in wildlife
 Habitat destruction, Habitat shifting, where animals are are forced to flee
where they live in order to survive
 Increased air pollution, which burning waste contributes to Increased soil
pollutants can enter the body through the food chain, and cause health issues
 Loss in soil fertility

Control

 Use natural ingredients by switching from bio-fertilizers to manure or enrolling in

programs that provide education and resources regarding sustainable farming.

 Food scraps and yard waste could be composted

 Reforestation

 Solid Waste Treatments

 Green manuring

 Proper waste disposal

Noise Pollution: 

 Noise is an unwanted, unpleasant, annoying sound produced by the vibration of

matter. The power of sound is usually measured in decibels (dB).
 Decibel is the standard for the measurement of sound. A sound which is above 85
decibels or higher is considered to be noise.
 Some of its major causes are vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines, loudspeakers,
crackers, loud music etc. Even when used at high volumes, some other appliances also
contribute to noise pollution, like television, transistor, radio, etc. 
 Noise pollution is an unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious
effects on human health, wildlife, and environmental quality.

Causes of Noise Pollution

  Road Traffic Noises
 The sound produced by Aircraft
 Noise at construction sites
 Industrial Noise
 Noise-caused Public events/ Loudspeakers
 Events

Effects of noise pollution:

 Hearing Loss(temporarily and permanently)

 Interference with Communication
 Disturbance of Sleep
 Annoyance
 Effect on Performance
 effects the heart rate of the person,  Increased blood pressure, Vasoconstriction etc.
 cause stress in a number of ways, including headaches, irritability, insomnia, digestive
disorders, and psychological disorders
CONTROL:

 Construction of Soundproof room.

 Use of horns with jarring sounds, motorbikes with damaged exhaust pipes, and noisy
trucks to be banned.
 Noise-producing industries, airports, bus and transport terminals and railway stations
are to be sighted far from living places. 
 Vegetation trees should be constructed along the roads and in residential areas is a
good way to reduce noise pollution
NUCLEAR HAZARD
 referred to as radioactive contamination. It is the deposition or presence of
radioactive materials within solids, liquids, gases, or on surfaces
 Nuclear power plant is converting nuclear energy to electrical energy
CAUSES

 Nuclear Waste Disposal, Transportation, storage

  Nuclear Accidents, radioactive rain, nuclear test
 Nuclear Weapons
 Mining and refining of radioactive ores

Effects
 damage living cells and their DNA
 result in skin burns and acute radiation syndrome (also known as radiation
sickness). High radiation levels can also cause long-term health effects like
cancer and cardiovascular disease.
 atomic bomb survivors and radiation industry workers have shown that
radiation exposure increases the chance of getting cancer. The higher the
dose of exposure, the greater the risk of developing cancer.

Control Measures
 Containment of Nuclear Waste- buried deeply
 Ban nuclear testing
 Proper safety measure

Solid waste management 

refer to the process of collecting and treating solid wastes. It also offers solutions
for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash

collecting, treating, and disposing of solid material that is discarded or is no longer useful.
Solid waste management is an important aspect of urban area management.

The solid wastes may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable.

Improper disposal of municipal solid waste can create unsanitary conditions, which can lead
to environmental pollution and the outbreak of vector-borne disease.
The major sources of solid waste are households; agricultural fields; industries and mining,
hotels and catering; roads and railways; hospitals and educational institutions; cultural centers
and places of recreation and tourism, etc. Plastic waste is also a solid waste.

Classification of Solid Wastes

 Municipal Waste
 Hospital Waste
 Hazardous Waste
CAUSES

Population explosion, Urbanization and industrial waste, medical, domestic, mining wastes,
etc

EFFECTS

 Solid waste from industries are poisonous

 Biological waste and waste discarded in form of explosive from ordanance factories
are dangerous to human life
 Pollute ground and surface water

Effective Solid Waste Management can be carried out

 Segregation of waste
 Sanitary landfills- disposing of solid waste on land without creating hazards to human
health and safety
 Composting- anaerobic and aerobic decomposition
 Landfills, dumps
 Incineration- 850 degree celsiusburning of solid waste
and pyrolysis – waste is heated to cause chemical change not combustion (a process
of combustion in the absence of oxygen)
 Vermiculture or earthworm farming
 Bioremediation or the use of micro-organism (bacteria and fungi)
 Reuse, reduce, and recycle
 Generating electricity