Air and air pollution: its causes and impact on human

settlements.
Control measures of: (a) Air pollution (b) Water
pollution (c) Soil pollution (d) Marine pollution (e) Noise
pollution (f) Thermal pollution (g) Nuclear hazards –
soil waste management: disaster management: floods,
earthquake, cyclone and landslides. Environment
protection act – Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) act – Water (Prevention and control of
Pollution) act –
Wildlife protection act – Forest conservation act.
• Marine pollution has been an ever-present problem since the advent
of large-scale agricultural activity and industrialization.
• However, significant laws and regulations at an international level to
tackle the problem came only in the mid-twentieth century.
• During United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea in the
early 1950s, the various stakeholders come together to deliberate
and formulate laws pertaining to marine pollution.
• Till mid-twentieth century the majority of the scientists maintained
that oceans were vast enough to be able to dilute the amount of
pollution being drained into them, thus, considering pollution
harmless to the marine life.
Effluent is an outflowing of water or gas to a natural body of water, from a structure such as a wastewater treatment plant, sewer
pipe, or industrial outfall.

• The marine environment becomes polluted and contaminated through various

sources and forms.
• Major sources of marine pollution are the inflow of chemicals, solid waste,
discharge of radioactive elements, industrial and agricultural effluents, man-
made sedimentation, oil spills, and many such factors.
• The majority portion of the marine pollution comes from the land that contributes
to 80 percent of the marine pollution, air pollution also carries pesticides from
farms and dust into the marine waters.
• Air and land pollution is a major contributor to the growing marine pollution that
is not only hampering the aquatic ecology but also affecting the life on land.
• The non-point sources like wind-blown debris, agricultural runoff, and dust
become the major source of pollution.
• Apart from these, factors like land runoff, direct discharge, atmospheric pollution,
pollution caused by ships, and deep sea mining of natural resources contribute
heavily.
• Eutrophication
When there is an excess of chemical nutrients mainly nitrates and
phosphates in the water, it leads to eutrophication or nutrient pollution.
Eutrophication decreases the level of oxygen, reduces the quality of water,
makes the water inhabitable for fish, affects the breeding process within the
marine life and increases the primary productivity of the marine ecosystem.
• Acidification
Oceans act as a natural reservoir for absorbing the carbon dioxide from the
Earth’s atmosphere.
But, due to rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the oceans
across the world are becoming acidic in nature, as a consequence, it leads
to acidification of oceans.
Researches and scientists have not been able to uncover the potential
damage ocean acidification may have on the Earth’s atmosphere.
But, there is a strong concern that acidification might lead to dissolution of
calcium carbonate structures, that can affect the shell formation in shellfish
and also the corals.
• Toxins
There are persistent toxins that do not get dissolved or disintegrate with the
marine ecosystem rapidly.
Toxins such as pesticides, DDT, PCBs, furans, TBT, radioactive waste,
phenols, and dioxins get accumulated in the tissue cells of the marine
lifeforms and lead to bioaccumulation hampering the life underwater and
sometimes leads to a mutation in aquatic life forms.
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound, an
organochlorine. Originally developed as an insecticide, it became infamous for its environmental impacts

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Tributyltin (TBT)
• Plastics
The ever-growing dependence of human population on plastic has filled the
oceans and the land, it consists of 80 percent of the debris found in the
oceans.
Plastic dumped and found in the oceans are dangerous for the marine life
forms and wildlife, as sometimes it strangles and chokes them to death.
The rising levels of plastic dumps found in the oceans are suffocating,
ingesting, and entangling the life underwater as well as above it.
• The contamination of water by excessive nutrients is known as nutrient
pollution, a type of water pollution that affects the life under water.
• When excess nutrients like nitrates or phosphates get dissolved with the
water it causes the eutrophication of surface waters, as it stimulates the
growth of algae due to excess nutrients.
• Most of Benthic animals and plankton are either filter feeders or deposit
feeders take up the tiny particles that adhere to potentially toxic chemicals.
• In the ocean food chains, such toxins get concentrated upward.
• This makes estuaries anoxic as many particles combine chemically
depletive of oxygen.
• When the marine ecosystem absorbs the pesticides, they are incorporated into
the food webs of the marine ecosystem.
• After getting dissolved in the marine food webs, these harmful pesticides causes
mutations, and also results in diseases, which can damage the entire food web
and cause harm to the humans.
• When toxic metals are dumped or flown into the oceans through drains, it
engulfs within the marine food webs.
• It affects the biochemistry, reproduction process, can affect the tissue matter
These can cause a change to tissue matter, biochemistry, behaviour,
reproduction, and suppress and alter the marine life’s growth.
• Marine toxins can be transferred to several animals feeding on the fish or fish
hydrolysate as a meal, toxins are then transferred to dairy products and meat of
these affected land animals.
Hydrolysate refers to any product of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water ruptures one or more chemical bonds.
• Stop using plastic and littering garbage as they not only choke up the drains but
also releases into the oceans.
• Ensure that chemicals mentioned above are not used anywhere near the
streams of water and try cutting down on the usage of such chemicals.
• For farmers, they need to switch from chemical fertilizers and pesticides and
move towards the usage of organic farming methods.
• Use public transport and reduce the carbon footprint by taking small and
substantial measures that will not help in reducing the pollution from the
environment but will ensure a safe and healthy future for the upcoming
generations.
• Prevent from any oil or chemical spill in the oceans and if in case there is an oil
or chemical spill near you volunteer and help in cleaning out the ocean water.
• Volunteer or initiate beach clean up activities and spread awareness about the
same in the nearby vicinity.
• Marine ecosystems are aquatic ecosystems whose waters
possess a high salt content.
• Out of all of the types of ecosystems on the planet, marine
ecosystems are the most prevalent and provide nearly half of
the Earth’s oxygen.
• The marine ecosystems are classified into six main
categories:
Crustaceans form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimps, prawns, krill,
woodlice, and barnacles.
Plethora- a large or excessive amount of something.

• Open Marine Ecosystems: Many creatures living in the open ocean

inhabit the upper layer of the ocean where the sun’s rays
penetrate. This is known as the euphotic zone. Sea life that float or swim,
such as algae, plankton, jellyfish and whales live here.
• Ocean Floor Ecosystems: At greater depths sunlight cannot
penetrate, and organisms inhabiting this deep water rely on the sinking of
organic matter above for survival. Certain types of fish, crustaceans,
clams, oysters, urchins, seaweed live here.
• Coral Reef Ecosystems: Found only in warm tropical waters and at
relatively shallow depths, they themselves are produced by simple
animals that build external skeletons around themselves. A plethora of
species like snails, sponges and seahorses inhabit coral reefs.
• Estuary Ecosystems: These are the shallow, sheltered area of a river
mouth where freshwater intermingled with saltwater enters the sea. It
also includes lagoons or glades. The organisms inhabiting estuaries are
specially adapted to these distinct conditions and hence the diversity of
species tends to be lower than in the open ocean.
• Saltwater Wetland Estuary Ecosystems: They consist of a transition
zone between land and sea. Additionally, wetlands serve as a protective
barrier to inland ecosystems, as they provide a buffer from storm surges.
• Mangrove Ecosystems: Some tropical and subtropical coastal areas are
home to special types of saltwater swamps known as mangroves.
Surge- a sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide.
• The main causes of marine pollution include:
• Oil spills cause huge damage to the marine environment. E.g. In December,
2014, a wrecked tanker released approximately 94,000 gallons (78,271 Imperial
gallons) of heavy fuel oil into the Shela River, which runs through
the Sundarbans, shared between India and Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal.
• Fertilizer runoff from farms and lawns into coastal bodies
cause eutrophication. E.g. Eutrophication has created enormous dead zones
in several parts of the world, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Baltic Sea.
• Solid garbage also makes its way to the ocean in the form of plastic bags,
balloons, glass bottles, shoes, packaging material etc…
• In many parts of the world, sewage flows untreated, or under-treated, into the
ocean. E.g. 80% of urban sewage discharged into the Mediterranean Sea is
untreated.
• The main causes of marine pollution include:
• Man-made chemicals such as pesticides and chemicals and radioactive
wastes enter the sea through deliberate dumping.
• Chemicals also enter the sea from land-based activities. E.g. they can
escape into water during their manufacture, use, or disposal, as well as from
accidental leaks or fires in products containing these chemicals.
• Plastic garbage including plastic rings of bottles have been found blocking the
breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species.
• Small organisms feed on tiny bits of broken-down plastic,
called microplastics and absorb the chemicals from the plastic into their
tissues. Microplastics are less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in
diameter and they migrate up the food chain, eventually becoming part of the
food that humans eat.
 • Nordic countries made a declaration in April, 2019 and have
called for a global treaty to tackle the crisis of marine
pollution. This demand has also been sent to the European
Union, United Nations Environment Programme, the G7 and the
G20 groups.
• In India, the Coast Guard Act 1978 states that the preservation
and protection of the marine environment and control of
marine pollution is the function of the Indian Coast Guard
(ICG).
The Nordic Region consists of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland.
• Additionally, below measures would help tackle marine pollution:
• Ban single use plastic and adopting litter control policies.
• Encourage reduction of use of non-biodegradable products or packaging as well as
reuse of plastic items.
• Increase treatment, recycling and reuse of wastewater.
• Identify chemical pollutants hotspots, control the use and release of chemicals in
mining, promote recycling of used oil in urban areas.
• Increase funding for marine pollution prevention and control by introducing market-
based incentives, applying the “polluter pays” principle.
• Reinforce institutional and legal framework to address marine pollution at regional
and national levels.
• National policies and legislation should be aligned with international commitments such
as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14).
• Public-private partnerships should also be established to provide financing, improve
public awareness and develop innovative approaches to reduce marine pollution.
• The word noise is derived from a Latin word ‘Nausea’ which means
sickness in which one feels the need to vomit.
• Noise is the unpleasant and undesirable sound which leads to
discomfort in human beings.
• The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB). The faintest
sound which can be heard by the Human ear is 1 Db.
• Due to increasing noise around the civilizations, noise pollution has
become a matter of concern.
• Some of its major causes are vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines,
loudspeakers, crackers, etc.
• Some other appliances also contribute to noise pollution like
television, transistor, radio, etc. when used at high volume.
• Following are the three types of pollution:
• Transport Noise
• Neighbourhood Noise
• Industrial Noise
• Transport Noise
• It mainly consists of traffic noise which has increased in recent years
with the increase in the number of vehicles. The increase in noise
pollution leads to deafening of older people, headache,
hypertension, etc.
• Neighbourhood Noise
• The noise from gadgets, household utensils etc. Some of the main
sources are musical instruments, transistors, loudspeakers, etc.
• Industrial Noise
• It is the high-intensity sound which is caused by heavy industrial
machines. According to many researches, industrial noise pollution
damages the hearing ability to around 20%.
• Following are the causes and sources of noise pollution:
• Industrialisation: Industrialisation has led to an increase in
noise pollution as the use of heavy machinery such as
generators, mills, huge exhaust fans are used, resulting in the
production of unwanted noise.
• Vehicles: Increased number of vehicles on the roads are the
second reason for noise pollution.
• Events: Weddings, public gatherings involve loudspeakers to
play music resulting in the production of unwanted noise in the
neighbourhood.
• Construction sites: Mining, construction of buildings, etc add
to the noise pollution.
• Noise pollution has become a matter of concern due to the increasing noise around which is mainly
caused by vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines, loudspeakers, crackers etc. and can have too many ill-
effects on life. Some of the major sources that contribute to noise pollution are as follows:
1.Industrialization: The growing industries in the urban areas are a major cause of noise pollution these
days which uses various machines that are capable of generating a large amount of noise.
2.Improper Planning of Urban Areas: Improper and poor urban planning plays a major role in creating
noise pollution, mostly in developing countries due to congested houses, small space, poor parking
facilities and frequent fights over basic amenities which disrupts the environment of society.
3.Social Events: In several social events, songs are often played on full volume by the people which
makes the living condition pretty worse thus creating noise pollution. Weddings, public gatherings involve
loudspeakers to play music resulting in the production of unwanted noise in the neighbourhood.
4.Vehicles and transportation: Increased number of vehicles on the roads is one of the reasons for noise
pollution. For example, traffic jams, underground trains, aircraft, etc produces heavy noise which may
lead to a situation of hearing disability.
5.Construction Sites: Various construction activities which include mining, construction of bridges, dams,
buildings, etc contributes greatly to creating noise pollution.
• The causes of noise pollution are many. Sometimes, exposure to noise pollution
may be a part of the occupation. Other times, it may occur due to ongoing
events such as carnivals, sports events or concerts.
• Causes of noise pollution are many – From household equipment
to industrial machines
• Noise pollution has also been attributed to vehicles on the highways and the
sound they generate. Moreover, noise pollution has been liked to quite a few
cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure). It has also
been linked to disruptions in the sleep cycle.
• Noise pollution also tends to cause very strange phenomenon – low-frequency
sound sources and infrasonic vibrations, such as from industrial fans can tend to
have very unusual effects on the human body. At frequencies of 18 Hz, the
human eyeballs start to vibrate, though it cannot be physically felt. This
phenomenon causes visual distortion, which is sometimes attributed to “ghost
sightings” and other paranormal activities.
The following are some of the causes of noise pollution
• Loud music from events
• Forms of transportation – such as trains and aeroplanes
• Construction work
• Maintenance
• Lawn care
• Generators
• Household equipment – such as mixers, vacuum cleaners
and pressure cookers.
Following are the examples of noise pollution:
• Unnecessary usage of horns
• Using loudspeakers either for religious functions or for political
purposes
• Unnecessary usage of fireworks
• Industrial noise
• Construction noise
• Noise from transportation such as railway and aircraft
The main sources of noise pollution in residential areas include loud
music, transportation, construction, electrical generator and people.
Noise pollution causes several ill-effects on life such as fatigue,
permanent hearing disability and mental disorders.
• Hypertension: Longer exposure to loud noise result in elevated
blood levels which can cause hypertension in humans.
• Hearing Disability: Constant exposure to loud noise which is
beyond the range of normal sound intensity can damage the
eardrums, thus resulting in hearing disability.
• Sleeping disorders: Noise pollution can also affect the sleep cycle
of an individual which may lead to sleeping disorder, low energy level
and fatigue.
• Cardiovascular issues: Loud noises also results in an increase in
normal blood pressure level and causes several cardiovascular
diseases in a normal person.
Noise pollution can be hazardous to human health in the following
ways:
• Hypertension: It is a direct result of noise pollution which is caused
due to elevated blood levels for a longer duration.
• Hearing loss: Constant exposure of human ears to loud noise that
are beyond the range of sound that human ears can withstand
damages the eardrums, resulting in loss of hearing.
• Sleeping disorders: Lack of sleep might result in fatigue and low
energy level throughout the day affecting everyday activities. Noise
pollution hampers the sleep cycles leading to irritation and an
uncomfortable state of mind.
• Cardiovascular issues: Heart-related problems such as blood
pressure level, stress and cardiovascular diseases might come up in
a normal person and a person suffering from any of these diseases
might feel a sudden shoot up in the level.
Some noise pollution preventive measures are provided in the points
below:
• Honking in public places like teaching institutes, hospital, etc. should
be banned.
• In commercial, hospital, and industrial buildings, adequate
soundproof systems should be installed.
• Musical instruments sound should be controlled to desirable limits.
• Dense tree cover is useful in noise pollution prevention.
• Explosives should be not used in forest, mountainous and mining
areas.
• Highway traffics should be diverted through bye-passes and
over-bridges and should not be allowed to pass through the
towns and cities.
• Sound-proof chambers should be installed for the machines
generating loud noise.
• To provide protective devices like ear muffs or cotton plugs to
the workers who work in various industries and construction
sites.
• To enforce acoustic zoning by distancing human settlements
from industrial areas, aerodromes and railway stations.
• Silence zones should be created for educational institutes,
hospitals and important offices.
• Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any
process that changes ambient water temperature. A
common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a
coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers.
• Today’s environmental pollution is a global phenomenon which
has become a major concern for people all over the world since
it has severe long term consequences. When we heard the term
pollution, then we think about the concepts like carbon
emission, personal pollution, and waste. However, the thermal
pollution is a real and persistent problem in modern
industrialized society.
• The term thermal pollution has been used to indicate the
detrimental effects of heated effluent discharge by various
power plants. It denotes the impairment of quality and
deterioration of aquatic and terrestrial environment by various
industrial plants like thermal, atomic, nuclear, coal-fired plants,
oil field generators, factories, and mills.
 • When someone thinks of pollution, the idea of thermal pollution often
doesn’t come to mind.
• People will first think of things like carbon emissions, personal
pollution and waste, and a variety of other changing factors.
• However, thermal pollution is a real and persistent problem in our
modern society.
• In layman’s terms, thermal pollution is when an industry or other
human-made organization takes in water from a natural source and
either cools it down or heats it up.
• They then eject that water back into the natural resource, which
changes the oxygen levels and can have disastrous effects on local
ecosystems and communities.

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-thermal-
pollution.php#:~:text=Thermal%20pollution%20is%20defined%20as,back%20with%20an%20altered%20temperature.
• Thermal pollution is defined as a sudden
increase or decrease in temperature of a
natural body of water, which may be
ocean, lake, river or pond by human
influence.
• This normally occurs when a plant or
facility takes in water from a natural
resource and puts it back with an altered
temperature.
• Usually, these facilities use it as a
cooling method for their machinery or to
help better produce their products.
• Plants that produce different products or wastewater facilities
are often the culprits of this massive exodus of thermal
pollution.
• In order to properly control and maintain thermal pollution,
humans and governments have been taking many steps to
effectively manage how plants are able to use the water.
However, the effects are still lasting today.
1. Water as a Cooling Agent in Power, Manufacturing and
Industrial Plants
• Production and Manufacturing plants are the biggest sources of
thermal pollution.
• These plants draw water from a nearby source to keep
machines cool and then release back to the source with higher
temperatures.
• When heated water returns to the river or ocean, the water
temperature rises sharply.
1. Water as a Cooling Agent in Power, Manufacturing and
Industrial Plants
• When oxygen levels are altered in the water, this can also degrade
the quality and longevity of life in wildlife that lives underwater.
• This process can also wipe away streamside vegetation, which
constantly depends on constant levels of oxygen and temperature.
• By altering these natural environments, industries are essentially
helping decrease the quality of life for these marine-based life forms,
which can ultimately destroy habitats if they are not controlled and
careful about their practices.
2. Soil Erosion
• Soil erosion is another major factor that causes thermal
pollution. Consistent soil erosion causes water bodies to rise,
making them more exposed to sunlight.
• The high temperature could prove fatal for aquatic biomes as it
may give rise to anaerobic conditions.
3. Deforestation
• Trees and plants prevent sunlight from falling directly on lakes,
ponds or rivers.
• When deforestation takes place, these water bodies are directly
exposed to sunlight, thus absorbing more heat and raising its
temperature.
• Deforestation is also the main cause of the higher
concentrations of greenhouse gases, i.e. global warming in the
atmosphere.
4. Runoff From Paved Surfaces
• Urban runoff discharged to surface waters from paved surfaces
like roads and parking lots can make the water warmer. During
summer seasons, the pavement gets quite hot, which creates
warm runoffs that get into the sewer systems and water bodies.
5. Natural Causes
• Natural causes like volcanoes, geothermal vents and hot
springs under the oceans and seas can trigger warm lava to
raise the temperature of water bodies. Lightening can also
introduce a massive amount of heat into the oceans. This
means that the overall temperature of the water source will rise,
having significant impacts on the environment.
 6. Retention Ponds
• Retention ponds can be another source of thermal shock
because the water bodies that are relatively small and shallow
can absorb quite a bit of heat energy from the sun.
• When that water is pumped directly into a river, lake, or bay, it
causes a significant temperature increase. It is similar to
pouring a hot pitcher of water into a bathtub full of water that
causes the water to jump a few degrees Fahrenheit.

A retention basin, sometimes called a wet pond, wet detention basin or stormwater management pond, is an artificial pond with vegetation around the
perimeter, and includes a permanent pool of water in its design.
7. Domestic Sewage
• Domestic sewage is often discharged into rivers, lakes, canals
or streams without treating the waste. The temperature of
municipal water sewage is normally high than receiving water.
• With the increase in temperature of the receiving water, the
dissolved oxygen (DO) decreases, and the demand for oxygen
increases, causing anaerobic conditions.
1. Nuclear Power Plant
2. Coal-fired power Plant
3. Industrial Effluents
4. Domestic Sewage
5. Hydro-electric power
6. Thermal Power Plant
• The discharged effluents of these sources have a higher
temperature than the intake water that reduces the
concentration of oxygen from the water which causes the
deleterious effects on the marine ecosystem.
• Among recognized scientists and scholars, there are generally
two schools of thought when it comes to the effects of thermal
pollution. Some lean on the side of the negatives of this
pollution on marine ecosystems and how it is detrimental to
positive environmental practices. Detrimental- tending to cause harm.

• However, some lean towards the side that without these

industries operating the way they do, some of the most
fundamental parts of human life would be completely obsolete.
• Wastewater would not be able to be properly maintained; we
would have no industries that could produce the goods we
need, and so on. The effects of thermal pollution on
ecosystems, however, greatly outweigh the benefits that
industries have by participating in the act.
 1. Decrease in DO (Dissolved Oxygen) Levels
• The warm temperature reduces the levels of DO (Dissolved
Oxygen) in water. The warm water holds relatively less oxygen
than cold water. The decrease in DO can create suffocation
for plants and animals such as fish, amphibians and copepods,
which may give rise to anaerobic conditions.
• Warmer water allows algae to flourish on the surface of the
water, and over the long term, growing algae can decrease
oxygen levels in the water.
Copepods are a group of small crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitat.
2. Increase in Toxins
• With the constant flow of high-temperature discharge from
industries, there is a huge increase in toxins that are being
regurgitated into the natural body of water. These toxins may
contain chemicals or radiation that may have a harsh impact on
the local ecology and make them susceptible to various
diseases.
3. Loss of Biodiversity
• A dent in the biological activity in the
water may cause a significant loss of
biodiversity. Changes in the
environment may cause certain
species of organisms to shift their
base to some other place while there
could be a significant number of
species that may shift in because of
warmer waters.
• Organisms that can adapt easily may
have an advantage over organisms
that are not used to the warmer
temperatures.
4. Ecological Impact
• A sudden thermal shock can result in mass killings of fish,
insects, plants or amphibians. Hotter water may prove favorable
for some species, while it could be lethal for other species.
Small water temperature increases the level of activity, while
higher temperature decreases the level of activity.
• Many aquatic species are sensitive to small temperature
changes such as one degree Celsius that can cause significant
changes in organism metabolism and other adverse cellular
biology effects.
5. Affects Reproductive Systems
• A significant halt in the reproduction of marine wildlife (although
this may be true, reproduction can still occur between fish – but
the likelihood of defects in newborns is significantly higher) can
happen due to increasing temperatures as reproduction can
happen within a certain range of temperature. Excessive
temperature can cause the release of immature eggs or can
prevent the normal development of certain eggs.
6. Increases Metabolic Rate
• Thermal pollution increases the metabolic rate of organisms as
increasing enzyme activity occurs that causes organisms to
consume more food than what is normally required if their
environment were not changed. It disrupts the stability of the food
chain and alters the balance of species composition.
7. Migration
• The warm water can also cause particular species of organisms to
migrate to a suitable environment that would cater to its
requirements for survival. This can result in a loss for those species
that depend on them for their daily food as their food chain is
interrupted.
Basic Concepts related to the Environment and Ecology
The harmful effects of the thermal pollution are discussed below:
1. Reduction in dissolved Oxygen
• The pollutant from various industrial plants are heated
decreases the concentration of oxygen with an increase in the
temperature of water.
2. Change in water properties
• The decrease in density, viscosity and solubility of gases in
water increases the setting speed of suspended particles which
seriously affect the food supplies of aquatic organism.
3. Increase in toxicity
• The concentrated pollutant causes the rise in the temperature of
water which increases the toxicity of the poison present in
water. The toxicity in water will increase the death rate in marine
life.
4. Disruption of Biological activities
• Temperature changes disrupt the entire marine ecosystem
because changes in temperature causes change in physiology,
metabolism and biological process like respiration rate,
digestion, excretion and development of an aquatic organism.
How biochemical cycles stabilises the biosphere?
5. Damage of biotic organism
• Aquatic organisms like juvenile fish, plankton, fish, eggs, larva,
algae and protozoa which pass through screens and condenser
cooling system are extremely sensitive to abrupt temperature
changes. They are habitual of warmer water may suddenly face
increase or decrease in temperature of water bodies and thus
die because of sudden changes in the temperature of water.
• Solutions of thermal pollution is required for its detrimental
effects on the aquatic ecosystem in the future.
• A number of methods have been suggested and developed to
convert the thermal effluents from power plants into useful heat
resources for maximizing the benefits.
• The solutions to thermal discharge into water bodies are as
follows:
1. Cooling Ponds
• Cooling ponds or reservoirs are the simplest methods of
controlling thermal discharges. In cooling ponds, heated
effluents on the surface of water maximize the dissipation of
heat to the atmosphere and minimize the area and volume of
water.
• This is the simplest and cheapest method that cools the water
to a considerably low temperature. However, the method alone
is less desirable as well as inefficient in terms of air-water
contact.
2. Cooling Towers
• After using water from water sources for cooling purposes, it is
subsequently returned to the water body after passing through
the condenser, which is termed as the cooling process.
• Therefore cooling towers are designed to control the
temperature of water to make the cooling process more
effective. Cooling towers are mainly used to dissipate the
recovered waste heat to eliminate the problems of thermal
pollution.
3. Artificial Lake
• Artificial lakes are man-made water bodies that offer a possible
alternative. The heated effluents may be discharged into the
lake at one end, and the water may be withdrawn from the other
end for cooling purposes. The heat is eventually dissipated
through evaporation. However, these lakes have to be
rejuvenated continuously.
4. Water Recycling
• Industrially treated water can be recycled for domestic use or
industrial heating that the problem of thermal pollution can be
mitigated.
5. Other Applications
• The thermal discharge (rejected heat) of power plants can be used in other purposes like:
o Industrial and space heating.
o Biological applications such as soil warming.
o Fish culture, livestock shelters and heating greenhouses.
• Most of these potential physical applications are applicable in colder regions or locations.
• Above all else, the most important thing to consider is that the effects of thermal pollution
greatly outweigh the human need for it to be done. Plants and industries have been able to find
successful ways around thermal pollution, but many of them are not practicing it because it’s
simply easier to work from the traditional model. If we want to promote the thriving environment
that surrounds marine biology, then the attitude around thermal pollution needs to take a
drastic turn.
• By being aware of the causes and effects, you can have a significant impact on how these
plants choose to operate, and you can opt to make the change.
The following measures can be taken to prevent or control high temperature
caused by thermal pollution:
1. Heated water from the industries can treated before discharging directly to the
water bodies.
2. Heated water from the industries can be treated by the installation of cooling
ponds and cooling towers.
3. Industrial treated water can be recycled for domestic use or industrial heating.
4. Through artificial lakes: In this lake Industries can discharge their used or
heated water at one end and water for cooling purposes may be withdrawn from
the other end. The heat is eventually dissipated through evaporation.
Hence, we can say any kind of pollution may directly or indirectly affect humans
because the loss of biodiversity causes changes that affect all the aspects of the
environment.
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay process in
which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei.
Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number, and consequently in nucleon number. All isotopes of a given
element have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in each atom.
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless.
Attenuate- reduce the force, effect, or value of.
Catastrophic- involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
Pathogenic- (of a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism) causing disease.
Microbes are tiny living things that are found all around us and are too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Grit includes sand, gravel, cinder, or other heavy solid materials that are “heavier” (higher specific gravity) than the organic biodegradable
solids in the wastewater. Grit also includes eggshells, bone chips, seeds, coffee grounds, and large organic particles, such as food waste.

Aerobic respiration is the process by which organisms use oxygen to turn fuel, such as fats and sugars, into chemical energy.
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, those being unicellular, multicellular, or acellular.
Primary treatment removes material that will either float or readily settle out by gravity. It includes the physical processes of
screening, comminution, grit removal, and sedimentation. The shredded material is removed later by sedimentation or flotation
processes.
 A bar screen is a mechanical filter used to remove large objects, such as rags and plastics,
from wastewater. It is part of the primary filtration flow and typically is the first, or preliminary,
level of filtration, being installed at the influent to a wastewater treatment plant.
Grinders help pre-condition sludge and prevent unplanned maintenance on expensive sludge
pumps and dewatering systems.

Grit chambers are long narrow tanks that are designed to slow down the flow so that solids such
as sand, coffee grounds, and eggshells will settle out of the water. Grit causes excessive wear
and tear on pumps and other plant equipment.

Chlorination is by far the most common method of wastewater disinfection and is used worldwide for the disinfection of pathogens before discharge into
receiving streams, rivers or oceans. ... There is a water use cycle in which drinking water is treated, then consumed and discharged as wastewater.

Effluent- liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

Sedimentation tank, also called settling tank or clarifier, component of a modern system of water supply or wastewater treatment. A sedimentation
tank allows suspended particles to settle out of water or wastewater as it flows slowly through the tank, thereby providing some degree of purification.
Influent- flowing in.
Sludge is a semi-solid slurry that can be produced from a range of industrial processes, from water treatment, wastewater treatment or on-site sanitation
systems.

Fecal sludge is a mixture of human excreta, water and solid wastes (e.g. toilet paper or other anal cleansing materials) that are disposed of in pits, tanks
or vaults of onsite sanitation systems.
Secondary treatment is a treatment process for wastewater (or sewage) to achieve a certain degree of effluent quality by using a sewage
treatment plant with physical phase separation to remove settleable solids and a biological process to remove dissolved and suspended organic
compounds.
Aeration- the introduction of air into a material.
sludge can be recycled or disposed of using three main routes: recycling to agriculture (landspreading),
incineration or landfilling.
Incineration- the destruction of something, especially waste material, by burning.

Aeration tank where air (or 4-Step Wastewater Sludge

oxygen) is injected in the mixed Treatment Process
liquor. Settling tank (usually 1.Step 1 – Sludge Thickening. The
referred to as "final clarifier" or first step in the sewage sludge
"secondary settling tank") to allow treatment plan is called thickening.
the biological flocs (the sludge 2.Step 2 – Sludge Digestion. After
blanket) to settle, thus separating amassing all the solids from
the biological sludge from the clear the sewage sludge begins
treated water. the sludge digestion process. ...
3.Step 3 – Dewatering. ...
4.Step 4 – Disposal.
A clarifier is generally used to remove solid particulates or suspended
solids from liquid for clarification and/or thickening. Concentrated
impurities, discharged from the bottom of the tank are known as sludge,
while the particles that float to the surface of the liquid are called scum.
A trickling filter is a type of wastewater treatment system. It consists of a fixed bed of rocks, coke, gravel, slag, polyurethane foam, sphagnum peat
moss, ceramic, or plastic media over which sewage or other wastewater flows downward and causes a layer of microbial slime (biofilm) to grow, covering
the bed of media.
A pathogen is an organism that causes disease.
 Oxidation ponds, also called lagoons or stabilization ponds, are large,
shallow ponds designed to treat wastewater through the interaction of
sunlight, bacteria, and algae. Algae remaining in the pond effluent can be
removed by filtration or by a combination of chemical treatment and
settling.

Hydraulic detention time (HDT) also known as hydraulic retention time (HRT) is a measure of the average length of time that a compound (in this
case wastewater) remains in a treatment tank or unit.
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey.
4-Step Wastewater Sludge Treatment Process

What is in sewage sludge?

Sewage sludge is a by-product of treated wastewater. It is composed of both organic and
inorganic materials, a large concentration of plant nutrients, organic chemicals, as well
as pathogens. Therefore, it is extremely important to properly treat such sludge in order
to minimize its environmental repercussions. Here is a brief overview of the sludge
treatment process to help you gain a better understanding of the treatment techniques
and process requirements:

Step 1 – Sludge Thickening

The first step in the sewage sludge treatment plan is called thickening. In this step, the
sewage sludge is thickened in a gravity thickener to reduce its overall volume, thus
enabling the easy handling of the sludge. Dissolved air flotation is another alternative
that can be used to effectively to thicken the sludge by using air bubbles to allow the
solid mass to float to the top.
4-Step Wastewater Sludge Treatment Process

Step 2 – Sludge Digestion

After amassing all the solids from the sewage sludge begins the sludge digestion
process. This is a biological process in which the organic solids present in the sludge are
decomposed into stable substances. This process also helps reduce the total mass of
solids, while destroying any present pathogens to enable easy dewatering. The sludge
digestion process is a two-phase process. In the first stage, the dry solid sludge is
heated and mixed in a closed tank to enable anaerobic digestion by acid-forming
bacteria. These bacteria hydrolyze the large molecules of proteins and lipids present in
the sludge and break them down into smaller water-soluble molecules, which they then
ferment into various fatty acids. The sludge then flows into the second tank where it is
converted by other bacteria to produce a mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane,
after which the methane is collected and reused to power the digestion tank and
generate power (depending on the quantity retrieved).
4-Step Wastewater Sludge Treatment Process

Step 3 – Dewatering
After retrieving useful gases and other by-products, the remaining sludge is then
dewatered before final disposal. In most cases, dewatered sludge usually contains a
significant amount of water, as much as 70 percent, in spite of its solidified state.
Therefore, it is important to dry and dewater the sludge beforehand. While using sludge-
drying beds is the most common way to carry out this process, it is extremely time-
consuming and may take weeks before the process is complete. In order to quicken
these processes, waste management plans are also employing solid-liquid separation
devices to carry out this process. In fact, centrifugation is slowly becoming one of the
most preferred methods of dewatering sludge. By passing the sludge through a
centrifuge, it becomes easier to retrieve all the water and enable easier handling of the
solid waste in shorter durations at reduced costs. Other alternatives include the rotary
drum vacuum filter and the belt filter press.
4-Step Wastewater Sludge Treatment Process

Step 4 – Disposal
Once the sludge has been effectively dewatered, it can be buried underground in a
sanitary landfill or can be used as a fertilizer, depending on its chemical composition. In
cases where the sludge is too toxic to be reused or buried, you can simply incinerate the
sludge and convert it into ash.
While sewage sludge is usually treated using a standard plan of action, it is extremely
important to factor in aspects like the origin of the sewage, the treatment process used to
reduce the sewage to sludge, as well as the possible by-products that can be retrieved
from it for further use before choosing a sludge treatment plan. This will not only help you
optimize your overall output, but will also help you reduce costs by salvaging useful
materials for secondary use before ultimate disposal.
THANK YOU!!