2.1 Introduction The environment may be defined as everything that surrounds us, including both non-living (abiotic) and living (biotic) environments. The environment is composed of four basic components: 1. Atmosphere :The gases nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and suspended particles are the primary constituents of the atmosphere (dust, soot). Hydrosphere :The. hydrosphere consists only water on the earth's surface. Qceans, seas, rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and polar ice caps are allpart of the hydresphere. W Water covers around 71% of the earth’s surface, mostly in the form of oceans. Lithosphere: The land si face, which makes up around 3/10th of the earth’s total ‘surfac is referred to as the lithosphere. Plants_and microbes may develop in the lithosphere because it contains organic substances. Aside from the degradation of organic wastes, the lithosphere is spgaged| in the generation of food for people and animals. ane: Cs yer be Me Past Biosphere/Ecosphere: The bioephere is made up of a the Zor on the planet where life exists. The biosphere encompasses the lower atmosphere, the lithosphere’s top layer, and the entire hydrosphere. The four components of the ecosystem interact continuously, and the biosphere, in turn, is impacted by the other components. The presence, of unwanted substances in the environment may occur due to human activity discharging by-products ( awide spectrum of waste products and several harmful secondary products) into the environment which leads to undesirable changes. Sst777=/hsscesenanajecseiemenetieenoosanipsheessssctcaarapesesiiligs lek Scudldibiareiocemenatienianoeesonnabeon 45a8 ; Environmental Stuy ey Fig. 1: Biosphere Environmental Pollution refers to unwelcome or Undesirapi, i anges in four components of the environment, It could be Physic chemical, and biological changes. Pollutants: Pollutants are agents that cause an unfavourable alteration in our environment. According to India’s Environmental (Protec NAc, of 1986, a pollutant is any solid, liquid, or gaseous material existing jn a concentration that is or may be harmiful to the environment. There are two types of pollutants on the basis of their degradation 1. Non-biodegradable pollutants: These are substances unable to breakdown by microorganisms. Such a material builds Up in the ecosystem, enters the food chain, and eventually produces [ unfavourable changes in the environment. Example: Materials like waste plastic bottles, polyethenelene bags, used soft drink cans, Waste glasses, poisons like mercuric and cadmium salt, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides like DDT, BHC etc. 2. Biodegradable pollutants: These are compounds that can be. degraded by microbes while causing undesirable environmenta effects. Example: Plant and animal remaining domestic sewage, market garbage, livestock wastes etc. are rapidly decomposed by the natural processes i.e. by action of microorganisms such as Bacteria and fungi. As a result, biodegradable pollutants are less hazardous than non-biodegradable pollutants. Pollutants are further divided into two groups based on thei origin.Environmental Pollution 47 —ccCcvc¢CC 1. Primary Pollutant: Pollutants 3s that_are discharged directly from thelt_soutceare referred to_as_pri imary_pollutants. Example: oxides of carbon and sulphur from burning of fossil fuels, unburnt hydrocarbons from automobiles, smoke, fly-ash from factories or dusts of cement, asbestos, mills, and factories. Their level of toxicity is comparatively less. Secondary pollutants: Secondary pollutants are created in the environment by photochemical interactions between two or more primary pollutants. Example: Photochemical smog formed by un burnt hydrocarbons of automobiles, oxides of nitrogen and ultra-violet radiation_of Sunlight. They are not only toxic but also mutagenic or carcinogenic. Hence secondary pollutants are more dangerous than primary pollutants. Pollutants found in the environment might be chemical, biological, or physical in origin. As a result, pollutants are divided into three groups based on their nature, as shown below. 1. Physical pollutants: Colour, turbidity, temperature, suspended materials, foam, heat (thermal), sound, scents, radiation, and at = radioactivity are examples of physical pollution. Chemical pollutants: Gaseous pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and others, as well-as solid pollutants such as hazardous metals, pesticides, herbicides, hydrocarbons, poisons, acidic compounds, and carcinogens, are examples of chemical pollutants. Biological pollutants: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are pathogenic organisms that cause watery illnesses including typhoid, fever, cholera, dysentery, polio, hepatitis, and schistosomiasis, as well as floral pollen,cause an allergic reaction 22 Causes for Environmental Pollution The majority of pollution in the environment is caused by human actions, either directly or indirectly. The following are some of the most Significant causes of pollution:23 based on where it occurs and the type of pollutants involved. 1. 2. 5. Environmental Studie, Mobile sources — Automobiles such as cars, buses, planes trucks, and trains are Stationary sources — such as power plants, oil refineries, hotels, hospitals, houses, different types of industries, and factories, Area sources — such as agricultural areas, cities, and woog burning fireplaces Natural sources - such as win volcanoes. Types of Pollution: Environmental pollution may be divided into six broad categories d-blown dust, wildfires, ang Air/atmosphere pollution: Air pollution is the contamination of the atmosphere by elements that alter the atmosphere’s inherent features. Water pollution: Water pollution occurs when contaminate water sources rendering fhe water unfit for human consumption. —~ — / Land/soil pollution: Soil pollution is defined as the poisoning of soil with harmful chemicals in abnormally high amounts. Noise pollution — Noise pollution is defined as undesired or excessive sound_that i nces for human health, animals, and the environment. Thermal. pollution — The rapid increase or decrease in temperature of a natural body of water, such as an ocean, lake, river, or pond, caused by human intervention is known as thermal pollution. : Radioactive pollution.The release of radioactive substances into the environment during nuclear explosions and testing of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon production and decommissioning, mining of radioactive ores, handling and disposal of radioactive waste, and nuclear power plant accidents causes radioactive pollution of living organisms and their environment.Environmental Pollution 49 a ee enneetceeateneeeneenesntnenteseneteaeneeaneae Pollution is classified into three categories based on the nature of the contaminants. They are « Physical Pollution: Physical pollution is the direct outcome of human activity and is caused mostly by discarding wasted items into the environment.Example: by-product and wastes of human activity such as plastic products, waste materials from industrial or manufacturing processes. Chemical Pollution: Chemical pollution is described as the release of chemicals into the environment.Examples: Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides etc. Biological pollution: The major cause of biological pollution is biological contaminants. Example: Water pollution is caused by pathogenic germs such as bacteria, fungus, viruses, and dead plant and animal components. Foren grains from certain flowers pollute the air. 4 a