ENVIRONMENTAL

POLLUTION

E73 Thinkcentre
[Company name]
 Environment :-The surroundings of an organism in which the organism lives. It includes the
abiotic and biotic things.
Environmental Engineering :- Environmental engineering is the systematic study of our
environment and our proper place in it.
Environmental Pollution :- The addition of undesirable substances or energy(heat , radiation
and noise) into physical environment (air , water and land),making it less fit or unfit for life
AIR POLLUTION
Definition: Air pollution refers to the condition in which the existence of toxic substances in the
atmosphere ,generated by various human activities and natural phenomena such as volcanic
eruptions,results in damaging effects on the welfare of human beings and the living
environment
Origin of air pollution on the earth can be traced from the times when man started using firewood as a
means of cooking and heating.With the discovery and increasing use of coal,air pollution became more
pronounced in urban areas.Because of harmful effect of air pollutants the Environmental
Protection Agency is required by the Clean Air Act to set quality standards for six of the most
common and harmful air pollutants.The most common pollutants include
ozone,carbon,sulphurdioxide,lead,nitrogen oxides,methane,chlorofluorocarbons and
particulate matter.Greenhouse gases are another form of hazardous air pollution
 Sources of Air pollution
Natural: volcanoes, fumaroles and hot springs, decay from marshes, bogs, increase ozone due to
thunderstorms, fires.
 Manmade (most severe for human health):

1.Stationary sources - those that are fixed in location.

2.point sources e.g. smoke stacks, 14% air pollution from plants generating electricity;
3.fugitive sources e.g. construction sites, exposed areas;
4.area sources: e.g. dense urban community or agricultural area
5.Mobile sources - those that move while polluting, e.g. trucks, cars, busses etc. 60% of air
pollution from motor vehicles. 80-88% in major cities!
 Types of pollutants
Primary pollutants-Pollutants that are emitted directly from identifiable sources –produced by
both natural events or human activities Eg. Dust storms, emission from vehicles
Secondary pollutants -When certain chemical reactions take place among the primary pollutants
Eg. Sulphuric acid
 Photochemical Smog -Smog is a kind of air pollution, originally named for the mixture of
smoke and fog in the air. HC and NO react in presence of sunlight to produce ozone and PAN

1
(peroxy acetyl nitrate) Nitrogen oxides + hydrocarbons + Ultraviolet radiation ----->
Peroxyacetyl nitrate PAN + O3 ozone.

 The effects of air pollution

Reduces visual range and atmospheric clarity, less contrast, less visibility ,damage to vegetation,
including leaves, needles, fruit, growth rate, reproduction, hardiness.Decline in net primary
productivity NPP. Crop losses 1.9-5.4 b/yr.,,degradation of human health, from mild problems
e.g. eye irritation, to severe e.g. respiratory disease asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cancer. CO,
carbon monoxide , 90% natural, 10% from incomplete combustion, cigarettes, combines with
hemoglobin and reduces bloods ability to carry oxygen. 150,000-350,000 deaths/yr. The effects
of air pollution ,degradation of vertebrate health, aquatic life, with impacts on respiration, bones,
teeth, reproduction; increase lake acidity, decline in NPP,degradation of soil and water, when air
pollutants settle, toxic metals in soil, soils leached ,deterioration of man-made structures, break
down car paint, roofing; acid rain chemically dissolves marble statues and other building
materials
. Air pollutants can overload or break down the natural defenses such as hair in our nose, sticky
mucus in the lining of the upper respiratory tract causing diseases like lung cancer, asthma,
chronic bronchitis etc.,
Cigarette smoking is responsible for the greatest exposure to carbon monoxide.Exposure to air
containing even 0.001% of carbon monoxide for several hours can cause collapse, coma and
even death. .CO is attached to blood hemoglobin reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.
This impairs perception and thinking, slows reflexes and causes headaches, drowsiness, dizziness
and nausea and blurred vision. .
Nitrogen oxides and suspended particles both can irritate lungs, aggravate asthma or chronic
bronchitis and increase respiratory infections.
Many volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde and toxic particulates
such as lead and cadmium can cause mutations, reproductive problems and cancer,
breathlessness and irritation of the eye, nose and throat. .
Sulphur dioxide irritates respiratory tissues and chronic exposure causes bronchitis. Sulphur
dioxide also reacts with water, oxygen and other materials to form sulphur containing acids –
The acids can become attached to particles which when inhaled are very corrosive to the lung.
Chronic exposure of the leaves to air pollutants can break down the waxy coating that helps
prevent excessive water loss and leads to damage from diseases, pests, drought and frost. It also
affects photosynthesis, respiration and other metabolisms.
Green house effect Carbon dioxide and other gases allow light to pass, but trap heat in the
atmosphere much like glass in a greenhouse traps heat. This greenhouse effect is thought to be
responsible for global warming. Carbon dioxide contributes to only 56% of greenhouse heating.The
average surface temperature of Earth is about 15°C (59°F). Global Warming is increase in the average
temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses of Earth.
 Acid rain is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic components in rain, snow,
fog, dew, or dry particles.Unpolluted rain is slightly acidic, its pH being about 5.6, because
carbon dioxide and water in the air react together to form carbonic acid, a weak acid. The extra
acidity in rain comes from the reaction of primary air pollutants, primarily sulfur oxides and
nitrogen oxides, with water in the air to form strong acids (like sulfuric and nitric acid). The
main sources of these pollutants are vehicles and industrial and power-generating plants.

2
 Control Measures for Air Pollution
•Give greater emphasis on pollution prevention rather than control.
•Reduce the use of fossil fuels and increase the use of renewable energy. Use fuels with low
Sulphur and ash content.
•improve the quality of vehicular fuel. Use un-leaded petrol.
•Encourage pupil to use public transport, walk or use a cycle as opposed to private vehicles.
•Ensure that houses, schools, restaurants, and playgrounds are not located on busy streets.
• Plant trees along busy streets as they remove particulates, CO2 and absorb noise.
•Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city, preferably on the
downwind of the city.
•Catalytic converters should be used to control emissions of CO and hydrocarbons.
 In industrial centers :
•Emission rate should be restricted to permissible levels by each and every industry. •Ensure
sufficient supply of oxygen to the combustion chamber and adequate temperature so that the
combustion is complete there by eliminating much of the smoke consisting or partly burned
ashes and dust.
•Use mechanical devices such as scrubbers, cyclones, bag houses and electro-static precipitators
in manufacturing processes.
•The air pollutants collected must be carefully disposed. The factory fumes are dealt with
chemical treatment.

Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

The effects of air pollution involve a large variety of illnesses, starting with the simple irritation
of eyes, nose, mouth and throat or diminished energy levels, headache and dizziness, but
also potentially more serious conditions - of which the most common are:

 Respiratory and lung diseases, including:

o Asthma attacks
o Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease –COPD
o Reduced lung function
o Pulmonary cancer – caused by a series of carcinogen chemicals that enter the
body through inhalation
o Mesothelioma – a particular type of lung cancer, usually associated with exposure
to asbestos (it usually occurs 20-30 years after the initial exposure)
o Pneumonia
 Leukemia – a type of blood cancer usually associated with exposure to benzene vapors
(through inhalation)
 Birth defects and immune system defects
 Cardiovascular problems, heart disease and stroke (an increased risk especially due to
particulate matter)
 Neurobehavioral disorders - neurological problems and developmental deficits due
to air toxins such as mercury (which is the only volatile metal)
 Liver and other types of cancer – caused by breathing carcinogenic volatile chemicals
 Premature death
3
 POLLUTION ACTS
1. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act- 1981.

2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act- 1974.

3. The Environment (Protection) Act-1986.

4. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution Union Territories)

Rules, 1983.

5. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1982.

6. Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.

7. Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water

Pollution (Procedure for Transaction of Business) Rules, 1975.

8. Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning Preparedness and

Response) Rules, 1996.

9. Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989.

10 Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals

Rules, 1989.
.

11 National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995.

.
12 Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
.
13 Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999.
.
14 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
.
15 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978.
.

4
 16 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975.
.

 SOIL POLLUTION
Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that covers the Earths rocky surface.•
Soil is composed of particles of broken rock that have been altered by chemical and mechanical
processes that include weathering and erosion.
 SOIL POLLUTION• It is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds,
chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on
plant growth and animal health.• Soil pollution is also caused by means other than the direct
addition of xenobiotic (man-made) chemicals such as agricultural runoff waters, industrial waste
materials, acidic precipitates, and
Causes of Soil Pollution• Seepage from a landfill• Discharge of industrial waste into the soil•
Percolation of contaminated water into the soil• Rupture of underground storage tanks• Excess
application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer• Solid waste seepage• Deforestation and Soil
erosion
 Excess application of pesticides etc.Excess use & disposal of Plastics and polyethene wastes
 Industrial seepage Solid waste seepage
 The most common chemicals involved incausing soil pollution are:• Petroleum hydrocarbons•
Heavy metals• Pesticides• Solvents
 Types of Soil Pollution

• Agricultural Soil Pollution i) pollution of surface soil ii) pollution of underground soil
• Soil pollution by industrial effluents and solid wastes i) pollution of surface soil ii) disturbances
in soil profile
Pollution due to urban activities i) pollution of surface soil ii) pollution of underground soil

 Agricultural Soil Pollution• Plants on which we depend for food are under attack from
insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses, rodents and other animals, and must compete with weeds for
nutrients.• To kill unwanted populations living in or on their crops, farmers use pesticides.• The
remnants of such pesticides used on pests may get adsorbed by the soil particles and contaminate
root crops grown in that soil.• The consumption of such crops causes the pesticides remnants to
enter human biological systems, affecting them adversely.
 Agricultural effects:• Reduced soil fertility• Reduced nitrogen fixation• Increased erodibility•
Larger loss of soil and nutrients• Deposition of silt in tanks and reservoirs• Reduced crop yield•
Imbalance in soil fauna and flaura

 Industrial Soil Pollution• Large quantity of solid wastes like unused and rejected chemicals
(like sludge, press mud, saw dust, bottles, plastic materials etc.), unwanted industrial wastes
generated during manufacturing processes are dumped over on the surface of soil by almost all
industries with difference in the degree.• Larger the production base, larger is the generation of
wastes.• Traditionally, these materials have been dumped around the factory site or around the
entire city. Rarely, they are

5
 Industrial effects:• Dangerous chemicals entering undergroundwater.• Ecological imbalance.•
Release of pollutant gases.• Increased salinity.• Reduced vegetation. ,Polluted land with
dangerous chemicals
 Soil Pollution due to Urbanization• Urban activities generate large quantities of city wastes
including several Biodegradable materials (like vegetables, animal wastes, papers, wooden
pieces, carcasses, plant twigs, leaves, cloth wastes as well as sweepings) and many non-
biodegradable materials (such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic wastes, glass bottles, glass
pieces, stone / cement pieces).• On a rough estimate Indian cities are producing solid city wastes
to the tune of 50,000 - 80,000 metric tons every day.• If left uncollected and decomposed, they
are a cause of several problems.
 Urbanization effects:• Clogging of drains• Inundation of areas• Public health problems•
Pollution of drinking water sources• Foul smell and release of gases• Waste management
problems
 :Contamination of soil due to waste water
 Some more effects of soil pollution:• Pollution runs off into rivers and kills the fish, plants
and otheraquatic life.• Crops and fodder grown on polluted soil may pass the pollutantson to the
consumers.• Polluted soil may no longer grow crops and fodder• Soil structure is damaged (clay
ionic structure impaired.)• Corrosion of foundations and pipelines• May release vapours and
hydrocarbon into buildings and cellars• May create toxic dusts• 21.

Methods to control Soil Pollution

• Reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use.• Recycling is another way to reduce and control
soil pollution. Recycling paper, plastics and other materials reduces the volume of refuse in
landfills, another common cause of soil pollution.• Reusing of materials• De-forestation, the
cutting down of trees, causes erosion, pollution and the loss of fertility in the topsoil. Planting
trees--or re-forestation--helps prevent soil erosion and pollution
Weeds soak up minerals in the soil. Reducing weed growth helps reduce soil pollution. One of
the more common methods of reducing weed growth is covering the soil with numerous layers of
wet newspapers or a plastic sheet for several weeks before cultivation. This prevents light from
reaching the weeds, which kills them.• Designated pits should be used for the dumping of soil
wastes. These wastes should be treated chemically and biologically to make them less toxic and
hazardous

Eluviation-eluviation is the transport of soil material from upper layers of soil to lower levels by
downward precipitation of water across soil horizons, and accumulation of this material (illuvial
deposit) in lower levels is called illuviation

NOISE POLLUTION

 ANY UNWANTED SOUND THAT PENETRATES THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOISE

POLLUTION. IN GENERAL NOISE POLLUTION REFERS TO ANY NOISE IRRITATING
TO ONE'S EAR WHICH COMES FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE.
  Sound that is unwanted or disrupts one’s quality of life is called as noise. When there is lot
of noise in the environment, it is termed as noise pollution.  Sound becomes undesirable when it

6
disturbs the normal activities such as working, sleeping, and during conversations.  It is an
underrated environmental problem because of the fact that we can’t see, smell, or taste it.  World
Health Organization stated that “Noise must be recognized as a major threat to human well-
being”
SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION Street traffic Rail roads Airplanes Constructions
Consumer products
Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution in urban areas.  Construction of
buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot of noise, due to the usage of air compressors,
bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.  Industrial noise also adds to the
already unfavorable state of noise pollution.  Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air
conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the existing noise pollution.
 LEVEL OF TOLERANCE  Normal level of tolerance is 80dbA.  Sound level below and
above this is considered to be as noise pollution.
 EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION  There are about 25000 hair cells in our ear which
create wave in our ear, responding to different levels of frequencies.  With increasing levels of
sound the cells get destroyed decreasing our ability to hear the high frequency sound.
 HEALTH EFFECTS  According to the USEPA, there are direct links between noise and
health. Also, noise pollution adversely affects the lives of millions of people.  Noise pollution
can damage physiological and psychological health.  High blood pressure, stress related illness,
sleep disruption, hearing loss, and productivity loss are the problems related to noise pollution. 
It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and panic attacks.
 ACTIONS TAKEN AND TO BE TAKEN  There are a variety of effective strategies for
mitigating adverse sound levels  use of noise barriers.  limitation of vehicle speeds  alteration
of roadway surface texture.  limitation of heavy duty vehicles  use of traffic controls that
smooth vehicle flow to reduce braking and acceleration, innovative tire design and other
 SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE POLLUTION  Planting bushes and trees in and around sound
generating sources is an effective solution for noise pollution.  Regular servicing and tuning of
automobiles can effectively reduce the noise pollution.  Buildings can be designed with suitable
noise absorbing material for the walls, windows, and ceilings.  Workers should be provided with
equipments such as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.
 Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery and servicing should be done to
minimize noise generation.  Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to block unwanted
noise from outside.  Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage of play loudspeakers in
crowded areas and public places.  Factories and industries should be located far from the
residential areas.
 Community development or urban management should be done with long-term planning,
along with an aim to reduce noise pollution.  Social awareness programs should be taken up to
educate the public about the causes and effects of noise pollution.

 . LEGISTATION Noise Regulation Rules under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. 
Features  Industrial- 75db  Commercial- 65 db  Residential zones- 55 db  Zones of silence
 No public address system after 10:00 pm and before 06:00 am.

7
WATER POLLUTION
 Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and
groundwater), very often by human activities. It occurs when pollutants (particles, chemicals or
substances that make water contaminated) are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies
without enough treatment to get rid of harmful compounds.

 Pollutants get into water mainly by human causes or factors. Water pollution is the second
most imperative environmental concern along with air pollution. Any change or modification in
the physical, chemical and biological properties of water that will have a detrimental
consequence on living things is water pollution.
 Sources of Water Pollution
There are various classifications of water pollution. The two chief sources of water pollution can
be seen as Point and Non-Point.
 Point refer to the pollutants that belong to a single source. An example of this would be
emissions from factories into the water. Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a
waterway through a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples- ▫ discharges from a
sewage treatment plant, a factory, ▫ a city storm drain.

• Non-Point on the other hand means pollutants emitted from multiple sources. Contaminated
water after rains that has traveled through several regions may also be considered as a Non point
source of pollution.Non-point source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does
not originate from a single discrete source. NPS pollution is often accumulative effect of small
amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area •The leaching out of nitrogen compounds
from agricultural land which has been fertilized is a typical example.
 Types of water pollution?
There are many types of water pollution because water comes from many sources. Here are a
few types of water pollution:
 Nutrients Pollution -Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain high levels of nutrients.
If they end up in water bodies, they encourage algae and weed growth in the water. This will
make the water undrinkable, and even clog filters. Too much algae will also use up all the
oxygen in the water, and other water organisms in the water will die out of oxygen starvation.
 Surface water pollution- Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's surface,
like rivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans. Hazardous substances coming into contact with this
surface water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water can be called surface water
pollution.
 Oxygen Depleting Water bodies have micro-organisms. These include aerobic and anaerobic
organisms. When to much biodegradable matter (things that easily decay) end up in water, it
encourages more microorganism growth, and they use up more oxygen in the water. If oxygen is
depleted, aerobic organisms die, and anaerobic organism grow more to produce harmful toxins
such as ammonia and sulfides.

8
 Ground water pollution -When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to soils, they are
washed deep into the ground by rain water. This gets to underground water, causing pollution
underground. This means when we dig wells and bore holes to get water from underground, it
needs to be checked for ground water pollution.
 Microbiological -In many communities in the world, people drink untreated water (straight
from a river or stream). Sometimes there is natural pollution caused by micro-organisms like
viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This natural pollution can cause fishes and other water life to die.
They can also cause serious illness to humans who drink from such waters.
Suspended Matter Some pollutants (substances, particles and chemicals) do not easily
dissolve in water. This kind of material is called particulate matter. Some suspended pollutants
later settle under the water body. This can harm and even kill aquatic life that live at the floor of
water bodies.
Chemical Water Pollution Many industries and farmers work with chemicals that end up in
water. This is common with Point-source Pollution. These include chemicals that are used to
control weeds, insects and pests. Metals and solvents from industries can pollute water bodies.
These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may slow their development, make them
infertile and kill them.
Oil Spillage Oil spills usually have only a localized effect on wildlife but can spread for miles.
The oil can cause the death to many fish and get stuck to the feathers of seabirds causing them to
lose their ability to fly.
 Industrial causes of water pollution Industrial waste Industries cause huge water pollution
with their activities. These come mainly from: Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is
harmful for marine life.
 Oil Pollution by Oil Industries Routine shipping, run-offs and dumping of oils on the ocean
surfaces happen everyday. Oil spills cause major problems, and can be extremely harmful to
local marine wildlife such as fish, birds and sea otters and other aquatic life. Because oil does not
dissolve, it stays on the water surface and suffocates fish. Oil also gets caught in the feathers of
sea birds, making it difficult for them to fly. Some animals die as a result.
 Other causes of water pollution Sewage and waste water Sewage is the term used for
wastewater that often contains feces, urine and laundry waste. The sewage and waste water that
is produced by each household is chemically treated and released in to sea with fresh water. The
sewage water carries harmful bacteria and chemicals that can cause serious health problems.
Pathogens are known as a common water pollutant.
 Mining activities Mining is the process of crushing the rock and extracting coal and other
minerals from underground. These elements when extracted in the raw form contains harmful
chemicals and can increase the amount of toxic elements when mixed up with water which may
result in health problems.
 Ocean and marine dumping Again, think of the rubbish we all make each day. Paper waste,
food waste, plastic, rubber, metallic and aluminum waste. In some countries, they are deposited
into the sea. All these waste types take time to decompose.

Underground storage and tube leakages Many liquid products (petroleum products) are stored
in metal and steel tubes underground. Other sewage systems run in underground tubes. Overtime,
they rust and begin to leak. If that happens, they contaminate the soils, and the liquids in them
end up in many nearby water bodies.
Effects of Water Pollution

9
The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on what chemicals are dumped and in which
locations. Many water bodies near urban areas (cities and towns) are highly polluted. This is the
result of both garbage dumped by individuals and dangerous chemicals legally or illegally
dumped by manufacturing industries, health centers, schools and market places.
 Death of aquatic (water) animals The main problem caused by water pollution is that it kills
life that depends on these water bodies. Dead fish, crabs, birds and sea gulls, dolphins, and many
other animals often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat (living environment).
 Disruption of food-chains Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well. Pollutants such as
lead and cadmium are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals are consumed by fish and
shellfish, and the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher levels.
 Diseases Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get diseases such
as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is always
outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment from contaminated
waters.
 Destruction of ecosystems- Ecosystems (the interaction of living things in a place, depending
on each other for life) can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution. Many areas are
now being affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution is coming back to hurt
humans in many ways.
Prevention of Water Pollution Dealing with water pollution is something that everyone
(including governments and local councils) needs to get involved with. Here are a few things you
can do to help:
Never throw rubbish away anyhow. Always look for the correct waste bin. If there is none
around, please take it home and put it in your trash can. This includes places like the beach,
riverside and water bodies.
 Use water wisely. Do not keep the tap running when not in use. Also, you can reduce the
amount of water you use in washing and bathing. If we all do this, we can significantly prevent
water shortages and reduce the amount of dirty water that needs treatment.
 Do not throw chemicals, oils, paints and medicines down the sink drain, or the toilet. In many
cities, your local environment office can help with the disposal of medicines and chemicals.
Check with your local authorities if there is a chemical disposal plan for local residents.
 Buy more environmentally safe cleaning liquids for use at home and other public places.
They are less dangerous to the environment.
 If you use chemicals and pesticides for your gardens and farms, be mindful not to overuse
pesticides and fertilizers. This will reduce runoffs of the chemical into nearby water sources.
Start looking at options of composting and using organic manure instead.
 If you live close to a water body, try to plant lots of trees and flowers around your home, so
that when it rains, chemicals from your home does not easily drain into the water.
 Liquid Waste (Sewage/Wastewater) Treatment Wastewater (liquid waste) from flushing the
toilet, bathing, washing sinks and general cleaning goes down the drain and into a pipe, which
joins a larger sewer pipe under the road. The larger pipe also joins a major pipe that leads to the
treatment center.

Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 This is an Act to provide for the prevention and control
of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water through various management
guidelines and restrictions. The act was introduced and incorporated into the Constitution of India in 1974

10
Orissa River Pollution Act, 1953

The Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Cess Act, 2003

MARINE POLLUTION
• Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface. • They play an important role in the chemical and
biological balance of the life on the earth. • They are vital to our food security, commerce and
transportation. • But human activity has troubled the health of oceans. • The habitats of marine
mammals and fish have been degraded severely, with pollution responsible for the mass deaths of fish,
mammals and corals. • Organochloric pollutants, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and a
range of other toxic pollutants accumulate within fishes later moving up the food chain to cause
reproductive disorders.

 MARINE POLLUTION - It is defined as the discharge of waste substances into the sea resulting in harm
to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to fishery and impairment of quality for use of
sea-water.Marine pollution is associated with the changes in physical, chemical and biological conditions
of the sea water.

 POLLUTANTS: SOURCES AND THEIR EFFECTS Pollutants can simply define as the materials which cause
pollution. The following are the important pollutants that cause the marine pollution. • Sewage •
Pesticides • Plastic wastes • Metallic wastes • Oil • Sediment plumes (by deep sea mining) • Heat •
Radioactive waste • Dredge spoil

 SEWAGE - Sewage may be entering the sea – By direct drainage – From inland towns and industries. –
Tipping at sea from ships.  Detrimental effects of sewage include – Eutrophication – Deoxygenation –
Foul deposits, Reduced salinity, Infection and toxic residues,

 PESTICIDES - Pesticides are organically active chemicals which are used for killing the pests. •
Pesticides may enter the oceans – From the atmosphere after aerial spraying, – From overland runoff of
sprayed areas. – From intentional dumping in the sea. • Pesticides affects food chain directly. • These
are more and more concentrated in fish, seagulls, seals, penguins and marine planktons. • PCBs have
been found to have a series effect on this aquatic animal’s reproductive cycle. And known to cause
patches on the skin, immunotoxicity, kidney damage, weight loss and tumor formation in otters.

 PLASTIC WASTES -The mass of plastic in the oceans may be as high as one hundred million metric tons.
• Many animals that live on or in the sea consume flotsam by mistake, as it often looks similar to their
natural prey. • Plastic debris, when bulky or tangled, is difficult to pass, and may become permanently
lodged in the digestive tracts of these animals, blocking the passage of food and causing death through
starvation or infection. • Fishing nets entangle fish, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, dugongs, crocodiles,
sea birds, crabs, and other creatures, restricting movement, causing starvation, laceration and infection,
and, in those that need to return to the surface to breathe, suffocation.

 METALLIC WASTES - Metallic chemical elements have a relatively high density and toxic or poisonous
at low concentrations. Examples are mercury, lead, nickel, arsenic, cadmium and so on. • Metallic
wastes can be enter the marine environment naturally – through weathering of the earth’s crust. – from
rivers or by direct discharges. – through the atmosphere also. – These can enter the sea through oil spill
also. • The use of antifouling paint on the bottoms of boats has been implicated as a major source of

11
heavy metals in waters. • These toxic metals can accumulate in the tissues of many species of aquatic
life. • When we consume such fishes, it will affect our nervous system, kidneys, brains, respiratory
system or even it will lead us to death.

 .OIL -0 Oil may enter the sea water by number of ways as follows; • Cargo tanker washings at sea and
international discharge of oily wastes from tank washings and accidental spillages pollute the sea water
severely. • Bilge pumping at sea • Import oil losses: collisions in port • Tanker accidents and maritime
accidents due to collision, fire, explosion or grounding also result in oil release in water. • Oil leakage
from pipelines • The blowout of wells, disposal of drilling mud, accidental damages to offshore drilling
rigs add to oil pollution in water. • Oily wastes from oil fields or refineries near the coast. • Oil spills
mixed with urban sewage, silt, plastics, pesticides and insidious toxic compounds are pervasive and
complex the pollution problems in sea.

 SEDIMENT PLUMES (BY DEEP SEA MINING) • Because of deep sea mining, the removing parts of the
sea floor, disturbs the habitat of benthic organisms. • Plumes are caused when the tailings from mining
(usually fine particles) are dumped back into the ocean, creating a cloud of particles floating in the
water.  There are two types of plumes: • Near bottom plumes • Surface plumes

 HEAT -Accumulation of unusable heat from human activities can disrupts ecosystems in the marine
environment. • The most important sources of thermal marine pollution are the nuclear power plants
and Thermal power plants. • These power plants use the sea water for cooling. This water is generally
returned to the sea at temperatures 11 to 220 C (20-400 F), which is higher than it was initially. • One
nuclear power plant may use as much as one billion gallons of sea water per day. • Marine life is
extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature. Higher temperatures can lead to premature
spawning, fish migration, lack of oxygen or death of marine life.

 RADIOACTIVE WASTE  Radioactive materials enter to the oceans mainly from following ways:- • From
natural background source: • From fallout of nuclear weapons testing. • From operation of nuclear
reactors through intentional and unintentional direct releases. • Mining and processing of ores to
produce radioisotopes. • Emission from the industrial use of nuclear energy. • Leakage from
underground nuclear detonations. • From shipboard reactors.  Radioactive contaminate sea water will
consumed by plants during photosynthesis acts as a medium for radioactivity in them. By this,
radionuclide enter into the food chain of marine water. • When men consume these radionuclide fishes,
it will cause cancers, leukemia, eye cataract, DNA breakage and carcinoma in humans.

 DREDGE SPOILS - Dredge spoils constitute the greatest pollutant input by volume to the oceans. Spoils
from dredging or mining of offshore minerals are deposited within a few miles of shore, where the
potential impact is the greatest. • Often they also contain sewage or industrial waste solids and solids
from street runoff. Consequently, they often contain objectionable amounts of hazardous chemicals,
pathogens, or oil and may exert a high oxygen demand on the surrounding environment.  The damage
which can be caused by dredging is two fold: 1. That occurring at the dredging site, and 2. That occurring
at the dredge spoils disposal area.

 PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MARINE POLLUTION

12
• Stabilization of the ecosystem • Reutilization, recycling, renovation and recharge of the waste •
Removal of the pollutants • To control the oil pollution, following methods are used – Skimming – By
spreading a high density powder over the oil patch, it can be sunk to the bottom.

Biodegradation – Burning – Using a suitable absorbing material. • Heat can be removed from
condenser cooling waters prior to their disposal into the marine water.

 Removal of phosphorus by electrolysis. • Adopting appropriate methods to remove heavy metals

from the marine water. • Radioactive wastes can be removed or reduced by the ion-exchange
techniques, precipitation of radio-nuclides. • The impacts of deep sea mining can be minimize or
reduced by using proper mining techniques. • Creating awareness on marine pollution. • Local
communities near sea must protect sea. • Management by government • Incentives must be offered for
conservation. • Industrial units should be equipped with pollution control instruments.

The Maritime Zones of India(IMO) Act 1976, enables the Government to take measures for
protection of the marine environment. The Coast Guard Act 1978 states that the preservation
and protection of marine environment and control of marine pollution is the function of the
Indian Coast Guard.

THERMAL POLLUTION
 Thermal Pollution is the harmful increase in water temperature in streams, rivers, lakes, or
occasionally, coastal ocean waters.
• It is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. •
A temperature increase as small as 1 or 2 Celsius degrees (about 2 to 4 Fahrenheit degrees) can
kill native fish, shellfish, and plants, or drive them out in favor of other species, often with
undesirable effects.
 The major sources of thermal pollution are discharge of heated water or hot waste material
into water bodies from  Nuclear power plant  Industrial effluents  Domestic sewage 
Hydro-electric power  Coal fired power plants  Thermal shock Other causes are : 
Deforestation  Soil erosion
 Nuclear power plants use water as a cooling agent.  After the water is used, it is put back
into a water supply at 9-20oC warmer .  Emission from nuclear reactors increase the
temperature of water bodies.
 Coal is utilized as a fuel.  Condenser coils are cooled with water from nearby lake or river. 
The heated effluents decrease the DO of water.  Damages the marine organisms.
 Discharged water from steam-electric power industry using turbo generators will have a
higher temperature ranging from 6 to 9˚C than the receiving water.  In modern stations,
producing 100 MW, nearly one million gallons are discharged in an hour with increase in
temperature of the cooling water passing by 8 to 10 ˚C .
 Sewage is commonly discharged into lakes, canals or streams.  Municipal sewage normally
has a higher temperature than the receiving water.  Increase in temperature of the receiving
water decreases the dissolved oxygen of water.  The foul smelling gases increased in water
resulting in death of marine organisms.
 Generation of hydro electric power sometimes results in negative thermal loading in water
systems.  Creates less heat on water sources less than nuclear power plant.

13
 When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair or other causes, fish and other
organisms adapted to particular temperature range can be killed by the abrupt change in water
temperature known as "thermal shock."
 Streams and small lakes are naturally kept cool by trees and other tall plants that block
sunlight. People often remove this shading vegetation in order to harvest the wood in the trees, to
make room for crops, or to construct buildings, roads, and other structures.
 Removal of vegetation far away from a stream or lake can contribute to thermal pollution by
speeding up the erosion of soil into the water, making it muddy, which increases the light
absorbed .
 Elevated temperature typically decreases the level of dissolved oxygen of water. • Increases
the metabolic rate of aquatic animals, as enzyme activity, resulting in these organisms
consuming more food in a shorter time , which increases their need for oxygen. • High
temperature limits oxygen dispersion into deeper waters, contributing to anaerobic conditions.
 This lead to increased bacteria levels when there is ample food supply. Many aquatic species
will fail to reproduce at elevated temperatures. • Primary producers are affected by warm water
because higher water temperature increases plant growth rates, resulting in a shorter lifespan and
species overpopulation.
 Energy chips  Desalination plants  Less nuclear power  End shoreline deforestation 
Prevent soil erosion

NUCLEAR POLLUTION

 One of the most important and dangerous type of pollution is nuclear pollution.  Nuclear
pollution is produced by nuclear explosion which are carried out for performing nuclear tests. 
Produced by generation of energy by nuclear fission or nuclear fusion.
 Nuclear Fusion In Nuclear fusion the heavy nucleus splits into two nuclei and it releases a
huge energy.
 Nuclear FissionIt is when two light nuclei of hydrogen fuse to form a helium nucleus and
they release a large amount of energy.
 Due to explosion about 15 to 20% of the radioactive particles enter into the stratosphere. 
Once they entered into the air they continue to fall on the earth after about every 6 month up to
several years.  Almost 5% of the radio active material entered into the troposphere, which is the
lowermost layer of the atmosphere.
 The radioactive pollution is defined as the physical pollution of air, water and the other
radioactive materials.
Radiation-“Invisible energy waves or particles”
1)Natural Radiation:The natural radiations are also known as the background radiations. Eg:
Cosmic Rays:The cosmic rays contain highly energetic particles which reach the surface of the
earth causing pollution.
2)Man-made Radiation:These are the radiations which induce the ionisation of atoms and
molecules. Ionisation of a molecule produces two fragments. Eg: Alpha (α) Radiation: Alpha
radiation contains energetic - alpha particles. It carries two units of positive charges and strongly
interact with living tissues. beta (β) Radiation: Is made up of energetics electrons. It carries one
unit of negative charge and interacts strongly with matter. gamma (γ) Radiation: Gamma

14
radiations are made up of high energy photons. Photons bring about strong electro-magnetic
interaction with matter.
 Nuclear Power Plant Nuclear Experiments
 Nuclear Accidents Use of Nuclear Weapons

EFFECTS
 Effects on Plants:  Green plants are extremely sensitive to gamma rays.  Plants response
varies according to age, growth stage, plant species, chromosome volume and level of radiation.
 Degree of damage intensity and duration of exposure of radiation.
 Effects on Animals:  It may include tumor, dry, itchy skin, hair loss and discoloration of the
skin around the tumor site.  In addition, these particular tumors often release a disagreeable
odour as the cancerous cells die.  More serious side effects may include some nerve damage and
either the death or hardening (called fibrosis) of healthy tissue.
 1)Skin Diseases 2)Damage of Reproductive Organs 3)Causes of Abnormality in Bone
Marrow 4)Destroys Retina of Eyes 5)Shortening of Life Span
  Proper maintenance of nuclear plants.  Preventive nuclear experiments.  Safe
Transportation.  Ban usage of nuclear weapons.  Proper Storage.  Minimize use of nuclear
elements.  Extraction of radioactive elements from nuclear waste.  Laboratory generated
nuclear wastes should be disposed off safely and scientifically.
 15. Conclusion For Radiation, like other aspects of nuclear science, can be both destructive
and beneficial. The intelligent use of radiation for the treatment of cancer, medical diagnosis,
food preservation, and other useful applications requires an informed public. Likewise, the
solutions to the storage of nuclear waste also necessitate public understanding of the effects of
nuclear radiation.

15