Unit - 55

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Pollution
FOution is any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or

can harm our

biological characteristics of air, water or land. Pollution
Caitn and threaten the survival or activities of human beings and other

living organisms.
It is difficult to estimate the desirable and undesirable effects of
any activity which alters the environment. Sometimes short-term gains
can cause immeasurable damage in the future, as seen in the case of
nuclear energy, motorcars, air-conditioners and refrigerators, etc. In an

age of fast material change, pollution is an unavoidable result. History

has shown that societies pollute first and pay later. As the decline of the
biosphere continues unchecked, people must find the will to force
governments and industries to change existing conditions.

Types of pollutants

Degradable pollutants are those that can be decomposed, removed,

consumed or reduced to acceptable levels either by natural or artificial
means. However, pollutants such as human sewage and animal and crop
wastes can decompose only if the system is not overloaded. Certain
chemicals decompose slowly and can persist at harmful levels for decades,
like detergents and pesticides
Non-degradable pollutants include many radioactive
materials, heavy metals and some plastics which cannot De
degraded by natural or artificial means. They must be controlieu
or prevented from reaching the environment.

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Type of pollution
Pollutant
Airpollution Suspended particulate matter, sulphur
dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, etc.
Water pollution Microorganisms; heavy metals, fluoride,
cyanide, sulphate, etc.

Soilpollution Heavy metals like arsenic

Pesticides, microorganisms, lead,
Food pollution
cadmium, etc.

Noise pollution Industrial activity, traffic, loudspeakers

AIR POLLUTION

survival of all living organisms,

Clean air, which is essential for the
scarce. At mean sea level
air contains 20.94% oxygen
becoming
is rapidly
elements present comprise less than one

and 78.09% nitrogen. Other

percent ofits composition.
man-made causes. The
Air pollution can be due to natural or

dust storms,
control as natural disasters like
ormer is beyond our
of dust and
throw up large quantities
carthquakes and volcanic
eruptions
Man-made causes,
however, should be
into the atmosphere.
gases
danger by way of toxic
prevented or controlled
as they pose a greater etc. Industries
vehicular traffic,
factories, power
plants,
missions from These
brick kilns, etc.,
also pollute the air.
uch as mining, thermal plants, conglomerations
where the
urban
intense in
nlssions are particularly
habitation is very
high.
density ofhuman
pes ofair pollutants into the
are emitted directly
those which
pollutants are carbon monoxide.
Primary oxides and
dioxide, nitric
atmosphere, like
sulphur

83
 by
formed the photochemical
Secondary pollutants are pollutants
"smog" ofsmoke and
reaction ofprimary pollutants. For example,
carbon particles and fog is an emulsion
fog. Smoke consists of
c o m m o n in large
has become very
of water vapour in air. Smog
acid rain is formed by
winter. Similarly
Cities, especially during in
dioxide and water vapour present
the combination of sulphur

the air.
wind movement,
be dispersed by
Pollutants in the air can

temperature and topography.

Effects of air pollution

causes irritation of eyes. Carbon
industries
O Sulphur dioxide from
reduction in and oxygen
exhaust c a u s e s
monc xide from automobile
blood.
carrying capacity of
released from automobile
exhaust causes lung
O Hydrocarbons
cancer.

Arsenic from thermal power

is toxic to plants.
O
irritation of
Ammonia released from fertilisers, industry causes
O
mucous membrane, also affects agriculture.
automobile exhaust causes leukemia and
O Benzene released from

also causes chromosomal damage.

WATER POLLUTION

The limited
Like clean air, fresh water is also becoming a scarcity.
distribution make water pollution
availability of fresh water and its unequal
concerm. Water pollution is generally localized
and
a matter of great

confined, making it more severe. The pollutants undergo many reactions

and can become hazardous. 70 % of India's fresh water is polluteu
including several high altitude lakes. While water pollution is easier
study and manage, its control is highly complex and very costly.
84
 Sources of water pollution
major
source
of water
sewage
is a
and
urdeveloped
countries,
species
ofb a c t e r i a
different
400 and
pollution. Human excreta contains pathogenic
bacteria

contains
water
viruses. Even well-treated sewage into any
being
discharged
chlorinated before afiects
Virus, unless properly diseases and
waterborne
contributor to
course. Sewage is a major environment
in mnay

other organisms
in the
health of people and
the

ways. tanneries and

distilleries,
factories,
Industrial effluents from sugar By-products
very high
organic loads.
industries are accompanied by 40 km
paper as far as
depletion of fish upto
of paper and pulp
industry cause contain
steel industries
refineries and
wastes from oil
downstream. The the water
from poisoning
which imparts a strong
odour, apart and
phenol urea, phosphate
wastes contain ammonia,
Fertilizer industry toxic to aquatic
body. bloom and are
cause algal
in water, which can kill
sulphate which, wastes contain mercury

fauna andflora. Alkaline industry from

mercurised fishes. Lead generated
beings who consume
and toxic
human industries, trace
and paste-processing
battery, printing, petrol from mining
industries

etc., and effluents

such as zinc, copper animals,
elements
Bathing, washing clothes,
organisms.
are injurious
to aquatic
water.
waterbodies also pollute
etc., in human health.
for drinking and
Polluted water unfit different
used for
tolerance levels
for water
definite industrial purposes.
There are and
irrigation
activities such as
drinking, bathing, physio-chemical
and
different
there are
on its use,
Depending
water.
standards for
0acteriological
Pollution is
Bffects of Water from
tanneries

especially
industries is toxic and
Chromium
from
brain damage.
carcinogenic. causes
foetal
and
pesticides is toxic
ercury from
 dysentery.
hepatitis,
cholera,
typhoid,
causes
Bacteria from sewage causes
cancer.

industries
Selenium from p e s t i c i d e s ,

SOIL POLLUTION population

as the
resource,
limited acute
valuable but faced with
Land is a very cities are
developed limited availability
highly
nereases rapidly. Many Besides the
Bombay. every
Calcutta o r less p r o d u c t i v e
space problems, as in becoming
hectares oflandare due to floods,
million in a year
of land, 175 hectare
of top soil per
can go
tons under irigation
year. India loses 20 oflands
d e f o r e s t a t i o n . 20
% to 50 % and salinity.
raintall and water logging
because of
at this rate which includes
outofcultivation compounded by
pollution
desertification is land and into
This scenario of effluents on
industrial
Indiscriminate discharge of
O
water bodies
for agriculture

An increase in
the use of fertilizers
O and human beings
animals
O Open
defecation by in developed
this is a major problem
Accumulation of solid waste; refuse products are
O where the garbage and
countries like India

not degraded
plants which are released
substances from nuclear
Radioactive

into the soil

Pollution
Effects of Soil
leads to a loss of
chronic poisoning
Arsenic that occurs naturally,
with constipation. gasitro
appetite and weight, diarrhoea, alternating an
intestinal disturbances, peripheral neuritis,
conjunctivitis
sometimes skin cancer.

death.
Lead from lead smelters lead to mental retardation or

toxe
O Mercury from industrial wastes as methyl merucury is morc
than any other forms of mercury causes neurological probler
and damages kidney.
86
 MARINE POLLUTION
Pollution changes coastal habitats
and destroys fish and other
species. Most of the trash and pollutants
S
end
end up
up in th
theworld's ogeans and remain inproduced by human activiue
water near the coastal
coastal areas
areas.
They are directly drained or dumped into the ocean either on purpose or
by accident (oil spills). Sewage and sedimentation from
and construction are the fwo most serious
land-clearing
causes of coastal pollution.
Rivers dump a lot of pollution into the sea, like
sewage, industrial effluents,
fertilizers and pesticides from farms and sediments.
The major pollutants that affect the
world's oceans and coasts:
sewage, litter, petroleum, synthetic chemicals, toxic metals andradioactive
materials.

Sediments are the major pollutant of the coastal waters of India

amounting to as much as 1600 million tonnes

O
O Nearly 8000 industries release their efluents into the Indian coastal
waters either directly or indirectly.

It is estimated that about 390 million tonnes of industrial efñuents

O
are released annually into Indian coastal waters.

in West Bengal,
Among the coastal states, industrial pollution high
is
Andhra Pradesh.
Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and

Effects of Marine Pollution

Loss of marine organisms

and afiect human healt
enter food chain
T o x i c chemicals in fish

NOISE POLLUTION
urban life a-
has become a part of
sóund and frc
NO1Se is un wanted may
come
Noise pollution
in this century. acti
ndustrial centres
trains,
construction

moving
loudspeak
or
factories, aeroplanes,

even a radio.
87
 Effects of Noise Pollution
Noise level of 80 decibels or more for more than 8 hours a d
mcreases tension and changes in breathing patterns. Continued expos
to high levels ofnoise results in fatigue, hearing bss or even total los
hearing, changes in blood circulation, changes in breathing, ete. No
pollution above 120 decibels can cause many adverse biochemical chang-
Cholesterol levels in the blood and white cell counts increase, besic
causing hypertension.
Control of noise pollution
O A green-belt effectively reduces the noise.
A 20 foot wide plantation inside the compound protects the inma
from the noise of vehicular traffic.
O Decibel metres should be installed along highways and in factor
to check and control the intensity ofnoise pollution.

THERMAL POLLUTION
Heated effluents either from natural or man-made sourc
contaminate water supplies. They may be harmful to life because
theirtoxicity, reduction in normal oxygen level of water, aesthetica
unsuitable and spread diseases. The chief sources are the
nuclear pov
plants and the industrial effluents.

Effects of Thermal Pollution

The effluent
discharged adversely affects the life forms
planktons (producers) are killed, thereby
ecosystem. Blood sucking
altering the components of
parasites proliferate in the warm wa
contributing to the loss of fish weight. Toxic
cadmium discharged with the pollutants like copP
thermal efluents kills fishes, there
affecting human health.
88
 SAR HAZARDS
The major
and radioactive sources
A
radioactive pollution include medical
pollution fude
from X-rays, radioactive fallouts,
Radiation damages the electric fields. Ta fallouts,
various factors such
on the vario
cells and
persom exposed andamount tiSsues and the
age of the
he as and
the extent of it depends
of diation ex
the
part of the
radiation cxposca
exposed, itsduration,
durati
sOLID
WASTE MANAGEMEN body affected
Solid waste CNT
aenerated dur includes
generated during mining is waste from industries
ies like
often
ironment. also toxic, non-biodegradable
nvironment, mining. The wasto
and stays ininwaste
It is
brought gradable and
hrought out from the mining since a lot of minerals the
tne
erals and chemicals are
rivers etc. Solid waste
waste is also during the rainyseason, chemicals
scason, polluting lakes,
construction work. generated as a result of
polluting lakes,
excavation and
excavation
Liquid waste is generally
and paper mills, termed as effluent.
sugar, chemical, Tanneries, textile
some of the major sources of pesticide and fertilizer factories are
sector also contributes a effluents. Sewage from
major part 'of it. the domestic
Gaseous waste consists of
industrial processes. Non-toxic toxic fumes, which are produced
thereby saving a lot of gaseous waste like steam during
energy. could be reused
Hospltal Waste is made up of cotton
blood and puss
containing dressing & bandage with
eedles; used pathogen like bacteria/fungi
and
and syringes/bottles/plastic
operation theatre waste like bags etc., mostly glass
virus; used
plastics;
or
s highly pathogenic.
-

tissues/blood/llesh, etc., Hospital waste

Wke riceAgricultural waste is made up of biomass (agricultural residues
er
husk, bagasse, ctc.) and chemicals
C). Biomass could be (residues of pesticides and
roducing pap effectively used for generating
uCing paper. Chemical wastes like residues of power and
esticides are
Cs
Cmter the
are toxic and
can
fertilizers and
affect animals and plants by their
food chain and ability to
undergo biomagnification.
89
 nuclear power plants. It
Nadioache Waste is generated by the
the spent nuclear fuel. The radiol
water or
oen either the heavy environment and
all life forms,
n e waste is highly hazardous to the
and affect
for a long time
environment
u e to its ability to remain in the affecting the
the or the genetic material of life forms, thereby
genes since
tunure enerations. Handling of radioactive waste is itselfhazardous
t can atfeet the person handling it.

Why Waste Management?

necessary today for the following
Waste management is extremely

reasons:
environment and its natural resources
To prevent pollution of the
like air, water and land.
like minerals,
complete exhaustion of the
resources
O To prevent
water, etc.
an alternative for the
fast
O To produce energy which could be
conventional sources of energy.
depleting fossil fuels and other
To make optimum use of the waste generated.
or a better and sustainable future.

How to manage a s t e

Waste could be managed by :

O Making the manufacturing process more efficient, thereby reducing

waste.

OBy reusing, thereby reducing waste generation.

O By recycling the waste generated.
e.g. plastics, bottles, metal cans and tools, sewage and effluents.
By segregation of waste into the following categories
Dry Plastic paper, glass, metal, rags, rubber.
Wet Left over food, kitchen
waste, rotten materials, meat, stree
and house sweepings, soiled
paper.
90
 expired
Toxic broken tubelights,
alnts, pesticides, toxic chemicals,
medicines, used batteries, etc.
Soiled dressings, infected cotton, drip
S,Sanitary napkins,
, needles, soil ana
and tubs, injection syringes and
cs
builders debris.
Common waste management methods
1. When throwing out your garbage,
separate it into
a. Biodegradable waste
b. Recyclable waste
C. Reusable waste
Biodegradable waste:Organic waste is easier to handle because
it will decompose over a period of time. This property has been made
use of in the process of composting to produce rich manure, which is
safe and better than chemical fertilizers. The use of earthworms in the

process of composting is known as vermiculture which is proving to be

very useful and successful.
Reusable waste: The concept of reusing has been in existence
in India for a very long time. The average Indian believes in the concept

ofreusing. This is evident from the fact that there are automobiles as old
as 30-40 years which are still in use.

Recyclable waste : This concept of recycling is not new to us.

The best example is selling of plastic items and used bottles. In fact, by

Sing recycled plastics and glass during the manufacture of plastic and
Bass, a lot of energy is saved.
OF
ROLE OF ANINDIVIDUAL IN PREVENTION

POLLUTION environment clean

ad at
Here are some things
are you can do to keep the
contribution to check
the sam time make a small but significant
me
Ahation.
91
 our
ms. Get you

Find out as much as you can about environmental probie

family and friends interested too. or

have to. Walk, cycle
O Do not use the car unless you

transport.
Recycle your rubbish.

and plants. ground.

O Look after your pets on

the
see lying and
litter you
O Never drop litter. Pick up to
turn offlights
R e m e m b e r

Do not waste
electricity or water.
packaged
goods,
taps. Avoid
buying
over

items.

Look carefully at what you buy. other

wasteful

O chemicals
or

processed foods, strong fertilizers

inyourgarden.
or
chemical pesticides
wasteland

O
A v o i d using
or
s a v e an
area
of
pollution,
campaign to
stop
Begin
a

for wildlife.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Earthquakes
Earth's
surface
caused by
of the
is the shaking There are
several
An earthqua' outer layer.
Earth's rocky and at
movement
of the their homes
rapid can take within
measures
that people includes
preventative preparedness
earthquake
risk. In the home, structurally
to reduce
the office sure that the house is
and making
earthquake kit ofinformation
maintaining an
the Red Cross
is a good source

chapter of
stable. The local
assemble an earthquake kit.
for how to 2001. A
struck Gujarat on January 26,
A massive earthquake than 700,000
killed in the quake,
and more
were
least 17,000 people reduced to
rubbie
Numerous towns and villages were

were left homeless.

including Bhuj.
92
Landslides
dow" *a
A landslide is the descent of a mass of earth and rock

mountain slope.
snow
Landslides may occur when water from rain and melting

slope, seeps through

the earth on top of a cracks and porc
inks through
sink
material,
in tunderlying sandstone, and encounters layer of slippery
spacesin
spaces
inclned toward the valley. The water collects
along
such as shale or clay,
surface of this layer which it softens. If the support is sufficiently
the upper
the well-lubricated
weakened, a mass of earth and rock slides down along
er. Landslides
layer
that suddenly rush down a steep slope can cause great
sometimes cause
destruction across a wide area of habitable land and
d

oods by damming up bodies of

water.

in a
On August 12(1991) heavy rains caused a landslide
region of Uttar Pradesh that killed at least 42 people. One
mountainous
least
later, the rains caused more landslides in the region, killing at
week
about 60 pilgrims on their way to a Hindu temple.
300 people, including
Indian authorities
Although unusually heavy rains triggered landslides,
the
in the area intensified the
said deforestation and rapid development
devastation. Landslides are common in the Nilgiris.

Cyclones
surrounded by a
Cyclone is a region of low atmospheric pressure
direction. The termcyclone
windsystem blowing, in a counter clockwise
disturbance attending such
has often been looselyapplied to a storm and
hurricanes and the
pressure systems, particularly the violent tropical
low pressure.
yphoons, which centre on areas of unusually
were killed when cyclone
a
n India (1971) at least 10,000 people
coast of India on
the night of
and tidal wave
wave struck part ofthe
easterm
Tidal million. Cyclones
as S400
October 29. Property damage was estimated
are
common in Orissa and Bangaladesh.
93
 Floods
When it rains or snows, some ofthe wateris retained by' the soil,

Some is absorbed by vegetation, some evaporates, and the remainder

which reaches stream channels, is called runoff. Floods occur when soil

water then runs off the land

and vegetation cannot absorb all the water;
in quantities that cannot be carried in stream channels or retained in

natural ponds and constructed reservoirs. Floods damage property and

endanger the lives of humans and animals,

and interfere with drainage
and economic use of lands.Financial losses due to floods are commonly

millions of dollars each year.

Torrential rains (1991) in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh
caused flooding that has killed more than 1000 people and forced millions
from their homes also 2 million hectares (5 million acres) of farmland
have flooded, destroying more than $1 billion in crops. Floods occur in
every year Assam, and Orisa.

Disaster preparedness
Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for
and reduce the effects of disasters.

That is to predict and -

where possible prevent them, mitigate

-

their impact on vulnerable populations and respond to and effectively

cope with the consequences. Disaster preparedness includes
O Development and regular testing of warning systems.
O Plans for evacuations or other measures to be taken during a
disaster alert period to minimize loss of life and
damage.
O Education and training of
officials and population
OTraining of first aid and emergency response teams

94