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Types of Pollution

There are two main types of pollution sources: anthropogenic (human-caused) and natural. Anthropogenic pollution includes air, water, soil, agricultural, industrial, transportation, and commercial/domestic pollution. Natural pollution originates from volcanic eruptions, dust storms, wildfires, and oil seeps. Pollution can also be classified as chemical, physical, or biological based on its form, and as quantitative or qualitative, primary or secondary, bio-degradable or non bio-degradable based on other characteristics. Pollutants are substances that cause pollution when in harmful concentrations.

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258 views2 pages

Types of Pollution

There are two main types of pollution sources: anthropogenic (human-caused) and natural. Anthropogenic pollution includes air, water, soil, agricultural, industrial, transportation, and commercial/domestic pollution. Natural pollution originates from volcanic eruptions, dust storms, wildfires, and oil seeps. Pollution can also be classified as chemical, physical, or biological based on its form, and as quantitative or qualitative, primary or secondary, bio-degradable or non bio-degradable based on other characteristics. Pollutants are substances that cause pollution when in harmful concentrations.

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aisha
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Types of Pollution

Types of environmental pollution can be roughly classified


by anthropogenic (human-caused) and natural sources.

Anthropogenic Sources of Pollution


By the object of pollution:
 Air pollution
 Water pollution
 Soil pollution (contamination) / Land pollution
By the economic source (originator) of pollution:
 Agricultural pollution
 Industrial pollution
 Transport pollution
o Motor pollution / Heavy vehicle pollution
o Ship pollution
o Airplane pollution
 Commercial and domestic sector pollution

Natural Sources of Pollution

 Volcanic eruptions
 Dust storms
 Smoke from forest and grass fires
 Natural oil fountains (gushers)

Types of pollution

Chemical pollution

Physical pollution:
 radiation
 electromagnet
 noise
 suspended particles
 light pollution
 visual
 temperatures pollution

Biological pollution:
 invasive species pollution
 Infections

POLLUTANTS

Pollutant: The substances which are present in harmful


concentration and is the agent who causes pollution is termed as the
pollutant.

CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTANTS:
On the basis of existence in nature

a) Quantitative Pollutants- The substances which are already present


in the environment, but ar e termed as pollutants when their
concentration (quantity) increases in the environment. e.g. CO2 is
present in the environment in greater quantity than normal and is hence
termed as a quantitative pollutant.

b) Qualitative pollutant- The substances which are not normally


present in the environment and are added by human beings and are
pollutants by nature. E.g. insecticides, pesticides etc.

On the basis of the form in which they persist

a) Primary Pollutants- The substance which are directly emitted from


the source and remain in that form are termed as primary pollutants e.g.,
smoke, fumes, ash, dust, nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide

b) Secondary pollutants- The substances which are formed


by chemical reaction between the primary pollutants and constituents of
the environment (i.e. those which are already present in the
environment) .e.g. smog, ozone, sulfur trioxide, nitrogen dioxide.

On the basis of disposal

a) Bio-degradable pollutants- the pollutants which are decomposed


by natural processes e.g. domestic (municipal) sewage.

b) Non bio-degradable pollutants- The pollutants which don’t


decompose naturally or decompose slowly e.g. DDT, aluminum etc.

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