UNIT-IV: CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE

CO4: Analyze the Existing Environmental Problems for Designing Suitable Measures to Control it.
(K4)

Contents: Current Environmental Issues of Importance; Global Warming, Green House Effects, Climate
Change, Acid Rain, Ozone Layer Formation and Depletion, Population Growth and Automobile
pollution, Burning of paddy straw.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING

Due to the existence of certain gases, the troposphere, the lowermost layer of the atmosphere, naturally
retains heat. This phenomenon is known as the "Greenhouse Effect" because it is comparable to the
warming effect seen in a glass greenhouse used for horticulture. The amount of heat trapped in the
atmosphere depends mostly on the concentrations of “heat trapping” or “greenhouse” gases and the length of
time they stay in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs), and water vapour are the main greenhouse gases. The earth's temperature is 15 °C on average. This
temperature would have been -18°C if greenhouse gases hadn't been there. Thus, the Greenhouse effect is
responsible for a 33°C increase in temperature. The Earth is kept warm enough for humans and other species
to live thanks to heat trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The two main greenhouse gases are
carbon dioxide and water vapour, which are primarily regulated by the global carbon cycle and the
hydrological cycle, respectively. The amount of carbon dioxide has grown in the troposphere while the
amount of water vapour has mostly stayed steady. Methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons are
other gases whose concentrations have risen as a result of human activity. Because plants cannot remove
carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, deforestation has also led to higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
More than 2°C of warming or cooling over the previous several decades might be dangerous for the earth's
ecosystems, including people, as it would change circumstances more quickly than certain species could adapt
or move. In the event of an increase in the average sea level, certain regions will become uninhabitable due to
drought or flooding.

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 Fig. Global warming
Greenhouse Gases
The phenomenon that worries environmental scientists is that because of human activity, there is an increase
in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the air, which absorb infrared light carrying heat and cause the re-

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radiation of even more of the outgoing thermal infrared energy, raising the average surface temperature above
15°C. To distinguish it from the effect that has existed naturally for ages, the phenomenon is known as the
enhanced greenhouse effect.

Carbon Dioxide
It makes up around 55% of the greenhouse gases created by human activities that cause global warming.
About 76% of yearly emissions are produced by industrialised nations. Burning fossil fuels (67%) and other
types of land destruction and burning (33%) are the primary causes of global warming. The atmospheric
lifetime of CO2 is 500 years. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere was 355 ppm in 1990 and is rising by 1.5
ppm year.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
24 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans are thought to be caused by
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They also reduce the stratospheric ozone layer. The primary sources of CFCs
include refrigerators and air conditioners that leak, industrial solvents that evaporate, and the manufacture of
plastic foams, aerosols, propellants, etc. While in the troposphere, CFCs typically trap 1500–7000 times more
heat per molecule than CO2 and take 10–15 years to reach the stratosphere. The cooling brought on by CFCs
depleting ozone during their 65 to 110 years stay in the stratosphere may somewhat balance this heating
impact in the troposphere. CFC content in the atmosphere is 0.00225 ppm and is rising at a 0.5% yearly pace.
Methane
It is responsible for 18% of the rise in greenhouse emissions. In regions that are damp but devoid of oxygen,
such as swamps, marshes, paddy fields, landfills, and the digestive systems of cattle, sheep, and termites,
microorganisms decompose dead organic matter to generate methane. Methane is also produced and used in
natural gas and oil production, as well as when organic material is burned partially. For seven to ten years,
methane remains in the atmosphere. About 25 times more heat is trapped by a methane molecule than a CO2
molecule. Methane content in the atmosphere is currently 1.675 ppm and is rising at a 1% yearly pace.
Nitrous Oxide
It accounts for 6% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. Along with trapping heat in the
troposphere, it also depletes the stratosphere's ozone layer. It is released through the breakdown of nitrogen
fertilisers in soil, livestock manure, and nitrate-contaminated groundwater, as well as by the combustion of
biomass and nitrogen-rich fuels (particularly coal). It has a 140–190-year life cycle in the troposphere and
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retains roughly 230 times more heat per molecule than CO2. N2 O is present in the atmosphere at a
concentration of 0.3 ppm and is rising by 0.2% yearly.

Fig. Greenhouse effect

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Impacts of Green House Effect:
In addition to contributing to global warming, the increased greenhouse effect will also have an impact on a
number of other climatic and ecological phenomena.
 Rise in global temperatures If greenhouse gas intake rises at the current rate, the earth's mean
temperature is predicted to rise by 1.5 to 5.5°C by 2050. Earth would be warmer than it has been in
10,000 years, even at the lowest figure.

 Sea level rise: Sea water will expand as the world's temperature rises. The polar ice sheets and
glaciers will melt as a result of heating, causing the sea level to rise even higher. According to current
forecasts, during the next 50 to 100 years, an increase in the average atmospheric temperature of 3°C
would result in an average worldwide sea level rise of 0.2 to 1.5 metres.
Low-lying regions of cities like Shanghai, Cairo, Bangkok, Sydney, Hamburg, and Venice as well as
agricultural lowlands and deltas in Egypt, Bangladesh, India, and China would be submerged by a rise of one
metre in sea level, which will also have an impact on rice yield. Additionally, many commercially significant
spawning grounds will be disturbed, and lagoons, estuaries, and coral reefs will likely experience storm
damage more frequently as a result.
The Lakshadweep Islands in India, which rise little more than 4 metres above sea level, could be at risk. By
making significant investments in embankments to avoid flooding, some of the most magnificent cities, like
Mumbai, may be spared. The sea level increase will have an impact on the lives of millions of people who
have constructed houses in the deltas of the Ganges, Nile, Mekong, Yangtze, and Mississippi rivers.
 Effects on human health: Global warming will disrupt many regions' rainfall patterns, which will
have an impact on where vector-borne illnesses like malaria, filariasis, elephantiasis, etc. are spread.
Areas that are now devoid of illnesses like malaria, schistosomiasis, etc. might become into breeding
grounds for the diseases' vectors. Ethiopia, Kenya, and Indonesia are expected to be affected in this
way. The reproduction of mosquitoes, snails, and certain other insects, which are the carriers of such
illnesses, would be favoured by warmer temperatures and increased water stagnation. Respiratory and
skin conditions will worsen or rise as a result of higher temperatures and humidity.
 Impacts on agriculture: There are varying opinions on how global warming will affect agriculture. In
different parts of the world, it could have either beneficial or detrimental impacts on different kinds of

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 crops. Since the average temperature in tropical and subtropical regions is already on the higher side,
these regions will be more severely impacted. Even a 2°C increase might be detrimental to crops.
Production of wheat and maize might be significantly impacted by a drop in soil moisture and an
increase in evapotranspiration. The proliferation of pests and disease vectors will both be accelerated
by temperature and humidity increases. Pests will adjust to these changes more easily than crops
would. Crops that can withstand heat, drought, and pests must be created in order to adapt to the
changing environment.

Preventive Measures
The following actions will be crucial to halting accelerated global warming:
 Reduce the existing level of CFC and fossil fuel consumption.
 Make better use of energy.
 Change to renewable energy sources.
 Increase the number of nuclear power facilities that generate energy.
 Change from coal to natural gas
 Capture methane and utilize it as fuel.
 Reduce the production of meat.
 Adopt sustainable farming practices.
 Control population expansion.
 Remove CO2 from smoke stacks effectively.
 Plant more trees.
 Use photosynthetic algae to reduce atmospheric CO2.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate is the average weather of an area. It is the general weather conditions, seasonal variations and
extremes of weather in a region. Such conditions which average over a long period – at least 30 years – are
called climate
Climate change is one of the most predominant challenges of today’s world. It is threatening the very
existence of human communities and human civilizations throughout the world and is affecting all spheres of
life ranging from agriculture, economy, livelihoods, food and water security, ecosystem degradation, natural
disasters, environmental hazards, etc. Climate change is defined as average change in weather conditions
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(temperature, precipitation, humidity, etc.) of a region over a minimum period of 30 years. Climate change
can have both natural and anthropogenic causes. These can be briefly summarized as:
Natural Causes:
 Increased volcanic activity: This can emit large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ash particles
into the atmosphere that can increase the temperature of the region as they absorb more solar
radiation.
 Changes in the position of the Earth’s orbit: The changes in eccentricity, axial tilt and precession of
Earth’s orbit are related to the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s atmosphere and in turn
the average temperature of Earth’s surface either increases or decreases depending upon the solar
radiation it receives.

Anthropogenic Causes:
The anthropogenic or man-made causes of climate change are the increase in concentrations of Greenhouse
Gases or GHGs such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), water vapor
(H2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
These Greenhouse Gases are capable of absorbing incoming solar radiation in the atmosphere. Therefore,
increase in the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere, leads to increase in temperature of the Earth’s
surface. Normally, GHGs are present in concentrations of less than 1% in the Earth’s atmosphere. However,
their concentrations have progressively increased in the atmosphere after the Industrial Revolution (~ 1850
A.D.) due to the burning of fossil fuels in industries and automobiles, agriculture, land-use change, landfills,
tourism, etc. Therefore, every effort should be made to combat the increase of GHG emissions as soon as
possible.
The global change in temperature will not be uniform everywhere and will fluctuate in different regions. The
places at higher latitudes will be warmed up more during late autumn and winter than the places in tropics.
Poles may experience 2 to 3 times more warming than the global average, while warming in the tropics may
be only 50 to 100% on an average. The increased warming at poles will reduce the thermal gradient between
the equator and high latitude regions decreasing the energy available to the heat engine that drives the global
weather machine. This will disturb the global pattern of winds and ocean currents as well as the timing and
distribution of rainfall. Shifting of ocean currents may change the climate of Iceland and Britain and may
result in cooling at a time when rest of the world warms. By a temperature increase of 1.5 to 4.5°C the global
hydrological cycle is expected to intensify by 5 to 10%. Disturbed rainfall will result in some areas becoming

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wetter and the others drier. Although rainfall may increase, higher temperatures will result in more
evapotranspiration leading to annual water deficit in crop fields.
Ecosystems are significantly impacted by the climate. Ecosystems are impacted by climate change in many
different ways. For instance, animals may be forced to move to latitudes or altitudes with warmer
temperatures to ensure their existence. Similar to how saltwater intrusion into a freshwater environment may
cause certain important species to move or become extinct as sea levels rise, eliminating important predators
or prey from the current food chain.

Fig. Climate Change

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Ecosystems and species are directly impacted by climate change, but it also interacts with other human
pressures like development. Even while certain stressors have little effects when acting alone, their combined
effects have the potential to produce significant ecological changes. For instance, the stress that land
expansion causes on sensitive coastal regions may be made worse by climate change. Additionally, if climate
change causes an increase in severe rainstorms, recently logged wooded regions may become more
susceptible to erosion.
ACID RAIN
Acid rain is defined as the rainfall with pH (a unit of measuring acidity or basicity) values of 5.6 or less due to
the chemical reaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides with water vapor in the atmosphere. The term
“acid rain” was first coined by a British chemist, Robert Angus Smith in 1872 after observing the impact of
acid rain on buildings with heavy industrial activities. Acid rain can either occur in the form of wet deposition
(as rainfall) or dry deposition (dry particles of sulfuric and nitric acid). Acid rain is mainly formed when
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine with moisture in the atmosphere to form acids that are then
deposited on land surface either through rain, snow or dew. The process occurs mainly in those areas that
have large presence of fossil-fuel burning industries and automobile density. Sulfur dioxide is mainly
produced from coal burning industries,

smelters, petroleum refineries and thermal power plants while nitrogen oxides are mainly produced from
motor vehicles and automobiles that run on petrol and diesel. In India, cases of Acid rain have been reported
from Agra, Mumbai and Delhi.
The main sources of the sulphur and nitrogen oxides that contribute to the formation of acids are industrial
processes and the burning of fossil fuels. Gases that produce acid are oxidised over several days while
travelling thousands of kilometres. These gases eventually turn into sulfuric and nitric acids in the
environment. Acid produced by the emission of hydrogen chloride. Acid rain is brought on by these acids.

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 Fig. Acid rain
Harmful impacts of Acid rain
Effect on the Soil
 The exchange of hydrogen ions with nutrient cations like potassium and magnesium causes nutrients to
leak out of the soil. This makes the soil less fertile.
 The breathing of soil organisms slows down at the same time.
 Due to a drop in other nutrients, the amount of ammonia in the soil is going up, which slows down the rate
of decomposition. Nitrate levels in the soil are also going down.

 Acid rain has a lesser effect on the soil in India because most Indian soils are alkaline and have a good
ability to buffer.
Effects on Animal Life
 The effects of acid rain on wildlife aren't always easy to see, which makes it hard to keep track of. But
it has been shown that acid rain has a number of direct and indirect effects on the ability of wildlife
populations to reproduce and stay alive.

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  Acid rain may affect wildlife indirectly by releasing metals from soils and sediments into water, where
they can be eaten by animals like birds that feed there.
Effects on People
Acid rain is bad for people's health in many ways.
 The most obvious are bad smells, poor visibility, and irritation of the skin, eyes, and lungs.
 Some of the direct effects are chronic bronchitis, emphysema of the lungs, and even cancer.
 Heavy metals like manganese, copper, cadmium, and aluminum are getting more concentrated, which
is bad for human health.
 When acid rain falls at higher altitudes, it makes a thick, acidic fog that hangs low in the air and makes
it hard to see.
1. Acid rain has a big effect on the balance of the environment, as well as on the quality of the air.
2. As acid rain that falls directly on trees and crops can hurt them, it causes crops to fail.
3. There aren't enough fish to go around, which hurts the fishing industry.
Effects on Monuments and Buildings
 Acid rain deteriorates buildings and structures by breaking down stone and rusting metal that is left
out in the weather.
 Before people knew about the problems caused by acid rain, they often built with metals, limestone,
and marble that were exposed to rain and fog.
 Acid rain can break down calcium carbonate and other chemicals that are based on calcium, which are
in some of these products.
 Even though sandstone is more resistant to acid rain, it can get black spots on its surface over time.

Control of Acid Rain

Scientists have come up with many ways to cut down on the amount of sulphur dioxide that coal-fired power
plants make. Getting rid of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
 One option is to use coal that has less sulphur in it. Another way to get rid of some of the sulphur is to
"wash" the coal.

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  At the power plant, scrubbers can be put in place to get rid of the sulphur dioxide in the gases coming
out of the smokestack.
 Because nitrogen oxides are made when coal and other fossil fuels are burned, some power plants are
changing the way they burn coal.
OZONE LAYER
For the last 450 million years the earth has had a natural sunscreen in the stratosphere called the ozone layer.
This layer filters out harmful ultraviolet radiations from the sunlight and thus protects various life forms on
the earth. Ozone is a form of oxygen. The molecule of oxygen contains two atoms whereas that of ozone
contains three (O3). In the stratosphere ozone is continuously being created by the absorption of short
wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiations. Ultraviolet radiations less than 242 nanometers decompose molecular
oxygen into atomic oxygen (O) by photolytic decomposition.
O2 + hv → O+O
The atomic oxygen rapidly reacts with molecular oxygen to form ozone.
O + O2 + M → O 3 + M
(M is a third body necessary to carry away the energy released in the reaction).
Ozone thus formed distributes itself in the stratosphere and absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiations (200 to 320
nm) and is continuously being converted back to molecular oxygen.
O3 + hv → O2 + O

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 Fig. Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone (O3) layer depletion refers to the process of thinning of ozone layer in the stratosphere due to the
presence of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) emitted due to anthropogenic activities. The major ODS are
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide, and methyl chloroform. CFCs are
mainly used as coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators, propellants in aerosol cans and as in manufacture
of insulation and packaging materials. Halons are used in fire retardants, methyl bromide in pesticides and
methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride in industrial solvents. All these substances release either chlorine
or bromine and cause catalytic destruction of ozone in the stratosphere. The scientists (Sherwood Rowland,
Mario Molina and Paul Crutzen) who explained the process of ozone layer depletion due to ODS were
awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995.
The chlorine that are released from the ODS cause the destruction of ozone molecule in the presence of
sunlight in a couple of chain reactions:
Cl (Chlorine) + O3 (Ozone) = ClO (Chlorine monoxide) + O2 (Oxygen)
ClO (Chlorine monoxide) + O (Oxygen) = Cl (Chlorine) + O2 (Oxygen)

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The chlorine released in the above process (2nd step) goes on to break another molecule of ozone. Like this,
one molecule of chlorine can destroy over 1,00,000 molecules of ozone over a period of 50 years.

Ozone-Depleting Substances Sources

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Refrigerators, air conditioners, air coolers, solvents, and dry-cleaning
agents

Halons Fire-extinguishers, electrical equipment such as computer, and military

equipment in ships, aircraft, and tanks

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) Solvent, degreasing agent, refrigerant, fumigant, and fire-extinguishers

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Refrigerator, air-conditioner, insulating foams, and aerosol propellants

(HCFCs)

Methyl bromide (CH3Br) Fumigants and pesticides

Table: List of ODS

Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion
Depletion of the ozone layer can have a number of negative effects on people, plants, animals, and the
environment as a whole. It not only hurts the ecosystem, but it also stops people from making things and
causes an economic crisis. Some harmful effects are as follows:
 Ozone depletion in the stratosphere will result in more UV radiation reaching the earth especially UV-
B (290–320 nm). The UV-B radiations affect DNA and the photosynthetic chemicals. Any change in
DNA can result in mutation and cancer. Cases of skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinoma)
which do not cause death but cause disfigurement will increase.
 Easy absorption of UV rays by the lens and cornea of eye will result in increase in incidents of
cataract.
 Melanin producing cells of the epidermis (important for human immune system) will be destroyed by
UV-rays resulting in immuno-suppression. Fair people (who cannot produce enough melanin) will be
at a greater risk of UV exposure.

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  Phytoplankton’s are sensitive to UV exposure. Ozone depletion will result in decrease in their
population thereby affecting the population of zooplankton, fish, marine animals, in fact the whole
aquatic food chain.
 Yield of vital crops like corn, rice, soybean, cotton, bean, pea, sorghum and wheat will decrease.
 Degradation of paints, plastics and other polymer material will result in economic loss due to effects
of UV radiation resulting from ozone depletion.
Protecting the Ozone Layer
To halt the depletion of the ozone layer, countries around the world agreed to stop using ozone-depleting
substances. This agreement was formalised in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in
1985 and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. In 2009, the Vienna
Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first treaties in the history of the United Nations to achieve
universal ratification. Substances covered by the protocol are referred to as 'controlled substances'. The main
substances include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, carbon
tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide. The damage to the ozone layer caused by each of these
substances is expressed as their ozone depletion potential (ODP). In 2016, the Kigali amendment to the
Montreal Protocol was agreed upon to reduce the manufacture and use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by
roughly 80-85% from their respective baselines, till 2045.
Fluorinated gases (F-gases) have been introduced as substitutes for ODS in many sectors such as refrigeration
and air conditioning applications. F-gases include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and
sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). These gases do not deplete the ozone layer, but they are greenhouse gases. This
means that these new gases also contribute to climate change. F-gas emissions are monitored under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, but not currently
addressed by the Montreal Protocol.
AUTOMOBILE POLLUTION
The introduction of dangerous materials into the environment by motor vehicles is referred to as automobile
pollution. These compounds, known as pollutants, have a number of negative consequences on human health
and the environment. Because of the large number of automobiles on the roads today, transportation is a
major source of air pollution in many nations across the world. More individuals can now buy cars as their
purchasing power rises, which is bad for the environment. Because of India's rapid urbanization, automobile

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pollution has increased at an alarming rate. Automobile-related air pollution in metropolitan areas,
particularly in large cities, has become a severe issue. Automobile pollution has begun to cause symptoms
such as coughing, headaches, nausea, eye discomfort, and numerous bronchial and visibility issues.

Components of Automobile Pollution

The principal pollutants connected with motor automobiles are as follows:
 Ozone- The principal component of urban smog, ozone is formed when hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxides, both of which are substances produced by the combustion of automotive fuel, combine with
sunlight. Though useful in the upper atmosphere, ozone can irritate the respiratory system at ground
level, causing coughing, choking, and diminished lung capacity.
 Particulate matter- These soot, metal, and pollen particles give smog its murky tint. Fine particles
from automobiles offer the most serious harm to human health because they penetrate deep into the
lungs.
 Nitrogen oxides- These car pollutants can irritate the lungs and decrease the body's defences against
respiratory diseases including pneumonia and influenza. They also contribute to the development of
ozone and particulate pollution.
 Carbon monoxide- This odourless, colourless gas is produced when fossil fuels such as gasoline are
burned. Nearly two-thirds of this pollution is produced by automobiles and trucks. CO, when inhaled,
prevents oxygen from reaching the brain, heart, and other important organs in the human body. CO is
especially dangerous to newborns and those suffering from chronic ailments.
 Sulfur dioxide- This pollutant is produced by motor automobiles when sulfur-containing fuels,
particularly diesel, are burned. It can react with tiny particles in the atmosphere, posing a health
concern to young children and asthmatics.
 Hazardous air pollutants are chemical substances emitted by automobiles, automobiles, refineries,
gas pumps, and other sources.
Automobile Pollution Causes
The constantly increasing number of automobiles is the primary source of automobile pollution. Other causes
contributing to automobile pollution in cities include 2-stroke engines, low fuel quality, obsolete automobiles,
insufficient maintenance, heavy traffic, bad road conditions, and outdated automotive technologies and traffic
control systems.
The Effects of Automobile Pollution
Climate Change

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The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere depletes the ozone layer, resulting in global warming. As
a result, severe weather occurs, which frequently results in loss of life and property. Many major world
governments are concerned about global warming, and concerted attempts have been made to reduce it. With
the ozone layer destroyed, the sun's dangerous ultraviolet radiation can reach the earth's lower surface and
injure humans and other living species.
Poor Air Quality
In some nations, the air quality is so poor that individuals wear masks to decrease the amount of dangerous
pollutants they inhale. This is not something to be happy about because, aside from having to wear a mask all
day, which is uncomfortable, there is also the chance of health consequences. Countries with a large number
of ancient automobiles often have an issue with this. This is why several nations have prohibited the entry of
automobiles older than a particular age.
International Standing
Cleaning up the environment is a major concern all around the world. This is why so many climate summits
are organised each year to reach agreements on each country's responsibilities to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. A country with a high level of automobile pollution risks jeopardizing its reputation and standing
on the international scene.
Well-Being
These contaminants have the potential to cause lung infections and cancer. Hydrocarbons, as we all know, are
hazardous to human health. They have the potential to induce heart disease, exacerbate asthma, harm the
central nervous system, and make breathing difficult. Fuel spills can also have an impact on the health of
plants and marine life. These health issues, if left untreated, can lead to death. Treating diseases like cancer
costs a lot of money. When a country's population is primarily ill, the economy pauses since growth is usually
tied to people's ability to work and make money.
Travel and Tourism
Most people would not willingly travel to countries they know are harmful to their health. This, in turn, will
reduce the number of tourists visiting such countries, resulting in a loss of foreign exchange income.
Acid Rain and Smog
Nitrogen oxides lead to the creation of highly corrosive smog, which hastens car rusting. Acidic rain is
created when nitrogen oxide dissolves in rain. Water collected from this form of rain cannot be consumed by
humans, plants, or animals.
Solutions to Automobile Pollution
Because of the negative effects of automobile pollution, it should be everyone's responsibility to limit or

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eradicate environmental pollution. A tiny group's actions can endanger a larger demography.
Vehicular pollution can be minimized or controlled by adopting some of the following measures:

 Use of alternate fuel which generates less pollutants on combustion.

 Ensure complete combustion of fuel which changes pollutants into less harmful products.
 Use of catalytic converters.
 Modification of internal combustion engine for improvement of its efficiency.
 Replacement of internal Combustion engine with the engine which produces less pollutants
 Automobile Pollution Reduction
 Citizenship education
 Policies implementation
 Automobile maintenance
 Dispose of old cars
 Sharing a car
PADDY STRAW BURNING
Rice straw management is more difficult than wheat straw management, owing to insufficient time between
rice harvest and wheat sowing. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana are finding it more difficult to clear the area
for wheat sowing in November and December. Among the several residue management alternatives, such as
burning, bailing, in-situ assimilation in the soil, residue removal, and complete/partial retention on the soil
surface, farmers have discovered that burning is the most simple and cost-effective way to clear the field in a
short period of time. Straw integration in the soil is another approach for managing paddy straw, but it is not
used by farmers because it requires the straw to decompose slowly.
Case Study
 Crop residue burning has long been recognised in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, but it
is also becoming more common in other parts of the country. Ramnagina Kushwaha, a farmer from
Zamania in Ghazipur, died in a field after being set on fire while burning wheat stubble.
 To conserve the parali, the state administration has not implemented the National Policy for Crop
Residue Management (crop residue). The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned crop residue
burning in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab on December 10, 2015. Crop residue

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 burning is a violation of Section 188 of the IPC and the Air and Pollution Control Act of 1981.
However, the government's implementation is weak.
 The Delhi High Court has also issued an injunction against burning crop wastes, and the Punjab
government fined farmers Rs 73.2 lakh in 2016 for burning crop residue. Although the exact number
of

fines paid was not disclosed, farmers continue to burn waste every season, poisoning both the soil and
the air.
 According to an official report, the country produces more than 500 million tonnes of parali (crop
residues) per year, with cereal crops (rice, wheat, maize, and millets) accounting for 70% of total crop
waste. This is made up of 34% rice and 22% wheat harvests, the majority of which is burned on the
farm. According to estimates, 20 million tonnes of rice stubble are produced in Punjab alone each
year, with 80 percent of it being burned.
Environmental and Health Concerns
 According to one study, agricultural residue burning produced 149.24 million tonnes of CO2, over 9
million tonnes of CO, 0.25 million tonnes of SO X, 1.28 million tonnes of particulate matter, and 0.07
million tonnes of black carbon. These contribute directly to environmental pollution and are also
responsible for Delhi's haze and the melting of Himalayan glaciers.
 The heat from burning paddy straw reaches the soil 1 centimetre deep, raising the temperature to 33.8
to 42.2 degrees Celsius. This kills the bacterial and fungal populations that are necessary for fruitful
soil.
 Crop residue burning harms other microorganisms in the upper layer of the soil as well as its organic
quality. Because of the absence of 'friendly' pests, the wrath of 'enemy' pests has increased, making
crops more susceptible to disease. The higher layers of soil's solubility capability have also been
lowered.
 Residue burning not only causes air pollution, but also increases evaporation rate and reduces
macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg etc.) as well as micronutrients (Fe, Mn, B, Zn, S etc.) in soil.
According to one analysis, one tonne of stubble burning results in the loss of 5.5 kilogrammes of
nitrogen, 2.3 kilogrammes of phosphorus, 25 kilogrammes of potassium, and more than one
kilogramme of sulphur – all soil nutrients other than organic carbon.

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  According to a 2016 study conducted by Vitull K Gupta, professor of medicine at Bathinda, 84.5
percent of individuals were suffering from health problems as a result of rising smog occurrence. It
discovered that 76.8 percent of participants experienced eye irritation, 44.8 percent reported nose
irritation, and 45.5 percent reported throat irritation.
 41.6 percent of respondents reported coughing or an increase in coughing, and 18.0 percent reported
wheezing. According to another study conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Change in
Bengaluru, people in rural Punjab spend Rs 7.6 crore per year on treatment for ailments caused by
stubble burning.

 Direct burning in the rice field significantly changes the soil temperature, especially in the top soil
layer, besides decreasing readily assimilated carbon sources for microbes, soil ammonium levels and
available soil phosphorus.
 Burning also decreases microbial biomass, CO2–C respiration, microbial quotient, total FAME
concentration, organic matter decomposition rate. Fire affects soil microbial biomass not only
quantitatively, but also by modifying its species composition. The impact on microbial activities
varies with method of harvesting or amount of straw burnt, soil type and moisture content of soil.
Solutions to the Pressing Issue
 The Union government issued the National Policy for Crop Residue Management in 2014. Crop
residue management has now helped to make the soil more fertile, resulting in a Rs 2,000/hectare
savings in farmer manure costs.
 Instead of being burned, the stubble can be used in a variety of ways, including calf feed, compost
manure, rural roofing, biomass energy, mushroom culture, packing materials, fuel, paper, bio-ethanol,
and industrial production, among others.
 Conservation agriculture-based management practices have several advantages-less costs, reduced
environmental pollution, conjunctive use of organics (avoids residue burning), improved soil health
and facilitates timely planting of crops to address issues of terminal heat stresses.
 Farmers can also effectively manage crop wastes by using agricultural machinery such as:
 Happy Seeder (used for sowing of crop in standing stubble)
 Rotavator (used for land preparation and assimilation of crop stubble in the soil) (used for land
preparation and incorporation of crop stubble in the soil)

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  No till seed drill (used for land preparations directly sowing of seeds in the previous crop stubble)
 Baler (used for collection of straw and producing bales of the paddy stubble) (used for collection of
straw and making bales of the paddy stubble)
 Paddy Straw Chopper (cutting of paddy stubble for easily mixing with the soil)
 Reaper Binder (used for harvesting paddy stubble and making into bundles)
However, these equipment are prohibitively expensive, and state governments should step up and give
stronger subsidies so that farmers can afford them. Government is subsidising crop residue management
machinery by 50-80%. This scheme includes a provision of Rs 1,151.80 crore for two years for states such as
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Region.

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