ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Environmental Pollution

The word ‘pollution’ is derived from the Latin word ‘polluere’

which means ‘to soil or defile’ .

Any alteration to air, water, soil or food that threatens the health,
survival capability or activities of humans or other living
organisms is called environmental pollution.

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural

environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the
form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or
light. 
 Types of Environmental pollution

Air Pollution
Soil Pollution
Noise Pollution
Water Pollution
Marine pollution
Thermal pollution
Radiation Pollution
Solid waste Pollution
Pollutants

Primary pollutants are the pollutants, which are emitted

directly from identifiable sources, and

Secondary pollutants, are those which are produced in the

atmosphere when certain chemical reactions take place among
primary pollutants.
 Primary Pollutants
CO2 ( burning of coal, oil, natural gas)
Suspended Particulate matter (SPM)- Consists of solids
in the air in form of smoke, dust and vapor.
 Sulfur dioxide
 Nitrogen oxides
 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
(organic chemicals that have a low boiling point,
evaporate easily and mix with the air, HCHO from
painting, chemicals from perfumes)
 Carbon monoxide, and CFC
 Lead

Secondary Pollutants
Atmospheric sulfuric acid
Photochemical smog
Ozone
Air Pollution

Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals,

particulates, or biological materials that cause discomfort, disease,
or death to humans, damage other living organisms such as food
crops, or damage the natural environment or built environment.
 Air Pollutants
 Primary air pollutants: harmful chemicals that are released
directly from a source into the atmosphere
 Particulate matter such as soil particles, soot (Soot is a general
term that refers to impure carbon particles resulting from the
incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon), lead, asbestos, and
sulphuric acid
 Oxides of carbon and nitrogen and sulphur dioxide
 Hydrocarbons like methane and benzene
 Secondary air pollutants: produced from chemical reactions
involving the primary pollutants
 Ozone (Ozone, a gas, is a form of oxygen).
 In the Earth’s upper atmosphere ozone plays an important and
beneficial role by providing a shield from the sun's ultraviolet
rays. Ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant
Table 1:  Sources, Health and Welfare Effects for Criteria Pollutants.
Pollutant Description Sources Health Effects Welfare Effects
Carbon Colorless, odorless gas Motor vehicle exhaust, Headaches, reduced mental Contribute to the formation of
Monoxide indoor sources include alertness, heart attack, smog.
(CO) kerosene or wood burning cardiovascular diseases,
stoves. impaired fetal development,
death.

Sulfur Dioxide Colorless gas that Coal-fired power plants, Eye irritation, wheezing, chest Contribute to the formation of
(SO2) dissolves in water petroleum refineries, tightness, shortness of breath, acid rain, visibility impairment,
vapor to form acid, and manufacture of sulfuric acid lung damage. plant and water damage,
interact with other and smelting of ores aesthetic damage.
gases and particles in containing sulfur.
the air.

Nitrogen Reddish brown, highly Motor vehicles, electric Susceptibility to respiratory Contribute to the formation of
Dioxide (NO2) reactive gas. utilities, and other industrial, infections, irritation of the lung smog, acid rain, water quality
commercial, and residential and respiratory symptoms deterioration, global warming,
sources that burn fuels. (e.g., cough, chest pain, and visibility impairment.
difficulty breathing).

Ozone (O3) Gaseous pollutant Vehicle exhaust and certain Eye and throat irritation, Plant and ecosystem damage.
when it is formed in the other fumes.  Formed from coughing, respiratory tract
troposphere. other air pollutants in the problems, asthma, lung
presence of sunlight. damage.

Lead (Pb) Metallic element Metal refineries, lead Anemia, high blood pressure, Affects animals and plants,
smelters, battery brain and kidney damage, affects aquatic ecosystems.
manufacturers, iron and neurological disorders, cancer,
steel producers. lowered IQ.

Particulate Very small particles of Diesel engines, power Eye irritation, asthma, Visibility impairment,
Matter (PM) soot, dust, or other plants, industries, bronchitis, lung damage, atmospheric deposition,
matter, including tiny windblown dust, wood cancer, heavy metal aesthetic damage.
droplets of liquids. stoves. poisoning, cardiovascular
effects.
Causes of air pollution

Natural causes
Dust storms
Volcanoes
Forest fires

Man-made causes
Industrial Emissions
Automobiles
Thermal power stations
Nuclear explosions
Nuclear power plants
Agricultural activities
Disposal of garbage
Effects of Air Pollution

Effects on Human Health: CO forms carboxyhaemoglobin.

Then blood cannot carry O2. SO2 causes burning sensation in
eyes.

Effects of plants: SO2 leads to decreases the amount of

chlorophyll.

Effects on climate

Green house effect and global warming

Acid rain
O3 layer depletion
Control of Air Pollution

The industrial gaseous wastes should be treated from

discharging them into the atmosphere.

The air quality can be improved and maintained by growing and

developing green belts and forests.

Instead of using low grade and conventional fuels, non-

conventional fuels like gobar gas, LPG, natural gas, must be
prepared and used.

The vehicular pollution can be controlled by using good quality

fuel by keeping the engine fully effective and by minimizing the use
of motored vehicles.
 Air Quality Index

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you
how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health
effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health
effects you may experience within a few hours or days after
breathing polluted air.

EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by
the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also
known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide,
and nitrogen dioxide.

For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air

quality standards to protect public health. AQI less that 100 is
considered as satisfactory quality of air.
WATER POLLUTION

The addition of various organic and inorganic substances changes

the physical and chemical properties of water and thereby causes
adverse effects on life and water usability.

In a simple sense, water pollution is the adding to water of any

substance, or the changing of water's physical and chemical
characteristics in any way which interferes with its use for
legitimate purposes.
 Water Pollution
The addition of various organic and inorganic substances that
change the physical and chemical properties of water thereby
leading to detrimental effects on living organisms and reducing
water usability is termed as water pollution.

Causes of Water Pollution

 Sewage and other wastes

 Industrial waste
 Agricultural waste
 Human activities
 Customs and traditions
Causes of Water Pollution

Natural causes

Soil eroded by rains

Dead and decay of vegetation and dead organisms
High speed winds
Floods

Man made causes

Sewage and other wastes

Industrial waste
Agricultural waste
Human activities
Customs and traditions
 Water Pollutants

 Sediments: Excessive amounts of soil particles carried by

flowing water, when there is severe soil erosion.
 Oxygen-demanding wastes: Organic waste such as animal
manure and plant debris that are decomposed by bacteria,
from sewage, animal feedlots, paper mills, and food processing
facilities.
 Infectious microorganisms: Parasitic worms, viruses and
bacteria from infected organisms as well as human and animal
wastes.
 Organic compounds: Synthetic chemicals containing carbon
from industrial effluents, surface runoff, and cleaning agents.
 Inorganic nutrients: Substances like nitrogen and phosphorus
from animal waste, plant residues, and fertilizer runoff.
 Inorganic chemicals: Acids, salts, and heavy metals like lead
and mercury from industrial effluents, surface runoff, and
household cleaning agents.
 Radioactive substances: Wastes from nuclear power plants,
nuclear weapons production, mining and refining uranium and
other ores.
 Thermal pollution: Hot water from industrial processes.
Effects of water pollution

Adverse effects on human health

Loss of aquatic biodiversity
Disruption of aquatic ecosystem
Loss of scenic beauty
Leads to various waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea,
typhoid, cholera, infectious hepatitis, jaundice, etc., in human
beings
Eutrophication of water bodies
Loss of terrestrial biodiversity
Control of Water Pollution

Treatment of domestic and industrial waste

Control on excess use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture
Strict enforcement of rules
Public awareness
Industrial waste should be treated before it is discharged into
the pond or lake.
Paper, plastic, food material etc. should not be thrown in rivers.
Human activities like bathing and washing must be stopped.
The laws of pollution should be implemented strictly.
Washing of trucks, tractors and other heavy vehicles in the
water bodies should not be allowed.
Use of harmful chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers must
be controlled in agriculture.
 Sewage Treatment

 Primary treatment removes suspended particle

 Secondary treatment uses disinfectant (mostly using

chlorine) to disinfect the water and uses
microorganism to decompose the organic material.
Fig. 22-16 p. 511
 Methods of Purifying Water

 Reverse Osmosis or RO method:- Water is forced through is

semi-permeable membrane for filtering the unwanted material

 The UV method:- UV ray kills the bacteria, virus and fungi.

 Distillation method

 Planted filter method:- Firstly water goes through a septic

tank and a baffle reactor.
Reverse Osmosis method
The UV method
Distillation method
 Water pollutants come from?

 Point source- Sewage treatment plant, factories are

point source that discharge pollutant through pipe.
(Easy to control)

 Non point- surface runoff, mining waste,

Construction sediments, Municipal waste. (Difficult to
control)
The Minamata Story

The long-term and indirect effects of the prolonged of chemical

pollutants in the water best illustrated by the Minamata episode.
In Japan, near the bay of Minamata, people began suffereing
from the mysterious disease.
The culprit was traced to mercury.
It is deposited in the river stream from the industrial waste,
which meets in bay of Minamata.
The accumulation of mercury is increased day by day, in the all
local inhabitants, whomsoever consumed the poisoned fishes,
rich with the accumulation of mercury.
This result death of the several people, neurological disorder,
loss of senses etc…
 Noise Pollution

Refers to loud sound created by humans or machines that disturb

the environment and normal living of organism in it.

The unwanted noise dumped into the atmosphere that leads to

discomfort and health hazards is known as noise pollution.
Sources of Noise Pollution

 Natural phenomena such as violent volcanic eruptions, thunder,

fierce storms, etc.
 Domestic appliances such as mixers, washing machines,
telephones, etc.
 Industries such mills and factories
 Automobiles–music system constant honking by drivers.
 Noise by Trains, ships, and aircrafts
 Bursting of crackers and playing loud music during social
gatherings and festivals.
 Entertainment devices such as radio, television, etc.
 Measurement of Sound

 Intensity and frequency are the two important

properties of sound. The unit of measurement of
intensity is decibel (dB)

 If we consider frequency, the human ear is known to

be sensitive in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000
Hz. However, human ear is more sensitive to sounds
of middle frequencies, i.e. 100 Hz.
 Effects of Noise Pollution

Auditory effect-
Exposure to high intensity sound lead to temporary deafness.

Non Auditory Effects-

Physiological disorders like anxiety, insomnia, high blood
pressure, fatigue, increased heart beat etc.
Loss of working efficiency- poor concentration and reduces
ability to think.
Annoyance- For neurotic people, they feel annoyed in noisy
surroudings.
Decline in the number of migratory birds at noisy places (In
Alipore zoo, migratory birds were 15,000 in 1982, in year 2005 it
become 2000).
 Control of Noise Pollution

 Workers in factories should be provided with ear plugs and

ear muffs.
 Vehicular noise can be reduced by keeping the engine clean.
 Industrial noise can be reduced by keeping the machines well
serviced.
 Noisy machines should be placed in special glass or wooden
cabins.
 Special silencing devices should be designed for aircraft
engines.
 More number of trees should be planted since they are
effective sound absorbers.
 Public awareness should be created.
 Radiation Pollution
Radiation pollution is the emission of any form of ionizing or
non-ionizing radiation as a result of natural or human activities.

Causes of Radioactive or Radiation Pollution

Natural causes
Cosmic rays are high-energy protons and
electrons that are released from sun.
Man made causes
Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants
Nuclear explosions
Medical use (X ray)
Radiations from luminous watches, clock dials,
rays from microwave, etc. constitute the
miscellaneous sources of exposure.
 Effects of Radiation Pollution

Somatic Effects

Radiations can cause cataract, skin cancer, bone cancer, reduction

of life span, premature ageing, cardiovascular disorders, etc.

Genetic Effects-Change in DNA

Increase in the number of abnormal children and increased infant

mortality.
Control of Radiation Pollution

 Dense trees should be planted around atomic power plants.

 Proper management of radioactive waste should be ensured.


 Unnecessary X-ray examination should be avoided. Lead
shields should be used by workers.

 During nuclear installations, various efforts including the

process of site selection, its design, construction, operation,
and its short-term and long-term effects should be seriously
considered to control radiation.
 Radiation pollution by cellular phones

EMR is the radiation produced by sources such as electrical

appliances, power lines, wiring in buildings, and electrical
appliances etc.

The extensive use of cellular phones, also exposes human beings

to a large dose of EMR, which poses a serious health hazard for
long duration each day.

It being a radio that sends signals on waves to a base station

Carrier signal consists of two radiation fields: a near-field plume

and a far-field plume.

The EMR from the cell and from the tower carrying signals
result somewhat in brain tumours, genetic damage etc.
 Soil Pollution

Any change in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of

soil due to natural or anthropogenic activities is known as soil
pollution.
 Major Types of Soil Pollutants and their Impact on
Human Health

Heavy metals- it accumulate in the top few inches of soil, it

pose a danger to important organs of humans such as the blood,
kidneys, liver and nervous system.

Dioxins – dioxins are byproducts released with the production

of pesticides and other industrial processes, released in air and
settle down on soil. Its contamination in soil lead to nerve and
liver damage as well as cancer.

Pesticides, Fertilizers and other Agricultural products-

Although its important for improving the quality of soil, but it is
also well known for its harmful effects, it cause development of
cancer, heavy metal poisoning which contain heavy metals.
 Lead - lead is available in soil naturally, but small amount of it
deposits left by automobile exhaust when leaded gasoline is
used. Main sources is lead battery manufacturing plants or
brass foundries. Inhalation of lead in humans causes damage in
nervous system, urinary system and the reproductive system.

 Cadmium - used in metallurgical and electrical industries,

exposed in atmosphere from the phosphate fertilizers,
detergents and petroleum products. Long term exposure of Cd
may lead to renal dysfunction and obstructive lung disease,
demineralization of the bone substances and osteoporosis.
 Causes of Soil Pollution

Natural causes
Earthquakes
Landslide
Hurricanes etc.

Manmade causes
Industrial waste
Urban waste
Mining
Agricultural waste
Domestic waste and garbage
Radioactive wastes
Effects of Soil Pollution

Reducing the fertility of the soil and degrading the quality of

land.

Increase in the the growth of a number of mosquitoes, flies

which cause diseases in human beings .

Loss of soil microorganisms

Water Pollution

Causing diverse health effects such as cancer, deformities in

bones, etc in human beings .

Loss of aesthetic value of land.

Control of Soil Pollution

The industrial waste must be treated in the proper treatment

plants and then allowed to be discharged through the proper
drains.

The city garbage must be properly separated so that the bio-

degradable waste may be used to make fertilizers and non bio
degradable waste may be recycled.

Soil can be conserved by planting trees like mango, neem, etc.

around the fields so that their leaves continuously supply the
nutrients to the soil.
 The release of radioactive materials in the soil should
be minimized. Activities such as nuclear testing should
be prohibited.

 Paper, glass, tin, iron, etc. present in solid waste

should be reused after recycling.

 Solid waste can also be used for electricity generation

by burning the solid.

 Use of chemical fertilizers and toxic chemicals should

be minimized as far as possible.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
 Overview

Solid waste is that material (such as domestic trash, garbage,

metal scrap etc.) which arises from various human activities
and which is normally discarded as useless or unwanted. It is
responsible for land pollution in urban and industrial areas.
 Solid Waste Management (SWM)

What is solid waste?

Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials generated

from combined residential, industrial and commercial activities in
a given area.

Why Management?

Management of solid waste reduces or eliminates adverse impacts

on the environment and human health and supports economic
development and improved quality of life.
 Important source of solid waste

 Domestic garbage refers to household wastes such as plastic,

paper, glass pieces, metal objects etc.

 Industrial wastes generally include chemicals, paints, sand,

metal ore processing, fly ash, sewage treatment sludge, etc.

 Commercial wastes includes paper fibers, plastic, packaging

material generated by industries.
 Mining wastes result from mining activities. eg. Heavy metals.

 Radioactive wastes: Nuclear explosions, nuclear testing, use

of radioactive substances in medical and scientific research
etc.

 Agricultural wastes contain mainly farm animal manure and

crop residues.

 Hospital waste is commonly contains disposable, syringe,

needles, used cotton plugs, infected waste etc.
 Effects of Solid Waste
 Solid waste helps disease-causing organisms such as
mosquitoes, flies, etc., to thrive freely and increase in
population.
 It runs off with rainwater and mixes with the nearby water
bodies causing water pollution.
 Burning of solid waste leads to air pollution.
 Radioactive substances present in solid waste cause a number
of diseases in human beings.
 Solid waste reduces the aesthetic value of land.
 Non-biodegradable solid wastes such as polythene, plastic,
rubber, etc., release toxic gases when burnt hence causing air
pollution.
 Control measures of Solid waste

 Indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes-especially of hazardous

waste causes adverse environment effects.

 The main objective of solid waste management is to minimize

these adverse effects before it becomes too difficult to rectify in
the future.
 Treatment of Solid Waste

Solid waste management

(SWM) is a three-step process

 Collection of solid waste

 Transportation of solid waste

 Disposal of solid waste

Solid waste management

Collection

Transportation

Disposal
 COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE

 Large number of dustbins must be provided to enable

proper collection of solid wastes according to categories.

 Door to door collection of domestic garbage, is the most

common and popular practice.

 Rag pickers contribute to waste management. They

segregate recyclable materials from other wastes and
hence save the cost and time.
 Transportation of solid waste
Transportation of solid wastes from urban areas to the
dumping grounds with the help of tractors, trucks etc.
 Disposal of solid waste methods

 Land fill
 Composting
 Incineration
 Open dumping
 Ocean dumping
 Reduction at source
Open Dumping
Land Fill
Ocean Dumping
Incineration
Composting
 5 Rs of Solid Waste Management
Over-consumption and waste of commodities can be
checked by adopting the five Rs of consumption.
 Refuse

 Reduce

 Reuse

 Repair

 Recycle
 Biomagnification

“Result of the process of bioaccumulation and

biotransfer by which tissue concentrations of chemicals
in organisms at one trophic level exceed tissue
concentrations in organisms at the next lower trophic
level in a food chain.”
 Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a waste management technique that involves

the use of organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants from a
contaminated site.

According to the EPA, bioremediation is a “treatment that uses

naturally occurring organisms to break down hazardous
substances into less toxic or non toxic substances”.
 POLLUTION CASE STUDY

 Chernobyl
 Bhopal gas tragedy
 Ganga water pollution
 Hiroshima and Nagasaki
 Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Many people at Hiroshima and Nagasaki died not directly from the actual explosion,
but from the radiation released as a result of the explosion. the doctors who is in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Didn't know the causes and how to cure radioactive patient .
 

 
 
　　
 Chernobyl
 At 1:23 am on 26th April, 1986 a human error and poor
safety standards caused a terrible explosion. It was a
nuclear accident at Chernobyl Power Station.

 Hundreds died from radiation exposure.

 Thousands contracted cancers from high levels of

radiation exposure.

 The Chernobyl nuclear accident is summarized as a

mismanaged electrical engineering experiment which
resulted in the reactor exploding. the explosion was
chemical, driven by gases and steam generated by the
core runaway, not by nuclear reactions.
The Bhopal disaster, also referred to as the Bhopal gas tragedy,
was a gas leak incident in India, considered the world's
worst industrial disaster.

Over 500,000 people were exposed to methyl isocyanate

(MIC) gas and other chemicals. The toxic substance made its way
into and around the shanty towns located near the plant.

The government of Madhya Pradesh confirmed a total of 3,787

deaths related to the gas release. A government affidavit in 2006
stated that the leak caused 558,125 injuries, including 38,478
temporary partial injuries and approximately 3,900 severely and
permanently disabling injuries.
 Ganga Water Pollution

The Ganga is the largest river in India with an extraordinary

religious importance for Hindus.

Situated along its banks are some of the world's oldest inhabited
cities like Varanasi and Patna.

It provides water to about 40% of India's population across

11 states, serving an estimated population of 500 million people
or more, which is larger than any other river in the world.

Today, it is considered to be the fifth most polluted river in the

world.
Causes
The main causes are the increase in the population density, the
enhanced per capita pollutants discharged to the river and the
meager dry season water flows in the river due to upstream uses.

Human waste
Industrial waste
Religious events

Impact

Wildlife
Marine life
Human beings
 Cleaning efforts

Namami Ganga

Ganga Manthan

Ganga Action Plan

Supreme Court of India

National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)

GO GREEN………GREEN EARTH