POLLUTION

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or
discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.

Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light. Pollutants, the elements
of pollution, can be foreign substances or energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are
considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels.

Forms of pollution:

The major forms of pollution are listed below along with the particular pollutants relevant to each of them:

• Air pollution, the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common gaseous air
pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrogen oxides
produced by industry and motor vehicles. Photochemical ozone and smog are created as nitrogen oxides
and hydrocarbons react to sunlight.
• Noise pollution, which encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as high-
intensity sonar.
• Water pollution, by the release of waste products and contaminants into surface runoff into river drainage
systems, leaching into groundwater, liquid spills, wastewater discharges, eutrophication and littering.

Pollutants:

A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water or soil. Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its
chemical nature, the concentration and the persistence.

1. Air pollution:

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or
discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the natural environment into the atmosphere.

Air Pollutant : An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the
environment. Pollutants can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. In addition, they may be
natural or man-made.

Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary. Usually, primary pollutants are substances directly
emitted from a process, such as ash from a volcanic eruption, the carbon monoxide gas from a motor vehicle exhaust
or sulfur dioxide released from factories.

Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact.

Major primary pollutants produced by human activity include:

• Sulfur oxides (SOx) - especially sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound with the formula SO2. SO2 is produced
by volcanoes and in various industrial processes.
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - especially nitrogen dioxide are emitted from high temperature combustion. Nitrogen
dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula NO2. It is one of the several nitrogen oxides. This
reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor. NO2 is one of the most prominent air
pollutants.
 • Carbon monoxide - is a colourless, odourless, non-irritating but very poisonous gas. It is a product by
incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or wood. Vehicular exhaust is a major source of
carbon monoxide.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) - a greenhouse gas emitted from combustion but is also a gas vital to living organisms.
It is a natural gas in the atmosphere.
• Particulate matter - Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM) or fine particles, are tiny
particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. Sources of particulate matter can be manmade or natural.
Some particulates occur naturally, originating from volcanoes, dust storms, forest and grassland fires, living
vegetation, and sea spray. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and
various industrial processes also generate significant amounts of aerosols.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - harmful to the ozone layer emitted from products currently banned from use.
• Ammonia (NH3) - emitted from agricultural processes. Ammonia is a compound with the formula NH3. It is
normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor.
• Odors — such as from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes.
• Radioactive pollutants - produced by nuclear explosions, war explosives, and natural processes such as the
radioactive decay of radon.

Secondary pollutants include:

• Particulate matter formed from gaseous primary pollutants and compounds in photochemical smog. Smog is
a kind of air pollution. Classic smog results from large amounts of coal burning in an area caused by a
mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide. Modern smog does not usually come from coal but from vehicular and
industrial emissions that are acted on in the atmosphere by sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also
combine with the primary emissions to form photochemical smog.
• Ground level ozone (O3) formed from NOx and VOCs. Ozone (O3) is a key constituent of the troposphere (it
is also an important constituent of certain regions of the stratosphere commonly known as the Ozone layer).
Photochemical and chemical reactions involving it drive many of the chemical processes that occur in the
atmosphere by day and by night. At abnormally high concentrations brought about by human activities
(largely the combustion of fossil fuel), it is a pollutant, and a constituent of smog.

Sources of air pollution:

Sources of air pollution refer to the various locations, activities or factors which are responsible for the releasing of
pollutants in the atmosphere. These sources can be classified into two major categories which are:

Anthropogenic sources (human activity) mostly related to burning different kinds of fuel

• "Stationary Sources" include smoke stacks of power plants, manufacturing facilities (factories) and waste
incinerators, as well as furnaces and other types of fuel-burning heating devices

• "Mobile Sources" include motor vehicles, marine vessels, aircraft and the effect of sound etc.

• Chemicals, dust and controlled burn practices in agriculture and forestry management.

• Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters.
Controlled burning stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest.

• Fumes from paint, hair spray, varnish, aerosol sprays and other solvents

• Waste deposition in landfills, which generate methane.Methane is not toxic; however, it is highly flammable
and may form explosive mixtures with air.
 • Military, such as nuclear weapons, toxic gases, germ warfare and rocketry.

Natural sources

• Dust from natural sources, usually large areas of land with little or no vegetation.
• Methane, emitted by the digestion of food by animals, for example cattle.
• Radon gas from radioactive decay within the Earth's crust. Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring,
radioactive noble gas that is formed from the decay of radium. It is considered to be a health hazard. Radon
gas from natural sources can accumulate in buildings, especially in confined areas such as the basement and
it is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires.
• Volcanic activity, which produce sulfur, chlorine, and ash particulates.

Prevention of air pollution :

• Stop smoking or at least follow the “No Smoking” sign.

• Use unleaded gasoline in your cars
• Keep your car properly maintained to keep it in good running condition to avoid smoke emissions
• Never use open fires to dispose of wastes
• Have a proper waste disposal system especially for toxic wastes
• Take very good care of your pets and their wastes.
• Never throw, run or drain or dispose into the water, air, or land any substance in solid, liquid or gaseous form
that shall cause pollution.
• Do not cause loud noises and unwanted sounds to avoid noise pollution.
• Do not litter in public places. Anti-litter campaigns can educate the populace.
• Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content
• Industries should monitor their air emissions regularly and take measures to ensure compliance with the
prescribed emission standards.
• Industries should strictly follow applicable government regulations on pollution control
• Organic waste should be dumped in places far from residential areas
• Inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic, but also paper, can be reclaimed and recycled

2. Water pollution:

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater).

Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water; and, in almost all cases the effect is
damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities.

Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate
treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Water pollution categories:

Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate resources, although they are
interrelated. Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on their origin.
Point source pollution:

Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway through a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe or
ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city
storm drain.

Non-point source pollution:

Non-point source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete
source. NPS pollution is often the cumulative 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.

Causes of water pollution:

Pathogens:

Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of water pollution, although not an actual cause of
disease.

High levels of pathogens may result from inadequately treated sewage discharges. This can be caused by a sewage
plant designed with less than secondary treatment.

Pathogen discharges may also be caused by poorly managed livestock operations.

Chemical and other contaminants.

Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances.

Organic water pollutants include:

• Detergents
• Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform
• Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and grease
• Insecticides and herbicides
• Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and lubricants (motor
oil), and fuel combustion byproducts.
• Various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products

Inorganic water pollutants include:

• Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants)
• Ammonia from food processing waste
• Chemical waste as industrial by-products
• Fertilizers containing nutrients--nitrates and phosphates--which are found in stormwater runoff from
agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use

Macroscopic pollution—large visible items polluting the water can include such items as: Trash (e.g. paper, plastic,
or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, and that are washed by rainfall into storm drains and eventually
discharged into surface waters
Prevention of water pollution:

You can prevent water pollution of nearby rivers and lakes as well as groundwater and drinking water by following
some simple guidelines in your everyday life.

• Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This helps prevent water
shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment.
• Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. Don't throw paints, oils or other forms of litter
down the drain.
• Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.
• Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby
water sources.
• By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertiliser, pesticides and contaminated water from
running off into nearby water sources.
• Don't throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and
lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin.

Given below are a few ways to prevent water pollution:

• Toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed off
properly. As a matter of fact, it is better to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also,
never dispose off such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink.
• Dispose off your trash in a proper manner and try and incorporate the recycling habit as far as possible. Non-
degradable products like tampons, sanitary napkins, and diapers should not be flushed down the toilet, for
these can end up damaging the process of sewage treatment, and usually end up as litter on beaches.
• Refrain from throwing litter into streams, lakes, rivers, or seas. If you do spot litter on beaches or in water
systems, after ascertaining that it is safe, collect them and dispose off them in any nearby waste disposal
system.
• Try using environmentally friendly household products like toiletries, soap-based household cleaning
material, and washing powder as far as possible.
• Try using natural fertilizers and pesticides as far as possible, or if not, do not overuse them or over-water
gardens and lawns. This will help in reducing the pollutants that get into water systems due to runoffs.
• Automobile oil should be re-used as far as possible. Also, it is important to keep your automobile well
maintained in order to prevent leakages of toxic fluids like antifreeze and oil.

Also, actively conserve water by turning the tap off when you do not need running water, such as while brushing
teeth. Apart from preventing water shortages, it lessens the amount of water that needs to be treated.

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution (or environmental noise) is displeasing human, animal or machine-created sound that
disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life.

The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly construction and transportation systems, including
motor vehicle noise, aircraft noise and rail noise.
Indoor and outdoor noise pollution sources include car alarms, emergency service sirens, mechanical
equipment, fireworks, compressed air horns, groundskeeping equipment, barking dogs, appliances, lighting
hum, audio entertainment systems, electric megaphones, and loud people.

• Do not use car horns unnecessarily. Areas like hospitals and campuses are silence zones and honking is
prohibited there.
• Avoid loud music, which hurts your ears and others' ears.
• Firecrackers are extremely loud. So don't try and burn them unnecessarily.
• Motors, machines and vehicles also produce loud noises when not maintained properly. Proper
maintenance should be carried out for better performance.
• If you are working in an area where there are loud noises, you must wear earplugs to prevent loss of
hearing.
• When going to theme parks and such, avoid riding on the rides which produce a lot of noise.
• Turn off the engine of your car or motorbike when you are not using it. It stops the annoying hum, and
reduces air pollution!
• Better off, walk or cycle to school! It does wonders to the environment, reduces the amount of air
pollution and noise, and makes you fit!