EVS

QUESTION:
(a) Differentiate between Renewable and Non- renewable Energy
ANSWER;

Renewable Resources Non-renewable Resources

Depletion

Non-renewable resources deplete over

Renewable resources cannot be depleted over time.
time.

Sources

Renewable resources include sunlight, water, wind and also Non-renewable resources includes fossil
geothermal sources such as hot springs and fumaroles. fuels such as coal and petroleum.

Environmental Impact

Non-renewable energy has a comparatively

Most renewable resources have low carbon emissions and low
higher carbon footprint and carbon
carbon footprint.
emissions.

Cost

The upfront cost of renewable energy is high. For instance,

Non-renewable energy has a comparatively
generating electricity using technologies running on renewable
lower upfront cost.
energy is costlier than generating it with fossil fuels.
 Infrastructure Requirements

Cost-effective and accessible infrastructure

Infrastructure for harvesting renewable energy is prohibitively
is available for non-renewable energy
expensive and not easily accessible in most countries.
across most countries.

Area Requirements

Requires a large land/ offshore area, especially for wind farms

Comparatively lower area requirements
and solar farms.

QUESTION;
(b) Differentiate between temporary and permanent hardness. Discuss how
you will assess quality of water?
ANSWER;
Temporary hardness: Permanent hardness:
1. Water dissolves minerals such as 1.Water dissolves minerals such as chlorides,
bicarbonates. It causes the hardness of the sulphates They also causes hardness of water.
water. These salts can be removed easily. These salts can not removed easily. Hence,
Hence, the hardness imparted by these salts is
the hardness imparted by these salts is called
called Temporary hardness. permanent hardness.
2. It can be removed by boiling water 2. It can not be removed by boiling water
3. It can also be called carbonate hardness 3. It can also be called non-carbonate hardness
4. It can be removed by the Addition of
4. It can also be removed by Clark's method. washing soda, permutit process, and ion
exchange method.
CDOM/FDOM Monitoring. ...
Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis. ...
Conductivity, Salinity, and TDS Monitoring. ...
Recording the Water Temperature. ...
Measuring the Dissolved Oxygen Levels. ...
pH and KH Testing. ...
Assessing the Turbidity, TSS and Clarity.

QUESTION;
(b) Discuss Hotspots of Biodiversity
ANSWER;
According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two
criteria to qualify as a hotspot:

The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should
have a high degree of endemism.
It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.
Following the criteria must for an area to be declared as Biodiversity Hotspot,
there are major four biodiversity hotspots in India:

The Himalayas
Indo-Burma Region
The Western Ghats
Sundaland

The Himalayas
Considered the highest in the world, the Himalayas (overall) comprises North-
East India, Bhutan, Central and Eastern parts of Nepal. This region (NE
Himalayas) holds a record of having 163 endangered species which includes the
Wild Asian Water Buffalo, One-horned Rhino; and as many as 10,000 plant
species, of which 3160 are endemic. This mountain range covers nearly 750,000
km2.

Indo – Burma Region

The Indo-Burma Region is stretched over a distance of 2,373,000 km². In the
last 12 years, 6 large mammal species have been discovered in this region: the
Large-antlered Muntjac, the Annamite Muntjac, the Grey-shanked Douc, the
Annamite Striped Rabbit, the Leaf Deer, and the Saola.

This hotspot is also known for the endemic freshwater turtle species, most of
which are threatened with extinction, due to over-harvesting and extensive
habitat loss. There are also 1,300 different bird species, including the threatened
White-eared Night-heron, the Grey-crowned Crocias, and the Orange-necked
Partridge.

The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are present along the western edge of peninsular India and
covers most of the deciduous forests and rain forests. As per UNESCO, it is
home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile
and fish species. Originally, the vegetation in this region was spread over
190,000 km2 but has been now reduced to 43,000 km2. The region is also
known for the globally threatened flora and fauna represented by 229 plant
species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile
species and 1 fish species. UNESCO mentions that “Of the total 325 globally
threatened species in the Western Ghats, 129 are classified as Vulnerable, 145 as
Endangered and 51 as Critically Endangered.”

Knowing in detail about the Western Ghats will be helpful for the aspirants for
the Geography preparation.

Sundaland
The Sundaland hotspot lies in South-East Asia and covers Singapore, Thailand,
Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. In the year 2013, the Sundaland was declared
as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations. This region is famous for
its rich terrestrial and marine ecosystem. Sundaland is one of the biologically
richest hotspots in the world which comprises 25,000 species of vascular plants,
of which 15,000 are found only in this region

QUESTION
 Discuss ways by which environmental awareness can be created in our
society
ANSWER;
Instead of driving to work or school, take the bus, carpool, walk, or ride your
bike to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the EPA
transportation adds to 33% of the total atmospheric CO₂.
Consider investing in appropriate technology like clean power (solar or wind), if
not for your home then maybe for a community center. This supports a
transition to clean and renewable energy.
Buy reusable products such as glass bottles, reusable bags, and reusable cups.
Avoid buying disposable goods such as paper towels, plastic bottles, and plastic
bags.
Start a composting and recycling program in communities where there are none.
This will help cut down our waste production.
Support local businesses and farmers, and buy organic and pesticide-free food
when you can. Or, start your own community garden.

QUESTION;
(e) Discuss how Indus Water Treaty is one of the most successful treaties
related to distribution of water, in the world
ANSWER;
The treaty gives India 20% of the water from the Indus River System and the
rest 80% to Pakistan.
In executing any scheme of flood protection or flood control each
country(India/Pakistan) will avoid, as far as practicable, any material damage to
the other country.
The use of the natural channels of the Rivers for the discharge of flood or other
excess waters shall be free and not subject to limitation by either India or
Pakistan, and neither of the countries shall have any claim against the other in
respect of any damage caused by such use.

QUESTION
 (a) What is Biodiversity ? Discuss values of Biodiversity
ANSWER;
“Biodiversity is the variation among living organisms from different sources
including terrestrial, marine and desert ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of
which they are a part.”
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variation among living organisms from different sources
including terrestrial, marine and desert ecosystems, and the ecological
complexes of which they are a part.
Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity and its maintenance are very important for sustaining life on earth.
A few of the reasons explaining the importance of biodiversity are:

Ecological Stability
Every species has a specific role in an ecosystem. They capture and store energy
and also produce and decompose organic matter. The ecosystem supports the
services without which humans cannot survive. A diverse ecosystem is more
productive and can withstand environmental stress.

Economic Importance
Biodiversity is a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, cosmetic
products and pharmaceuticals.

Crops livestock, fishery, and forests are a rich sources of food.

Wild plants such as Cinchona and Foxglove plant are used for medicinal
purposes.

Wood, fibres, perfumes, lubricants, rubber, resins, poison and cork are all
derived from different plant species.
The national parks and sanctuaries are a source of tourism. They are a source of
beauty and joy for many people.

Ethical Importance
All species have a right to exist. Humans should not cause their voluntary
extinction. Biodiversity preserves different cultures and spiritual heritage.
Therefore, it is very important to conserve biodiversity.

QUESTION;
(b) Elaborate causes, effects and control measures of marine pollution.
ANSWER;

What Are the Causes of Marine Pollution?

Marine pollution is caused due to various reasons out of which most of the reasons are
man-made. Sometimes, it causes due to wastage dumped and sometimes due to ocean
mining. Whatever is the cause but the fact is that marine pollution is causing hazardous
effects on marine animals and vegetation. There are various causes of marine
pollution which are discussed below –
 Marine pollution through sewage
Pollution directly enters the ocean in the form of sewage. Sewage enters into the ocean
water through rivers and pollutes the marine life. It causes the reduction of oxygen level
in the water which hampers the life of animals and plants of oceans.

 Marine pollution through the oil spill

Oil spills from ships also cause marine pollution. It is one of the major toxins
that contaminate ocean water which does not clean up so easily. Oil spills lead to the
death of thousands of innocent marine animals due to suffocation and toxic effects of it.
 Marine pollution through industrial chemicals
Ocean pollution is also caused due to the toxins and chemicals entered into seawater
through industrial & agricultural wastes. These chemical acts as heavy pollutants that
cause thermal pollution. The temperature of the ocean increases due to thermal
pollution. There are some animals in oceans who cannot survive in high temperature,
hence they die.
  Marine pollution through mining
Ocean mining not only comes under the causes of marine pollution but also
causes noise pollution. Deep-sea mining affects the base level of the ocean. The
pollutants that release through mining of metals such as silver, gold, copper etc. into the
seawater affect the life of the marine ecosystem.
 Marine Pollution through Land Runoff
Marine water also gets polluted through land runoff. It occurs when excessive water from
rain, flood etc. after penetration enters into the sea water. This water enters the oceans
along with contaminants such as pesticides, oil, fertilizers, waste from land animals etc.
and pollutes the ocean water. These pollutants cause harmful effects to oceanic life and
lead to the death of water animal & plants.
Other causes of marine pollution –

 Greenhouse gases emitted from fossil fuel are majorly responsible for marine
pollution, causing acidification of water.
 Atmospheric pollution also contributes to marine pollution. For example-
atmospheric carbon dioxide increases the acidity of oceanic water.
 The nuclear wastes from various industries pollute the marine ecology
affecting the food chain of the marine ecosystem.
 Thermal pollutants from power plants, manufacturing industries, etc. enter into
oceans, increasing the temperature of the water.
 Acid rain is also responsible for marine pollution.
 During acid rains, the sulphuric acid and nitric acid mix with marine water,
increasing the acidity of the water.
What are the harmful effects of marine
pollution?
Ocean life is highly affected by marine pollution. The toxins, chemicals, contaminated
wastes etc. are some of the dangerous causes of marine pollution. These pollutants
affect the oceanic Eco-system in various ways such as –

 Reduction of oxygen level in the water

Most of the waste dumped in oceans across the world does not able to decompose for
many years that decreasing the oxygen level in the water quite rapidly. Excessive debris
in sea water is reducing the oxygen level at an alarming rate. The low level of oxygen is
directly affecting the health of the plants and animals of the sea such as sharks,
penguins, whales, dolphin, turtles, seal etc.

 Affects the oceanic food chain

The river that eventually enters into the sea takes agricultural & industrial waste with it
into the sea water. The agricultural & industrial debris such as pesticides, chemicals,
radioactive dumped waste etc. sediments into the bottom level of the ocean and remains
as usual for many years. This deposited waste affects from the bottom to the top surface
of the ocean. The small animals of ocean swallow these chemicals and then these small
animals are eaten by large animals. In this way, the entire food chain gets affected.
  Upset the coral reef cycle
Oil spills that cover the surface of seawater do not allow sunlight to reach oceanic plants.
Hence it affects photosynthesis process. As a result, the cycle of coral reef gets
disturbed.

 Affects the reproductive system of water animals

The waste from industries and agriculture are composed of harmful chemicals that affect
marine life badly. These chemicals are so dangerous that it can damage the organs of
water animals such as the reproductive system. The failure of the reproductive system
affects the breeding process of the species of water animals.

 Harmful effects of toxins on marine life

The toxins that is accumulating day by day in oceans showing dangerous results on
water animals such as cancer, damage of tissues & cells, failure of organs, behavioral
changes, failure of reproductive system etc. The harmful chemicals, pesticides, oil spills
get into the body of these animals directly or indirectly & causes various health issues
and sometimes lead to death.

Other effects of marine pollution –

1. An increase in oceanic temperature through pollution leads to an interruption

in the natural water equations causing the unconditional death of innocent
water animals.
2. Marine pollution also affects human health indirectly.
3. When humans consume affected animals, the pollutants transferred into their
bodies from the impacted ocean animal.
4. The toxins dissolved in the water increase the acidity of the ocean, causing
high risk to the marine animals.
5. Pollutants like oil spills act as a barrier between the sun and the seafloor.
These pollutants restrict the sunlight to reach the seafloor affecting the
photosynthesis process of plants.
Prevention of Marine pollution
Prevention of Marine Pollution
As we all know that prevention is better than cure, so we all need to work together to
prevent marine pollution. Marine life is an important part of our Eco-system and it is
everyone’s responsibility to save marine animals and natural resources. We can make a
difference working together to prevent marine pollution. Some of the important
preventive measures of marine pollution have been listed below –
 According to the studies, almost 80% marine pollution caused due to waste
from lands. We can reduce this by limiting the waste material.
 Plastic bags, bottles etc. have become one of the big reasons for marine
pollution. We need to stop using plastic made material to save marine life and
our environment.
 We all need to put efforts to clean the sea beaches. If beaches will be cleaned,
marine pollution can be reduced to some extent.
 The farmers should use organic farming techniques instead of using chemical
pesticides and fertilizers. When these fertilizers and pesticides entered
into ocean water causes various health issues to the plants & animals of the
sea.
 We all need to make sure that only rainwater goes into the drainage because
most of the drain water goes into oceans. If we allow sewage and waste
material to get into the drainage, it will eventually affect the marine life.
  Most of the rivers flow into the oceans and also the wastes get entered in the
sea water. Hence we also need to take care of the cleanliness of the rivers so
that it cannot contaminate the marine life.
 We should stop using single-use plastic to protect the marine ecosystem.
 Say “NO” to disposables such as straws, tumblers, plastic carry bags, etc.
These items only increase the amount of waste that ultimately goes into
oceans.
 Recycling helps a lot to protect ocean ecology.
 We should try to minimize energy use to reduce the oceanic temperature.
 Give preference to buy Eco-friendly products and materials.
 Spread awareness among people about the conservation and importance of
the marine environment.
 You can join any organization that works for the conservation of marine culture
from pollution.
Causes and effects of marine pollution is on the rise. As we read above many types of
marine pollution, We must act together to protect ocean life and keep the water animals
safe and maintaining a pleasant environment on the earth for every species.

QUESTION;

(c) Discuss formation and depletion of Ozone layer. What are the impacts of
Ozone depletion ?

ANSWER;

Ozone Layer Depletion

“Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earth’s ozone layer in the
upper atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical compounds containing
gaseous bromine or chlorine from industries or other human activities.”
Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone layer depletion is a major concern and is associated with a number of factors. The main causes
responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are listed below:

Chlorofluorocarbons
Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer depletion. These are released by solvents,
spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.

The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the stratosphere are broken down by ultraviolet radiations and
release chlorine atoms. These atoms react with ozone and destroy it.

Unregulated Rocket Launches

Researches say that the unregulated launching of rockets results in much more depletion of the ozone layer
than the CFCs do. If not controlled, this might result in a huge loss of the ozone layer by the year 2050.

Nitrogenous Compounds
The nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O are highly responsible for the depletion of the ozone
layer.

Natural Causes
The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural processes such as Sun-spots and
stratospheric winds. But it does not cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion.
The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

Effects Of Ozone Layer Depletion

The depletion of the ozone layer has harmful effects on the environment. Let us see the major effects of
ozone layer depletion on man and environment.

Effects on Human Health

Humans will be directly exposed to the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun due to the depletion of the
ozone layer. This might result in serious health issues among humans, such as skin diseases, cancer,
sunburns, cataract, quick ageing and weak immune system.

Effects on Animals
Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin and eye cancer in animals.

Effects on the Environment

Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal growth, flowering and photosynthesis in plants. The forests
also have to bear the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays.

Effects on Marine Life

Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. These are higher in the aquatic
food chain. If the planktons are destroyed, the organisms present in the food chain are also affected.

Solutions to Ozone Layer Depletion

The depletion of the ozone layer is a serious issue and various programmes have been launched by the
government of various countries to prevent it. However, steps should be taken at the individual level as
well to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer.

Following are some points that would help in preventing this problem at a global level:

Avoid Using ODS

Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances. E.g. avoid the use of CFCs in refrigerators and air
conditioners, replacing the halon based fire extinguishers, etc.

Minimise the Use of Vehicles

The vehicles emit a large amount of greenhouse gases that lead to global warming as well as ozone
depletion. Therefore, the use of vehicles should be minimised as much as possible.

Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

Most of the cleaning products have chlorine and bromine releasing chemicals that find a way into the
atmosphere and affect the ozone layer. These should be substituted with natural products to protect the
environment.

QUESTION;

What is Population Explosion ? Discuss how it is affecting environment ?

ANSWER;

Population explosion:

1. It is a sudden increase in number of individuals in a specific area at a given time.

2. Population explosion is a cause of serious concern for all of us .
3. Its impact is already showing in many areas caused by a sudden increase in
population.
4. The world population is growing at the rate of 2% per year.

Effects of Population Growth on our Environment!

One of the factors responsible for environment degradation is population growth or
population density. In particular, population density plays the most important role in shaping
the socio-economic environment. Its effects are felt on the natural environment also.
1. Generation of Waste:
Due to his destructive activities, man has dumped more and more waste in environment. As
the man-made waste is not transformed, it causes degradation and the capacity of
environment to absorb more waste is reduced. Further, waste leads to air and water pollution.
2. Threat to Biodiversity:
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Due to his destructive activities, man has extracted more and more minerals from the earth.
Animals have been hunted and plants have disappeared. There has been loss of biodiversity.
These have led to ecological imbalance.
3. Strain on Forests:
Man has established new housing colonies. National highways and hydropower projects have
been built and forests have been wiped out. These destructive activities have increased and
led to ecological imbalance.
4. Urbanization:
Rapid growth of population has led to urbanization which has adversely affected
environment. Due to population pressure, natural resources in the cities are depleted at a fast
rate due to population pressure.
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Moreover, population does not have proper sanitation facilities and pure drinking water. As a
result, the health of the people is adversely affected. No doubt, urbanization reduces pressure
on the rural environment, but it brings with if environmental damages through industrial
growth, emissions and wastes.
5. Industrialisation:
Underdeveloped countries are following the policy of heavy industrialisation which is
causing environmental degradation. The establishment of such industries as fertilizers, iron
and steel, chemicals and refineries have led to land, air and water pollution.
6. Land Degradation:
Intensive farming and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides have led to over-exploitation
of land and water resources. These have led to land degradation in the form of soil erosion,
water logging and salination.
7. Transport Development:
Environmental degradation is also due to transport development in the different parts of the
world. The automobiles release huge quantities of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. The development of ports and harbours have led to oil
spills from ships adversely affecting fisheries, coral reefs, mangroves and landscapes.
8. Climatic Change:
Climatic changes are irregular due to green house gases. The thin skin of air that surrounds
the planet is being affected by human activities as never before. Urban people are still being
exposed to unaccepted levels of toxic pollutants. Further, forests are still being degraded by
acid deposition generated by faraway industries, and greenhouse gases continue to
accumulate in the atmosphere.

QUESTION;

(c) Define ‘Noise’. Assess the impacts of Noise pollution. Also mention
the levels of noise as prescribed by CPCB for various areas during day
and night time.

ANSWER;

Noise pollution

Noise pollution is a serious threat to the quality of man's environment. Noise, by

definition, is over-loud or disturbing sound.Sound levels are measured in
decibels (dB). It is a unit for expressing the relative intensity of sound on a scale
from 0 to 130.

Noise is unwanted sound and has become a part of urban life and industrial
centres in this century. Noise pollution may come from loudspeakers, factories,
aeroplanes, moving trains, construction activity or even a radio

Effects of Noise Pollution

 Even short exposure to noise can produce temporary hearing losses.
 Prolonged exposure to noise can lead to a gradual deterioration of the inner ear and subsequent
deafness.
 Constant noise causes the blood vessels and muscles to contract. This causes a gradual loss of
hearing, tension, nervousness and psychiatric illness. High intensity sounds emitted by many
industries and supersonic aircraft, when continued for long periods of time not only disturb but
also permanently damage hearing.
 Noise has harmful effects on non-living materials too. Numerous examples can be cited where old
buildings and even new constructions have developed cracks under the stress of explosive sounds.
Control of Noise Pollution
 A green-belt effectively reduces the noise.
 A 20 foot wide plantation inside the compound protects the house from the noise of vehicular
traffic.
 Decibel metres should be installed along highways and in factories to check and control the
intensity of noise pollution.
 Specific legislation and regulations should be proposed for designing and operation of machines to
include vibration control, sound-proof cabins and sound-absorbing materials.
 In metropolitan areas a green belt of vegetation and open spaces in general may have a great value
in noise control as in air purification. It has been seen that plants are efficient absorbers of noise,
especially noise of higher frequency. Plants can also absorb aeroplane noise, so a green belt
should be planted around airports.

Control of Noise Pollution

 A green-belt effectively reduces the noise.
 A 20 foot wide plantation inside the compound protects the house from the noise of vehicular
traffic.
 Decibel metres should be installed along highways and in factories to check and control the
intensity of noise pollution.
 Specific legislation and regulations should be proposed for designing and operation of machines to
include vibration control, sound-proof cabins and sound-absorbing materials.
 In metropolitan areas a green belt of vegetation and open spaces in general may have a great value
in noise control as in air purification. It has been seen that plants are efficient absorbers of noise,
especially noise of higher frequency. Plants can also absorb aeroplane noise, so a green belt
should be planted around airports.

QUESTION;

(d) Elaborate Water pollution

ANSWER;

What is Water Pollution?

Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of water bodies. Water pollution is caused when water
bodies such as rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater and aquifers get contaminated with industrial and
agricultural effluents.

When water gets polluted, it adversely affects all lifeforms that directly or indirectly depend on this source.
The effects of water contamination can be felt for years to come.

Sources Of Water Pollution

The key causative of water pollution in India are:

 Urbanization.
 Deforestation.
  Industrial effluents.
 Social and Religious Practices.
 Use of Detergents and Fertilizers.
 Agricultural run-offs- Use of insecticides and pesticides.

Effects Of Water Pollution

The effect of water pollution depends upon the type of pollutants and their concentration. Also, the
location of water bodies is an important factor to determine the levels of pollution.

 Water bodies in the vicinity of urban areas are extremely polluted. This is the result of dumping
garbage and toxic chemicals by industrial and commercial establishments.
 Water pollution drastically affects aquatic life. It affects their metabolism, and behaviour, and
causes illness and eventual death. Dioxin is a chemical that causes a lot of problems from
reproduction to uncontrolled cell growth or cancer. This chemical is bioaccumulated in fish,
chicken and meat. Chemicals such as this travel up the food chain before entering the human
body.
 The effect of water pollution can have a huge impact on the food chain. It disrupts the food chain.
Cadmium and lead are some toxic substances, these pollutants upon entering the food chain
through animals (fish when consumed by animals, humans) can continue to disrupt at higher
levels.
 Humans are affected by pollution and can contract diseases such as hepatitis through faecal matter
in water sources. Poor drinking water treatment and unfit water can always cause an outbreak
of infectious diseases such as cholera, etc.
 The ecosystem can be critically affected, modified and destructured because of water pollution.

Control Measures of Water Pollution

Water pollution, to a larger extent, can be controlled by a variety of methods. Rather than releasing sewage
waste into water bodies, it is better to treat them before discharge. Practising this can reduce the initial
toxicity and the remaining substances can be degraded and rendered harmless by the water body itself. If
the secondary treatment of water has been carried out, then this can be reused in sanitary systems and
agricultural fields.

A very special plant, the Water Hyacinth can absorb dissolved toxic chemicals such as cadmium and other
such elements. Establishing these in regions prone to such kinds of pollutants will reduce the adverse
effects to a large extent.

Some chemical methods that help in the control of water pollution are precipitation, the ion exchange
process, reverse osmosis, and coagulation. As an individual, reusing, reducing, and recycling wherever
possible will advance a long way in overcoming the effects of water pollution.

auses of Water Pollution – Anthropological and Natural

Water is able to dissolve many substances, hence it is called the universal solvent. This is the same reason
why water pollution occurs easily. Following are the causes of water pollution:

 Sewage and wastewater:

Many households dump their waste directly into water bodies. Moreover, households which are not served
by municipal treatment plant may use septic tanks, which eventually infiltrates into the soil, causing
pollution of groundwater.

 Industrial effluents and Industrial Usage:

Some industries may directly pump their untreated wastes into water bodies such as rivers. Moreover,
various industries also use water as a coolant, thereby causing thermal pollution. Increased water
temperatures can cause a reduction in the levels of oxygen; which can cause the death of fish and other
organisms.

 Eutrophication
Eutrophication is caused when large quantities of nutrients are introduced into a body of water, causing the
rapid growth of algae. This can decrease the oxygen level in the water, rendering the fish unable to breathe.
Moreover, this phenomenon can also introduce dangerous toxins into the water body, which can harm or
kill most organisms, including humans

 Deforestation
Deforestation can cause soil erosion. When these loose soil particles enter a water body, they can make the
water murky. This can make the water very murky, and it also has the potential to cause mechanical
damage to aquatic organisms, (such as sand particles getting stuck in gills).

 Agricultural run-offs
Agricultural run-offs include fertilizers and other chemicals that can make the water toxic. Moreover, some
of these fertilizers can induce eutrophication.

QUESTION;

(a) What is Solid Waste ? Elaborate how Solid Waste is managed ?

ANSWER;

Solid Waste Management

The term solid waste management mainly refers to the complete process of
collecting, treating and disposing of solid wastes.

In the waste management process, the wastes are collected from different
sources and are disposed of. This process includes collection, transportation,
treatment, analysis and disposal of waste. It needs to be monitored so that
strict regulations and guidelines are followed.

Sources of Solid Wastes

 Solid domestic garbage.
 Solid waste material from various industries.
 Solid agricultural waste.
  Plastics, glass, metals, e-waste, etc.
 Medical waste.
 Construction waste, sewage sludge

Solid Waste Management Diagram

Disposal of Waste
The process of waste handling and disposal varies in different countries. In India, the
processes differ according to the source of solid waste. They can be classified as:

⦁ Municipal Solid Waste.

⦁ Hazardous Solid Waste.

Municipal solid waste can further be divided into biodegradable, recyclable and hazardous
domestic wastes. The biodegradable waste includes rotten food, vegetable peel and mostly
wet kitchen waste. Recyclable waste includes plastic and hazardous wastes include, bulb,
batteries, etc.

QUESTION;

(c) Discuss how anthropogenic(human) factors have led to

Global Warming.
 ANSWER;

Causes for rising emissions

 Burning coal, oil and gas produces carbon dioxide and nitrous
oxide.
 Cutting down forests (deforestation). Trees help to regulate the
climate by absorbing CO from the atmosphere. When they are cut
2

down, that beneficial effect is lost and the carbon stored in the trees
is released into the atmosphere, adding to the greenhouse effect.
 Increasing livestock farming. Cows and sheep produce large
amounts of methane when they digest their food.
 Fertilisers containing nitrogen produce nitrous oxide emissions.
 Fluorinated gases are emitted from equipment and products that
use these gases. Such emissions have a very strong warming effect,
up to 23 000 times greater than CO .2

Countering climate change

Asevery tonne of CO emitted contributes to global warming, all emissions
2

reductions contribute to slowing it down. In order to stop global warming

completely, CO emissions have to reach net zero worldwide. In addition,
2

reducing emissions of other greenhouse gases, such as methane, can also

have a powerful effect on slowing global warming – especially in the short
term.