i cemester - tal science is 4 group of sciencogithat atternpt to exp!ain how tife on Farth is sustained, what leads to environmental problems, and how these an be solved, It draws from a whole gamut of subject ike geography, , law, education, health and cultural studies, It studies the complex i interaction of human with nature and provides guidelines for the way forward. an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates science is emistry, zoology, mineralogy,oceanog Physical geography, and atmospheric science) to the study of ‘and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental from the fields of natural history and medicine during Today provides an integrated, quantitative, p approach to the study of systems. incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human is and policies towards the environment. Environmental on design and technology for improving environmental _ study subjects like the understanding of earth n energy systems, pollution contro! and i, and theeffects of global climate always include an interaction of physical, pny tal scientists bring a systems . Key elements of an effective active field of scientific the need for a multi- oblems, (b) the arrival environmental protocols oflic, such 38 io, Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland, ‘om fre" (also in 1969), and helped increase the visibility of environmental (OF ENVIRONMENT: - ERE fFaslc strvcture, the environment may be divided into te environment © Biotic environment © Cultural environment PHYSICALIABIOTIC ENVIRONMENT: - on the basis of physical characteristics and state, a biotic or physical environment is subdivided into: i Solid ie. lithosphere (solid earth) Liquid Le. hydrosphere (water component) fii, _Gasiie. atmosphere (gaseous component) These environments can be termed as lithosphere, hydrosspheic, atmospheric environment which can be further broken into smaller units based on different Spatial scales like mountain environment, plateau, plain, lake, river maritime, glacier, desert environment etc. The physical environment may also be viewed in terms of climatic conditions providing certain suits of habitat for biological ‘communities like tropical, temperate and polar environment etc. BIOTIC ENVIRONMENT-: biotic environment consists of flora and including man as an important factor. Thus the biotic environment may be divided : into: fauna fv. _Floral environment ¥. __ Faunal environment Further all the organisms work to form their social groups and organizations at Several levels and thus are formed social environment, where in, the organisms work to derive matter from the physical environment for. their sustenay “Gerlopmen. This process generals economic environment. It may be isd aan : Sete cccaniers ran is the most skilled and civilize id and hence his ¢. Itis significant to note that three aspects Bere ave. citterent characteristics and0 ‘man. itis the third func which makes the man and environmental process "because he transports matter and energy from one component of the ecosystem " ; to the other. = _ Environmental science is our modem way of seeking answers to these questions, j ‘We enjoy our environment. To keep it enjoyable, we must understand it from a scientific viewpoint. © Qurenvironment improves the quality of our lives. A healthy environment can help us live longer and more fulfilling lives. It's just fascinating, ‘What Is the “Science” in Environmental Science? Many sciences are important to environmental science. These include biology {especially ecology, that part of biology that deals with the relationships among living things and their environment), geology, hydrology, climatology, meteorology, oceanography, and soil science. How Is Environmental Science Different from other Sciences? Itinvolves many sciences. It includes sciences, but also involves related nonscientific fields that have to do with how we value the environment, from environmental philosophy to environmental economics. It deals with many topics that have great emotional effects on people, and therefore are subject to political debate and to strong feelings that often ignore scientific information. Week 2 a ynmen: i Four Components of Environment __ The four major components of environment include lithosphere, hydrosphere, ‘almosphere and biosphere, corresponding to rocks, water, ir and life«on earth including oceans, “4 itcovere 70% of earth surface. 97.5% of ein the form of saltwater. ONY 2.6.0 OF F Out ofthis, 0.6% is available as groundwater and oa mb a in glaciers. Amount of 0.3% {8 available in f ‘and Is ensily accessible to man. Je gascous layer enveloping the Earth, The atmosphere with ie ih abundance is unique to Earth and sustains life. It mainly compris 06% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.99% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, and traces of hydrogen, holium, and noble gases. The amount of water vapor present is variable eo ‘of wator bode 4 Biosphere refers to all the regions on Earth where life exists. The ecosystems that support life could be in soil, air, water or land. The term Biosphere was coined by Geologist Edvard Seuss who used this term for place on Earth where life can be found, Biosphere refers to the sum total of all living matter, the biomass or biota, It extends from the polarice caps to the equator, with each fegion harboring some life form suitable to the conditions there Wook 3 Envyonmpént problem and their The environmental problems arising from th urces: use of fossil and nuclear energy sources are well acknowledged today; these include global_climate change, acidification of ecosystems, risks from nuclear accidents, problems with longterm storage of radioactive waste, and public health effects from air Pollution. Our environment faces several problems, and many of these seem to be worsening with time, bringing us into a time of a true environmental crisis. Some of the key issues are: 4) Pollution Pollution of the ait, water and soil caused by toxins such as plastics, heavy metals and nitrates, caused by factors such as toxins and gases released by factories, combustion of fossil fuels, acid rain, oll spill and industrial waste.floods and desertification. ‘We are facing a shortage of resources such as food, water and fuel to sustain the rising global population, particularly in developing countries. Intensive agriculture ‘attempting to lessen the problem actually leads to more damage through the use ‘of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticide: “4) Waste disposal ‘An excessive amount of waste is produced and dumped in the oceans. Nuclear waste is particularly dangerous, as well as plastics and electronic waste. ‘Socean acidification The increase in the production of carbon dioxide by humans causes the oceans! acidity to rise, which has a negative impact on marine life. @Loss of biodiversity ‘Species and habitats are becoming extinct due to humen activity. This causes an imbalance in natural processes like pollination and poses a threat to ecosystems - coral reef destruction is particularly affected, Loss of trees in order to make space for residential, industrial or commercial projects means that less oxygen is produced, and temperature and rainfall are affected. 8) Ozone layer depletion Pollution caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the air creates a hole in the ‘ozone layer, which protects the earth from harmful UV radiation, 9) Acid rain Pollutants in the atmosphere such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides cause ‘acid rain, which has negative consequences for humans, wildlife and aquaticSoil pollution is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health. Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that covers the Earth's rocky surface. The organic portion, which is derived from the decayed remains of plants and animals, is concentrated in the dark uppermost topsoil. The inorganic portion made up of rock fragments, was formed over thousands of years by physical and chemical ‘weathering of bedrock. Productive soils are necessary for agriculture to supply the world with sufficient food There are many different ways that soil can become polluted, such as: * Seepage from a landfill * Discharge of industrial waste into the soll * Percolation of contaminated water into the soil * Rupture of underground storage tanks * Excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer * Solid waste seepage Causes of Soil Pollution Soil pollution is caused by the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage links, application of pesticides and percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel : dumping, leaching of wastes from tandfils or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals, This occurrence of this phenomenon is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensities of chemical usage. A soil pollutant is eny factor which deteriorates the quality, texture and mineral content ofthe soil or which disturbs the biological balance of the organisms in the soil. Pc in soil has adverse effect on plant growth. ge it; n from air and water. But other necessary n ; phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and more must ‘be oblsined from the soll, Farmers generally use ferlilizers to correct soil ‘dofciencies. Fertilizers contaminate the soil with impurities, which come from the : #@¥/ materials used for their manufacture. indiscriminate use of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides Plants on which we depend for food are under attack from insects, fungi, becteria, viruses, rodents and other animals, and must compete with weeds for putvients, To kill unwanted populations living ‘pesticides. Insects soon became resistant to DDT and as the chemical did not ‘decompose readily, it persisted in the environment. Since it was soluble In fat fether than weler, it blomagnified up the food chain and disrupted calcium smetebolism in birds, causing eggshells to be thin and fragile. in or on their crops, farmers use Dumping of solid wastes tn general, solid waste includes garbage, domestic refuse and discarded solid mmeterisis such as those from commercial, industrial and agricultural operations They contsin increasing amounts of paper, cardboards, plastics, glass, old onstruction material, packaging material and toxic or otherwise hazardous ‘substances, Since a significant amount of urban solid waste tends to be paper ‘end (ood waste, the majority is recyctable or biodegradable in landfils. Similarly, most agricultural vaste is recycled and mining waste is left on site, Deforestation ‘608 Erosion occurs when the weathered soll particles are dislodged and carried ‘ewey by wind of water, Deforestation, agricultural development, temperature ‘eAvemes, precipitation including acid rain, and human activities contribwte to this ‘erosion, Humans speed up this process by construction, mining, cutting of timber, : ‘over cropping and overgrazing, It results in floods and cause sol erosion. Ss Effects of Soll Pollution ate ‘Wen it comes to the environment itself, the toll of contaminated soil is even | Geer tat hs been contaminated shoud no lenger bo used io grow HN, ‘ the chemicels can jeech into thefood and harm people who eat itl land will usually produce lower yieldsoil pollution in brief; cers ‘ ’ I ee Ba ‘uns off into rivers and kills the fish, plants and other aquatic life d soil may no longer grow crops and fodder structure is damaged on of foundations and pipelines _ * impairs soil stability “+ may create toxic dusts '* may poison children playing in the area Controt of soil pollution There should be suitable and safe disposal of wastes including nuclear wastes. Non biodegradable material like plastic, glass, metals etc. should be recovered and recycled. Inorganic pesticides should be replaced by organic pesticides. Reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. Applying bio-fertilizers and manures can reduce chemical fertiizer and pesticide Use. Biological methods of pest control can also reduce the use of pesticides and thereby minimize soil pollution. Reusing of materials. Materials such as glass containers, plastic bags, paper, cloth etc. can be reused ‘at domestic levels rather than being disposed, reducing solid waste pollution. Recycling and recovery of materials. This is a reasonable solution for reducing soil pollution, Materials such as paper, ‘Some kinds of plastics and glass can and are being recycled, This decreases the Volume of refuse and helps in the conservation of natural resources. For ‘example, recovery of one tonne of paper can save 17 trees, Reforesting, Control of land loss and soil erosion can be attempted through restoring forest and grass cover to check wastelands, soil erosion and floods. Crop rotation or mixed cropping can improve the fertility of the land,Conditions before being disposed. Week § Water Pollution Itis the change in the composition of water by the addition of harmful substances, Water pollution severely affects the health of people. Sewage is one of the major pollutants of water. It contains organic mater and the excreta of human and other animals, Organic matter encourages the growth of microorganisms which spread diseases. The wastes of industries (acids, alkalis, dyes and other chemicals) are disposed in nearby water bodies. These wastes change the pH of water and are harmful of even fatal to aquatic organisms, Certain industries rele a lot of hot water from their cooling plants. It results in heating up of water bodies and kills, aquatic life, Fertilizers and pesticides enter into water bodies with the rain water flow and the ground water by seepage. These chemicals remain in water for 2 long time and can enter food chains. They cause a numbe animals. Oil tankers and offshore petroleum refineri water. of diseases in es cause oil leakage into Effects of Water Polluti The following are major effects of water pollution. Eutrophication: Enrichment of water with inorganic nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) is called eutrophication. The sewage and ferllizers contain large amount of inorganic material (nutrients). When sewage and fertilizers reach water bodies, the nutrients present in them promote algal blooms (excessive growth) there (Fig. 16.19), Rich algal growth leads to increase in the number of the decomposers. Decomposers use the oxygen present in water and it results in the depletion of oxygen. Algal bloom also reduces the light reaching the lower layers in water. Food chain contamination: _ The non-biodegradable water pollutants may stay in water for long times. From __ water, they enter into small organisms, which i are fed upon by fish. The fish in upon by land animals including hutto higher phosphorus concentrations in urban 001). Increasing imperviousness, increased runoff a | surfaces, and increased municipal and industrial Sasa eels TTpcressed loadings of nutients to urban streams. THIS ‘second only to agriculture as the major cause of stream impairment. ‘Sewage and other Oxygen Demanding Wastes: Management of solid waste is not successful due to huge volumes of organic and rnon-biodegradable wastes generated dally. As a consequence, garbage in most parts of India is unscientiically disposed and ultimately leads to increase in the pollutant load of surface and groundwater courses. Sewage can be a fertlizer as it. releases important nutrients to the environment such as _ nitrogen and phosphorus which plants and animals need for growth. Chemical fertilizers used by farmers also add nutrients to the soil, which drain into rivers and seas and add to the ferilizing effect of the sewage. Together, sewage and fertilizers can cause 2 massive increase in the growth of algae or plankton that facilitate huge areas of ‘oceans, lakes, or rivers creating a condition known as algal bloom thereby reducing the dissolved oxygen content of water and killing other forms of life like fish. Industrial Wastes: Many of the industries are situated along the banks of riversuch as steel and paper industries for their requirement of huge amounts of water in manufacturing processes and finally their wastes containing acids, alkalies, dyes and other chemicals are dumped and poured down into rivers es effluents. Chemical industries concerning with manufacture of Aluminium release large amount of fluoride through their emissions to air and effluents to water bodies. Fertilizer industries generate huge amount of ammonia whereas steel plants generate cyanide. Chromium salts are used in industrial process for the production of sodium dichromate and other compounds containing chromium. Agro-chemical Wastes: In the agricultural sector, water and electricity for irrigatio i Political reasons. This leads to wasteful flood inoue ae pe es pe ee ce such as sprinkler and drip irrigation. Cropping iss ete Practices also do not necessarily encourage the judicious use ; There are losses of water due to breaches and seepa 2 = a ge resulting in water TS oiled and salinity. Agro-chemical wastes include fertilizers, be herbicid se Pesticides which and Insecticides widely used in crop elds to. enhance atImproper disposal of contributes alot of Pesticides are: Pesticides Pesticides from field farms anc agente Pollutants to water bodies and soile, Some 7 DDT, Aldrin, i Hexachloro Benzene ete, Dieldrin, — Malathion, ee Teach ae bodies through surface runoff from agricultural fields, rit ng from sbieyng) washing down of precipitation and direct dusting and spraying of pesticides in low lying areas polluting the water quality. Nutrient enrichment: ‘The sources of nutrients in surface water can be divided broadly into natural and anthropogenic types. Contribution to pollution by natural source is low due to balance established by the natural system between the production and consumption of nutrients over the course of time, Anthropogenic sources of contaminants are contributed from agriculture, domestic and industrial wastes. Nutrient concentrations in streams and rivers have been strongly correlated with human land use and disturbance gradients. Both N and P enrichment have links with the agricultural and urban land uses in the we shed. Fluxes of total N in temperate-zone rivers surrounding the North Atlantic Ocean are highly correlated with net anthropogenic input of N in their watersheds. Total N and nitrate fluxes and concentrations in rivers are also correlated with human population density. Nitrogen fertilization is the main source of N in streams and rivers. Oil spillage Oil discharge into the surface of sea by way of accident or leakage from cargo tankers carrying petrol, diesel and their derivatives pollute sea water to a great extent. Exploration of oil from offshore also lead to oil pollution in water. The residual oil spreads over the water surface forming a thin layer of water-in-oil emulsion. The disruption of sediments: Construction of dams for hydroelectric power or water reservoirs can reduce the sediment flow affecting adversely the formation of beaches, increases coastal erosion and reduces the flow of nutrients from rivers into seas (potentially reducing coastal fish stocks). Increased sediment flow can also create a problem. During construction work, soil, rock, and other fine powders sometimes enter nearby rivers in large quantities, causing water to become turbid. The extra sediment can block the gills of fish, causing them suffocation. Radioactive waste: Radioactive pollution is caused by the presence of radioactive materials in water. They are classified as small doses which temporary stimulate the metabolism "and large doses which gradually damage the organism causing genetic mutation. ‘Source may be from radioactive sediment, waters used in nuclear atomic plants, oactive minerals exploitation, nuclear power plants and use of radioisotopes RieNMI Me Veese ane on Water Pollution ge into water bodies, it must be purified through sewage Industrial wastes should also be treated before they are released into Ait pollution may be defined as any atmospheric condition in which certain ‘substances are present in such concentrations that they can produce undesirable effects on man and his environment, These substances include gases particulate matter radioactive materials and many others, Most of these substances are naturally present in the atmosphere in low concentrations and are usually considered to be harmless, The background concentrations of various components of dry air near sea level and their estimated residence times are given in Annex-1 Thus, a particular substance can be considered as an air pollutant only when its concentration is relatively high compared with the back ground value and causes adverse effects. Air pollution is a problern of obvious importance in most of the world that affects human, plant and animal health. Effect of air pollution. There are following effect of air pollution are as follow Smog formation. When pollutants like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides combine in the presence ‘of sunlight, smog is formed .this is a mixture of gases .it forms a yellowish brown haze especially during winter and hampers visibility it also cat respiratory disorder and allergies as it contain pollution gases. S many Acid rain. The air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water in the atmosphere producing acid rain. Ozone depletion. The upper layer (stratosphere)of the atmosphere has ozone 03 which absorb ultraviolet rays present in the sun's radiation, However the air pollutant like chlorofluorocarbon destroys the ozone molecules and so break the ozone layer. Ozone holes are created which permit UV rays to reach the earth’ surface,Forest are eftecve means to contol ar pluton because plants can filer end absorb air pollutants. . Modification of industrial effluents. ? The air pollutants coming from industries should be passed through filter and “ther devices, so that the particulate matter is removed before the waste gases : ‘@re released out. The smoke Producing units should have long chimneys to take the Polluting gases far above and then disperse over a larger area. Industries should also invest for solar cookers or for producing bio gas. Environment friendly fuels. lead free fuels should be used in automobiles. Simila should be used industry to reduce pollution by sculpture dioxide. ty, sulphur free fuels Week7 Imapet of soil , water and air pollution on ecosystem E em d by air pollution, particularly sulphur and nitrogen | ozone as it affects their ability to function and grow. § of both sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides deposit in water, on jon and on as “acid rain’, thereby increasing their acidity with fauna. Ultimately, acidification affects the ability of . such as for example nutrient cycling and carbon cycling, but also water provision, on which the planet and human life is dependent. sys stem service! Increased ground-level ozone also causes damage to cell membranes on plants inhibiting key processes required for their growth and development. The loss of plant cover affects us all. Trees and other vegetation absorb pollutants such as excessive nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter, through their leaves ‘and needles and thereby help to improve air quality. Less plant cover thus means Jess filtering capacity to clean our air, Effects of soil pollution on ecosystem Effects of soil pollution on ecosystem clude the following . :t 3. Th tion of soil with heavy metals and other harmful substances, ; ganisms are often not able to adjust to the new cireumst - tely and thus will die off, all-natural processes are connected with other, the decline in microorganisms may cause chain reactions which ‘out to have great adverse effects on the whole environmental system. Effects on animals Allkinds of animals are affected by soll pollution. Many animals eat crops or Plants in order to meet their energy demand. However, if the soil and therefore also the crops are contaminated, the animals eating the crops and plants get contaminated as well. Similar to the adverse effect on humans, soil pollution can also have severe health effects on animals. 2.3. Effects on aquatic life Aquatic life is indirectly affected through soil pollution. Since through the excessive use of pesticides and also through the emission of toxic gases from industrial processes, harmful chemicals will eventually reach our rivers, lakes and seas. Thus, sea animals and plants will also be adversely affected by soil pollution. 2.4. Contamination of the groundwater If the soil is contaminated with chemicals and other harmful substances, it is just a matter of time when these chemicals will reach the groundwater. Through heavy rainfalls, these chemicals will eventually be washed trough the soil and thus contaminating our groundwater. 2.5, Increase in algae Soll contamination also leads to an increase in algae production. Since fertilizers contain substances which support the growth of algae, when these chemicals eventually end up in rivers and lakes, these water environments will face an increased production of algae. This in tum Js likely to lower oxygen levels which can cause the death of many water animals. 22 ee plt-levels. The pH-level measures the 3. For BoPerTD Ie if the soil isai self ean change due to a contamination with certain chemicals. This can lead to an increasing probability for erosion and may also harm the fertility, Acidic soils are inhospitable to several microorganisms that improve soil texture and help in the decomposition of organic matter. Thus, : a the negative effects of soil pollution also impact soil quality and texture. 2.8. Air pollution Through the aeration of soils, sol pollution may also contribute to an increase in air pollution, Since the volatile contaminants in the soil can be carried away into the atmosphere by winds or can seep into underground water reserves, scil pollution can be a direct contributor to air end water pollution. Effects of Pollution of Water 4. Diseases: In humans, drinking or consuming polluted water in any way a. It cat cholera, has many disastrous effects on our hi hepatitis and various other diseases trem s in the environm left unchecked. y dynamic and Water pollution can 2. Destruction of Ecosystems: respond to even small cha cause an entire ecosy: to collapse if! 3, Eutrophication: Chemicals in a water body, encourage the growth of alae. These algae form a layer on top of the pond or lake. Bacteria feed on this algae and this decreases the amount of oxygen in the water body, severely affecting the aquatic life there. 4. Effects the food chain: Disruption in food chains happens when toxins and pollutants in the water are consumed by aquatic animals (fish, shellfish etc) which are then consumed by humans