UNIT - 4: POLLUTION

CHAPTER-13
POLLUTION

Topic-1 Pollution and its Types

Revision Notes
Introduction

Pollution is an undesirable change in the phys1cal, chemical and biological character

istics of our environment, which occurs largely due to human activities. Substances
that is responsible for pollution are called pollutants. Ihese are class1fied into
types:
Biodegradable pollutants: These pollutants are degraded by decomposers e.g.. food,
kitchen waste, etc
Non biodegradable pollutants: These pollutants are not degraded or decomposed by
decomposers e.g., DDT, BHC, plastics.
Pollution of the surrounding environment is the most seriousecological crisis that hu
mans are facing today and he reasons behind this are as follows:
Increase in population.
Industrial development.
Based on the componentof environment being affected, pollution can be catego
rised into the following main types:
 Air pollution.
Water pollution.
Soil pollution.
Noise pollution.
Air pollution: Release of harmful substances into the atmosphere which are harmful
to mankind and other organisms is called air pollution. Air
pollutants are of the follow
ing types -
Particulate pollutants: These constitute harmful particles such as dust particles, me
tallic particles, smoke, mining, stone drilling. wearingof rubber tyres, etc.,
which re
main suspended in the air.
Gaseous pollutants: These constitute the harmful gases such as CO2, H)S, CO,
NO2, etc, that are given out from a variety of sources. SO2,
Pollution in air has led to greenhouse effect, depletion of ozone layer and acid
rain.
Air pollution can be caused by either of the
following sources - Natural resources and
Man-made resources.
(a) Natural resources include volcanic
eruptions, fumes from forest fires, dust from
storms, pollen, etc.
(b) Man-made resources include excessive use of
kilns, etc.
automobiles, garbage, industrial brick
Somne of the man-made sources of air
pollution are described below:
Vehicular air pollution: Pollutants produced by vehicle exhausts
SO2, hydrocartbon and volatile organic include CO, NO,
compounds etc. The main cause of vehicular
pollution is the rapidly growing number of vehicles. This type of
controlled by the use oflead free petrol, use of CNG over pollution can be easily
0
quality automobiles, etc. petrol, efficient engine, good
 Factories pollute the air through fossil fuel emission. These
Industrialair pollution:
and nitrous oxides. Combustion creates these toxic pollu
emissions include CO2, CH4
should not be allowed to operate in highly populated areas. Instead,
tants. Industries sane. A broad zone
kilometers away from the
they should be established at least a few
around the industrial area.
of trees and shrubs should be planted
garbage: Garbage from homes and kitchen wastes include items such as veg
Burning
wastes are either used in making
etables and fruit peels, polythene bags, etc. These burning garbage,
manure for agriculture purposes or should be burnt in enclosure. On
pollution.
harmful gases such as CO2, etc., are released which causes air
making bricks that are used
Brick kilns: Brick kilns are fire heated enclosures used for
enclosures are large quantity
in construction purposes. The wastes produced by these
of ash and broken small pieces of bricks, which causes air pollution.
unsuitable
Water pollution: It is defined as any change in water quality that makes it
for use by humans and other living organisms.
The major sources of water pollution are given below:
Sewage: Discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage into the rivers, canals,
tanks etc, cause very serious pollution. They cause spreading of water-born diseases
likedysentery, typhoid, cholera, jaundice, etc.
Household detergents: Detergents and soaps used for household purposes, i.e., for
washing clothes and utensils and for bathing release dirty water which becomes a cause
for water pollution.
Industrial efluents: Discharge of untreated wastes (wastes from breweries, dyeing,
textiles, paper, pharmaceutical industries etc.) of various industries into nearby river or
lake cause serious water pollution,
Oil spills: Spills from oil wells and refneries and washing of tankers during loading
and unloading is a cause of water pollution, These spills are always in danger of catch
ing fire. Also, theoil spills spread over the surface of water and kills plankton and smear
others which happen to come onthe surface. There is reduced oxygenation of underly
ing water. As aresult, many aquatic life forms such as fishes, etc. are killed.
Thermalpollution: Water used for oilrefineries, nuclear power plants and other ther
mal power plants are released into the nearby streams. The water released by industries
is warmer than the normal water of streams. Due to these temperature changes, the
aquatic life forms and aquatic plants get affected.
Soilpollution: It is defined as any undesirable change in the soilprofile affecting its
productivity. Water and air pollution can spread to long distances but soil pollution is
largely localized.
Themajor sources of soil pollution are given below:
Industrial wastes: Various industries release certain solid wastes in addition to gase
ous air pollutants and other chemicals. The solid wastes are thrown out in the form of
fly ash, metallic ash, chemical residues, etc. which gets settled on the surface of soil,
thereby polluting it.
Urban and Domestic wastes : Solid wastes are also produced from homes, shops, res
taurants,etc. These include plastic bottles, polythene bags, bulbs, kitchen wastes, etc.,
which is collected and disposed off by municipal workers into nearby areas rather than
disposing it properly to avoid pollution.
Biomedical wastes: Wastes produced by hospitals, clinics, laboratories, etc., are also
one of the major causes of soil pollution. Numerous items such as syringes, needles,
unused and discarded tablets, research material, wound dressings, etc., are discarded
and disposed off carelessly in the municipal garbage, due to which soil gets polluted.
Chemical fertilizers: Chemical fertilizers that are used for increasing crop yield are
proved to be harmfül n excess amount.
Pesticides such as DDT which are used to kill pests and other insects in agricultural
farms and fields, also act as major pollutants responsible for soil pollution.

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 Noise pollution: It isdefined as unwanted sound of generally 80 db or more, which is
unpleasantand which affects the receiver directly.
Major sources of noise pollution includes high intensity sound produced by trains,
heavy machines, jet crafts, automobiles, loudspeakers at road side and in residential
areas.

Noisepollution bhas harmful effects on human beings such as it interferes in communi

cation, lowers the efficiency of work, disturb sleep thus leading to nervous irritability
and sometimes damage ear drums.
Noise pollution can be minimized by the following methods ()
Misuse of loudspeakers should be checked.
(ii)Good quality silencer should be used in automobiles.
(iii) Growing agreen belt area around residential area.
Radiation: It is the form of energy which consists of high energy particles such
photons, X-rays,etc. Radiationsare used in laboratoryequipments in the field of med
icines and other researches. Sources of radiations are mainly X-rays and radioactive
rays released from nuclear power plants. X-rays contain a huge amount of energy par 1.
ticles which my damage the body
cells. Mnemonics
Nuclear radiations leaked out of nu Concept : Types of pollution
clear power plants are also major Maemonies: Awesome Nation
Noise pollutioa
cause of radioactive pollution, The nterpretation: Air pollution, Water polhution, Soil pollution,
chief radioactive pollutant during explosion in Japan and Chernobyl was Iodine-131,
which was responsible for haemorrhage and even cancers. It also raises the risk of
thyroidcancer. Thus, radioactive material should be discarded and disposed off care
fully, SO as to avoid the serious damage, to environment and mankind.

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is Key Terms
Air Pollutant: The substances which contaminate the air are called air pollutants.
ns,
Bio-medical wastes: Any waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or
tial
immunization of buman beings or animals or in research activities from hospitals, labs,
ete.
uni
Biodegradable wastes: The wasteswhich can be decomposed by micro-organismare
lity
called biodegradable wastes.
Smog: Combination of fog and smoke.
Eutrophication: Excessive nourishment leading to the loss of aquatic life.
Biomagnification: It is the process of accumulationof heavy materialin iving organ
ism tissues through the food chain.

ch as Topic 2 Effect of Polution and Measures to Control Pollution

med
ctive Revision Notes

par 1. Effects of Polution

Pollution effects the life of all the types of organisms thereby, influencing the
whole environment and climate ultimately.
Effects of Air Pollution:
Causes damage of kidney, liver, brain, muscles, reproductive system etc.
Hydrocarbons cause eye irritation, coughing, sneezing. Benzene causes leuke
e-131, mia.
risk of
3 Carbon monoxide binds with haemoglobin and causes (CO) poisoning, head
if care ache, nausea, muscular weakness etc.
ankind.
N0, NO;causes eye irritation, blood congestion, lungsswelling,etc.
PAN (Peroxy Acetyl Nitrate) causes eye irritation and respiratory problems.
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 Efects of Water Pollution:
Pollution of water may cause many water-born diseases such as typhoid, dyS
entery, etc. 2.
h
3 Aquatic animals and sea birds may be killed due to oil spills.
ti
Discharge of excessive nutrients through sewage into the static water leads to ir
death of aquatic life. The organic matter increases growth of algae that con
sumes a lot of O2. This decreases the O; content causing problem for water
ri
organisms. This phenomena is known as eutrophication.
Effectsof Soil Pollution: G
of
Soil pollution may lead to loss of soil fertility.
3Accumulation of pesticides in increasing concentration in the body of living (a)
beings through food chain results in biomagnification or biological magnifi (b)
cation.
E
Non-target organisms are killed in the soil.
Wa
Effects of Radiations:
Radiation may cause cancer and mutation in reproductive cells. Sul
De
Overdoses of radiation may be lethal and may even cause death.
Effects of Pollution on Climate and Environment: 3. (
1. Acid Rain: Acid rain consists of acidic gases like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
volatile organic carbons and bydrogen chlorides. Acid rain is harmful to the envi
ronment in many ways as follows
31t damages the foliageand growing points of the plant. It causes chlorosis,
necrosis, defoliationand die back diseases in plants.
E It causes leaching of essential minerals from the soil. 50% natural forests have
been destroyed by acid rain in Germany, Sweden, Poland, etc.

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 Acid in the rain reacts with the calcium of statues, sculpture and ancient mon
uments and damagethem.
2. Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming: The world is experiencing green
house effect or rise in atmospheric temperature due to increase in concentra
tion of greenhouse gases.Concentration of CO2 has increased from 280 ppm
in 1800 to 360 ppm in 2000, If the trend continues, CO concentration is
likely todouble in the next few years as the rate of fossil fuel consumption is
rising by 6% annually.
Global warming: It is the phenomenon of gradual increase in the average temperature
of the surface of the earth. It occurs due to the following reas
(a) Release of more CO2 due to burning of fossil fuels.
(b) Less utilization of CO2 in photosynthesis due to decrease in vegetation cover which
is the result of deforestation.
Effects of globalwarming Melting of glaciers and ice caps. Rise of
water levels in oceans.
Submergence of several islands.
Development of different rain pattern.
3. Ozone layer depletion: Ozone is a triatomic molecule (O3) of oxygen found in the
upper atmosphere. In the stratosphere, it helps in absorbing harmfulUV radiations
i coming from the sun. The absorption ofUV radiation is directly proportional to the
thickness of ozone shield. The ozone shield is thin near equator, therefore in this
region maximum UV radiations reach earth.Global average ozone layer thickness
is,
is declining, because of escape of CFCs, CH4 and N;0 into stratosphere which are
1ve
damaging ozone layer. Ozone depletion is particularly marked over the Antarctic
region. This led to formation of a large area of thinned ozone layer, called as Ozone
hole. A 5%% loss of ozone shield results in increaSe of 10% UV rdiations which
reach the earth.These have following effects on humanbeings :

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Increase in UV radiations cause skin cancer including melanoma.
UVradiations reduce immune system.
It spoils photosynthesis and obstruct food chain and indirectly affects the man.
4. Measures to control pollution: We cannot stop pollution from our environmen
completely butby taking few major steps we can easily prevent it from increasing
with each passing day. Some of the steps that we should follow to control or to
remove pollution are as follows:
Diesel buses should be replaced by CNG buses.
Use of unleaded petrol in cars and two wheelers.
The plants which can fix carbon monoxide should be grown.
By switching off the engines of the vehicles at traffic signals, when it is not in
Organic wastes should becomposed to produce biogas.
Recycling of paper,plastic, metal and glass is the effective measure to control soil pol
lution,
Use of pesticides should be checked.
Electrostatic precipitators and filters should be used in chimneys to lessen industrial
pollution.
Control of Air Pollution (vehicular standards)
Euro/Bharat Stage: According to this
Muemonics
standard, all transport vehicles
ConceptGases responsible for ozone depletion Mnemonics: Clouds
carry a fitness certificate that is re-m
Come Nearer.
newed each year after the first two Interpretation: CFCs, CHn NO
years of new vehicle's registration. On Oct.. 6,
2003 the National Auto Fuel Policy has been
announced for introducing Euro 2-4 emission
and fuel regulations. Accordingly, a standard
 that is Bharat Stage II Euro 3 for nationwide
is envisaged.
Key Terms
earth's at
Global warming: It is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the
levels of
mosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased
carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.
oil re
Oil spills: The accidental discharge of petroleum in oceans or estuaries due to
fineries, offshore oil mining or overturning of oil tankers in the sea.
Oil slick: Spread of oilon the surface of water produces thin layer is called Oil slick.
Biomnagnification: An increase in the toxic materials at each level of food chain is
called biomagnification.

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