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effects of pollution

The document discusses the effects of pollution on human health and the environment, highlighting air, soil, and noise pollution. It details the short-term and long-term health hazards caused by pollutants, including respiratory issues and cancer, as well as the impact of industrial activities and deforestation on global warming. Additionally, it covers significant events like the Bhopal Gas tragedy and the Chernobyl disaster, illustrating the severe consequences of chemical exposure and radiation.

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7 views

effects of pollution

The document discusses the effects of pollution on human health and the environment, highlighting air, soil, and noise pollution. It details the short-term and long-term health hazards caused by pollutants, including respiratory issues and cancer, as well as the impact of industrial activities and deforestation on global warming. Additionally, it covers significant events like the Bhopal Gas tragedy and the Chernobyl disaster, illustrating the severe consequences of chemical exposure and radiation.

Uploaded by

Hemashree
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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16.

Effects of Pollution
EXERCISEI
A. Answer the following questions.
1. What is the effect of air pollution on life in general?
Ans. Effects of air pollution on life :
e Short-term health hazards: These results from temporary
exposure to harmful materials and last for a short while. For
example, skin allergies.
Long-term health hazards: these last for a long time due to
continuous exposure to hazardous materials. Eg., asthma and
allergies.
" Oxides of Nitrogen impair function of enzymes in respiratory
system.
" Gaseous hydrocarbons causes change in the structure of DNA
which may result in lung cancer.

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in cancer.
" Benzene has been linked with an increcase
activities which cause pollution of air.
é Name any thrce human
ol air are:
Ans. Three human activities which causc pollution imbalance
" Nitrogen cycle: Human
activities have caused an
farmers use fertilisers which are
in these cycles. For instance,
these fertilisers arc washed away into
rich in nitrogen. When and algae increases by
water bodies, the growth of bacteria
Marine life is thus affected,
the nitrogen present in the water.
Burning of fossil fuels disturb
" Carbon and oxygen cycles: carbon dioxide is releascd into
this cycle when oil and coal,
carbon dioxide and
the atmosphere. Phytoplankton absorbs this
sameis released into the atmosphere and absorbed by the
forests. This will not be possible if huge amount of vegetation
on Earth is destroyed.
" Deforestation: Depletion of forests leads to Global warming
which in turn may cause havoc on carth due to climate change.
3. How does increase in carbon dioxide affect atmosphere?
Ans. Increase in carbon dioxide leads to Global warming. This ultimately
leads to climate change.
4. What are the adverse effects of radiation on human beings?
Ans. Radition is known to cause an increase in the incidence of cancer
and many such related disorders.
5. What is meant by Global warming?
Ans. Global warming is the observed and projected increases in the
average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans due to
increase in large amount of carbon dioxide.
6. How does soil pollution affect human life?
Ans. Effects of soil pollution on human life:
Various chemicals and organic materials present in soil results
in various health hazards for humans.
e Chemical fertilizers washed into waterways poison water
supplies and kill aquatic life
" These fertilizers destroy the soil's natural
turn affects the agricultural activities.
balance which in
The soil pollution leads to erosion, lacks in
a vicious cycle in which more nutrients and starts
fertilisers must be used to make
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up for soil depletion.
7. Suggest two ways by which atmosphere is affected by industrial
pollution.
As. The two ways in which atmosphere is affected by industrial
pollution are:
. Manutacturing industries release a wide range of pollutants in
the air.
Oil refineries discharge harmful gases like Ammonia,
Hydrocarbons and Sulphur oxides.
Aluminium plants release fluoride dust.
" Cement industries emit plenty of dust which is very harmful.
" Increasing quantity of these harmful gases may increase global
warming and results in melting of ice in Polar Regions.
8. State the effects of chemicals on human beings.
Ans. Effects of chemicals on human beings are

1. Fluorides cause fluorosis, humped back, stiffhess of bone


joints and dental fluorosis.
2. Lead is toxic to both central and peripheral nervous system.
It can accumulate in the bones.
3. Pesticides can cause tumours, chromosomal alterations, brain
damage, impotency and cancer.
4. Arsenie in mild doses cause nausea, vomiting and
stomach
burns. ln lethal doses it may cause death due to shock and
vascular failure.
5. Mercury danages the nervous system.
may lead to
insomnia, tremors, bleeding of gums etc. Methyl mercury
may cause Minamata disease which is a form of
mercury
poisoning.
9. What does Eutrophication mean?
Ans. Eutrophication is the process of depletion of oxygen from
water
bodies, such as lake and estuaries due to natural or human factors.
10. Write short notes on
(a) Bhopal gas
tragedy
Ans. The Bhopal Gas tragedy was the worst industrial accident that
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accident was caused b
ocCurred on 3rd December 1984. The the
release of 40 tonnesof Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) into
factory in EBhopal
almosphere from Union Carbide's pesticide
" Etfects of Bhopal Gas Tragedy:
the victims in the tragedy had permanently
> The blood of
toxificd, leading to the damage of the brain, kidneys
got system etc.
lungs, muscles and gastro intestinal
reproductive ability
> MIC also interfered severely with the
of men and other animals.
suffered from chromosomal
º The various plant species have
aberrations.
(b) Chernobyl disaster.
It occurred on April 26,1986 at the Chermobyl
Nuclear plant
Ans. thc operalors
in Ukraine. It happened in the early hours whenplant premises.
were conducting an experiment in the nuclear
were poor plant
" The main reasons for Chernobyl disaster
measures.
design, incompetence and poorly designed safety
Efects of Chernobyl Disaster:
º Whole of Westen USSR and other Europcan countries were
contaminated by gamma emissions deposited in soil.
> Meat and dairy products were contaminated.
spread the dust
º Radioactive clouds travelled across Europe and
at random everywhere.
º Thousands of' people became exposed to Chernobyl radiation,
affecting living organisms.
> They may cause genetic disorders, variety of cancers, and
Leukaemia.
11. Why do people in cities suffer from viral fever, allergies etc.?
Ans. People in cities sufler from viral fever, allergies etc., because:
. Of the chemical toxicants and micro-organisms present
in the polluted water which may lead to malaria, dengue,
chickengunia, etc.
e Oxides OF Nitrogen in the air may cause asthma, impairs
functions of enzymes in respiralory system.
Ozone is a toxie gas that causes irreversible damage to the
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respiratory track and lung tissue.
12, What are the effects of Noise Pollution?
Ans. Effects of Noise Pollution
Noise pollution causes discomfort and may lcad to temporary or
permanent damage to hearing. It may adversely affect humans
" Sleep disturbances
" Hearing loss
" Interference with communication
" Annoyance
Headache
" General fatigue
" Rise in blood pressure
" Problems with the digestive system.
B. Choose the correet option.
1. Which of the following substance is
rosis? responsible for causing fluo
(a) Lead (b) Fluorides
(c) Arsenic (d) Mercury
2. Which of the following substance is
namata disease? responsible for causing Mi
(a) Lead
(b) Fluorides
(c) Arsenic
3. (d) Mercury
Which of the following process is
of oxygen from the
water body? responsible for the depletion
(a) Biomagnification (b) Bioaccumulation
(c) Eutrophication
(d) Oxygen cycle
4. Bhopal Gas Tragedy (3rd
release of December, 1984) was caused by the
(a) CFC
(b) Nirogen dioxide
(c) Sulphur dioxide
(d) MIC
3. Chermobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986 due to
(a) Oil spillage
(b) Overflow of river water
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