p

Our Environment JI
and Pollution ie(i)@~]
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
❖ recall the meaning of environment.
❖ explain the causes and effects of air, water, noise and land
pollution.
❖ list the measures to reduce air, water, noise and land
pollution.
❖ follow environment-friendly practices in day-to-day living.

rRecap Time
Tick( ✓) the correct options.
1. Which among the following is a renewable
···· ·····
natural resource?
a. O water b. O coal c. O petrol
2. Which among the following resources is
available in limited amounts?
a. O air b. O water c. O coal
3. What are the 3Rs of waste management?
a. 0 rebuild, redo and rebuy
b. 0 reduce, reuse and recycle
c. 0 renew, reform and rely
4. Which of the following actions will spoil the
environment?
a.
b.
c.
B
0 growing plants
throwing plastic bags in rivers
using a bicycle to go to nearby places
5. Which of the following help conserve the soil?
a. flowing water b. fast-blowing wind
c. growing plants

J ·z e ·r
SH3MSN\f
 Let's start • Jnfom1ation Literacy• Com mun ·
MHFMMWFMNHHMHMNMAMMMNMMMEE N ~~ •cation

Salumarada Thimmakka is a prominent

env;ronmentalist in India. Research and find out
about her work. Discuss in class.

The surroundings of a living thing are its environrnenc.

Our environment is made up of living, non-living,
and often, also, human-made things. Planes, animals,
human beings, and ocher living things are the living
components of the environment. Soil, air, water, and
light are some of the non-living components of the
environment. Roads, buildings, bridges, dams built on
Environment is made
rivers, and motor vehicles are examples of human-made . . d up of
I1v,ng an non-living th·
1ngs.
things that can be a part of the environment.

T he components of an environmen t decide the nature of the environment of the region.

T his is why, the envi ronment in a sandy desert is differe nt from the environment of a
dense forest.
The well-being of all living things depends on the environment of the region. Therefore, it
is very important that the natural environment is not disturbed.

Pollution and the environment

Human activities have made water, air and land dirty. As a result, our surroundings have
become polluted. Waste from our homes, farms and factories have polluted air, land, rivers,
lakes and even the oceans. Pollution damages the environment. Harmful substances that
pollute the environment are known as pollutants.
Every living thing needs a certain kind of environment to live in. For example, coconut
trees grow well in warm coastal regions, while snow leopards can live only in the cold
Himalayan mountains. When the environment is damaged, all kinds of animals and plants
living in the region are harmed, and many even die. Pollution damages the environment
and harms life in the region. It also damages metal objects, bridges and monuments.
Let us learn more about pollution.
164
 ir pollution . . .
f>. d smoke emirred by factories and motor vehicles pollute the air.
11
ful gases an .
J--l.1n f cactories and motor vehicles co ntains fin e parucles of ash, coal, metal5
oke rom 1.. '
'fht.' sni_ I ·cals. T hese are the main pollutants in the air. Fuels, such as kerosene, coal,
J oxic c 1em1
JJl t ' I nd wood emir smoke when burnt. Smoke con rains high amounts of carbon
I ecro a '
dicse,P c
·d . and, rhere,ore, po II ures t11e all'.
·
JioXI e gas

Smoke from factories and motor vehicles pollutes the air.

When plastics, rubber, cloches and firecrackers are burnt, harmful smoke is produced,
which pollutes the air. Gases emitted from garbage dumps also pollute the air.

Smoke produced by burning plastics and firecrackers pollutes the air.

Effects of air pollution

Air pollution harms plants and animals. It can damage our lungs and cause diseases such as
asthma. Air pollution can damage the eyes and skin of people living in the region.

Global warming
Burning of coal, kerosene, diesel and petrol, mainly by industries and motor vehicles,
releases large amounts of carbon dioxide gas. As a result, carbon dioxide in the air is
constantly increasing.
16S'
 Scientists believe that due to the constant rise in c.ubon Did You know?
dioxide levels in the air, the E.irrh's average rcmpcrarurc is
Acid rain
gradually rising. A gradual rise in rhe Earrh's Lcmperarurc is
known as glob.tl warming. Certain harmful gases
such as oxides of '
Global \\'armino bevond cerrain limits will diswrb d1e Earrh's sulphur and nitrogen,
environmenr. I~ will harm life on Earth, including human produced by industries
beings. get mixed with raindro
AJI of us musr. rherefore, rake steps to reduce rhe amount of and make the rain high~s
acidic. This is known a y
carbon dioxide that is being produced.
acid rain. Acid rain kil~
plants and can make so·l
What can we do to reduce carbon dionide emission? 1
unfit for growing plants
• Grow more plants in your surroundings. All kinds of It pollutes lakes and ·
plan ts absorb carbon dioxide to make their own food. ponds and kills fish and
other animals living in
• Do not leave fans, bulbs or any ocher electrical appliances these waterbodies.
'ON' when not in use. This will save electricity.

& : .rc:ai. . 1a....s....s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __

I

Tick ( ✓) all the correct options in each. •

I. The gradual increase in the Earth's average temperature is known as
•
•
: C global warming. 0 global cooling. I
i• 2. To reduce air pollution, we must
e CJburn coal. 0 reduce the use of motor vehicles.

Water pollution
Water becomes polluted when harmful
substances get mixed with it. Water is
polluted mainly by chemical waste from
industries, household waste water and
waste from agricultural fields.
Household waste water and chemical waste

Human activities that pollute water from the industries pollute water.

• allowing water from homes to flow into rivers and streams

• factories releasing chemical waste into waterbodies
• chemical fertilisers used in agricultural fields that mix with rainwater and flow
inro waterbodies
• uncreated sewage allowed to flow into waterbodies pollutes the water
166
 t of water pollution
EffeC S llured by plant and animal waste carries
\\'·1trr
· I us sic<.
po•ch can m:1<e .I
1
s,v11
gc:rn l !lured by waste from factories has harmful
'j/•11cr po
~ · . . I rhat can ~lso make us very side
.
hc:n11c.1 s
c J wirer cannot be used for drinking or any other
pollute ·
.. lecannot be used to grow crops. polluted water
H.lrposc.
1
\lured water often kills fish and other aquatic animals. It also affects the plants in and
Po d che waterbodies. When polluted water flows over land, it causes land pollution.
aroun
What can we do to reduce water pollution?
, We should reduce the use of chemicals and detergents in our homes.
, We should not throw plastic and other waste on land or into waterbodies.

~M y lndla...M.y Pride!
The Indian Insntute of Science, Bengaluru is a premier Indian institute chat
• conducts researches and provides solutions to many urban and rural issues.
One such issue is of tackling wastewater. A team of experts from India
and Scotland collaboratively implemented a project that treats and reuses
wastewater in a school in Berambadi village, Karnataka.

Land pollution
Dumping chemical waste, glass and plastics into
the soil causes land pollution. Land is polluted
mainly by waste generated in industries, hospitals
and households.
Some materials, such as plastics and glass, do not
break down naturally. Things made from such waste that breaks down naturally
materials remain in water and on land for many years.
Such wastes pollute land and water.
On the other hand, things such as fallen leaves,
dead plants, pieces of paper and wood when left on
land break down naturally in a shore period of time.
Such wastes do not pollute land or water. waste that does not break down naturally
Effects of land pollution
Land pollution spoils soil and reduces crop production.
Polluted land ca.n pollute waterbodies. This occurs when
harmful substances mix with rainwater and flow into lakes
and rivers.
What can we do to reduce land pollution?
• Waste materials must be disposed of properly co keep
the environment clean.
• Things made of plastic and glass should not be dumped directly on the land.
• Waste, such as used paper, plastic and metal objects, should be recycled to make new

. ,,
-~
-J' - !_____________ ········ ,I
•
products. We must collect such waste and sell it co a scrap dealer.

miM ii) ------------------------ • ·-• .. Thinking}

I Crmcal
What we have to do?
Group things that can break down naturally and things that cannot break down naturally
What do we need?
• pencil
How do we proceed?
How will you dispose the following waste?
Put them in the right boxes.
• soft drink bottles • newspapers • spoilt food • vegetable waste • egg shells
• milk packets • cardboard boxes • old metal vessel • glass bottle • plastic bags

.....................
.. ... .... .......... ..
Break down Do not break
naturally
...................... down naturally
.....................
............... .... ..
I
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I

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--- ---------- ---------- --------- ----------- --- ----- -- --- ---- --- -- --- -------------- --------'
~ macmil lan
~ educati on

' _...~
••'"'" Carry °'--.,
••••••• your own •·•
.••••A •• utensils to •.
.- ...~:1~·. ~.
of the oxygen
~ • °',, •
_-
. Plastic waste~ ~ • restauran ts to pack :
.
thrown in rivers, •. • •,. takeaway s. • ••
that we breathe is lakes and even on : •"' ... _ •• ---• •·• '
. .·······•·••·•···•....... .
produced by our
Our oceans are land can reach the
.,. oceans .
turning into a : .. -.
ocea::line;, ✓•
... . ..... ..........
. --· ·-• .. ·. plastic soup. • .. .......... ·-• ..... ... ...----····-
• •• •• Help
.·· ................. . . ............. ..
Reduce, ---~. ....._. ,__ .... --• : clean the
.....
.............. ·•-.. ...
reuse 50 to 80% of •. .-·.
• Carry your own • waste on the
and recycle ocean debris is !>each. ..•
cloth bag when ·• ,..
plastic. _,J plastic . .._..__ ...........--• .....
you go shopping.
..... ..... . . ... .. ... .... ......... ...... . '••···-··· . .. •
... .................. . ..................... .
•• Do not buy coral • ..........................
...... •.- Pollution kills a •• • • • • • •- •
jewellery, tortoise Do not Do not
·--. ...
• shell toys or shark : / .-• A=id ite~ .\
throw throw pbstic in
·. lacge ""m>e, of seo~
~ animals including • : wrapped in :
·~.. pro,facts. : :•••_. trash on bkcs, ri~rsand :
J \ seabirds every year. •.- •. excess plastic. .•
·• • beaches. .• se.:is..
........... --· ,._
...... -,;•·· .
........ •···
.•-... ..,..... .........
············v ~'~~~- .•
I must be aware that one-tim e use ' t
plastic Items_such as ··································· ······· .. ·..
 '111111
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is caused by loud, disrurbing and continuous sounds. ,
I
/',ii;·~·:,'
\I\\ I
Noise pollution is also calleJ sound pollution. Noise pollution can I
I
I
I

'
also cause serious health problems. I
I
I

Some sources of noise pollution are: -__ .,. , , I

noise made by motor vehicles, trains and aircraft noise Pollut ion
•
• loud and continuous honking by vehicles
unchecked use of loudspeakers or music played at very high volume
•
• bursting firecrackers
• loud noise emitted by machines in factories

Effects of noise pollution

Noise pollution can be distracting and harmful. The effects of noise pollution are stress
fatigue, poor concentration levels, sleep disorders, irritability, heartburn, indigestion and
even high blood pressure. Noise pollution can also cause loss of hearing. Loud noises
frighten animals too.
What can we do to reduce noise pollution?
• Do not talk loudly in public places .
• Avoid honking .
• Avoid playing loud music at functions, parties and weddings .
• Do not burst fi recrackers .

. Talk about it! . , . Life Skills • Communication )1

i Tick~✓) the ~ractices that you follow to reduce pollution. Discuss each
: pract1ce ment10ned here.
I ,,' i ,. , :

.,! do not use plastic carry bags

21.. Do ,:·'
do not burn plastic and paper
0
:

! 3. plant as many trees as possible

/ 4. do not litter 0
15. switch off lights and fans when not in use O
/ 6. do not burst firecrackers 17
j 7. follow the four R's-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse
/ The corre~t practices are aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 12-Responsible i
\ ~Onsumpt1on and Production. ·
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •• • ••••••••• • ••••,oo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,, • .,. , ,,. •• , , ., • •••• , .,,., •••• ,.,, •••• ,.,.,.,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,1,, , ,,. , .• ,,,,,,, , ,,..,,, • .,,.,.,0.,, •• , , .,,,,,,,,,,, , ,.,,.,,.,,,,, , ,,.,,., , ,. • .,, , ,.,,.,.,, , ,,.,,.,,,.,•••

170
 ,......
ollution:
IJair P 1·nation of air by
) ntarn
co f l substa nces
harrn u
·ronrnent: the .
er,\11 dings of a l',vrng
surroun
thing
l warming: gradual
glo ba ,
rise in the Earths
ternperature
l nd pollution:
antarnination of land
co . f
caused by dumping o
hernical waste, glass and
plastics into the so,'l
C

noise pollution: Noise

disturbances caused by pollution
loud and continuous noise
pollutants: harmful
substances that pollute
the environment
water pollution:
contamination of water
by unwanted and harmful
substances

paunn}-~------------------------
1. Tick {✓) the correct options. You can tick more than one option.

1. Environmental pollution is caused by

. ._ plants. 0 waste materials .

human activities. C factories.
2. Substances that spoil air, water or land are
chemicals. waste. smoke. t pollutants.

3. Diseases such as asthma can be caused by

water pollution. harmful smoke.

noise pollution. land pollution.

171
 4. Things that break down naturally are
plastic bags. insects.
fruits. paper.
5. Things that do not break down naturally are
glass pieces. leaves.
plastics. [ lvegeta bl e wa Ste • I

II. Answer the following questions in one sentence.

1. What does the smoke from factories and motor vehicles contain?

2. What is global warming?

3. Why should we grow more trees?
4. What pollutes the land?
5. List the causes of noise pollution.

Ill. Answer the following questions in three to four sentences.

1. What forms the environment of a place?
2. What are the harmful effects of air pollution on the human body?
3. Why is the average temperature of the Earth increasing?
4. What steps can be taken to reduce water pollution?
5. What are the effects of noise pollution on human beings?

Ii tifu j ,jrf•I•l\fofi►------·•·I • Critical Thinking}

HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS
I. Do you think the living components of an environment are dependent on the
non-living components? Explain with examples.
II. The four Rs-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse-help us reduce waste and protect
our environment.
Answer the following questions to see how environment-friendly you are.
1. Do you use paper plates and cups when you go on a picnic? l Yes No
2. Do you use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins? [ ' Yes No
3. Will you purchase recycled paper? [ Yes No
4. Do you use both sides of the paper for writing? Yes No
5. Will you use empty jam and pickle bottles to store food items? Yes No
6. Will you insist the shopkeeper give you plastic bags? Yes No

This class discussion is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development

172
Goal 12-Responsible Consumption and Production.
I
 Ji 1·1' I01 i!-i bfUi-
• • Crca1ivi1y

¢ic Art -rntegrdt~d LetJrning

c1oth bag
rM tic bags accumulate in the environment and pollute land and
used P)~: best thing to do, therefore, is to stop using plastic bags.
water.
. our own cloth bag. Get a cloth bag stitched from old clothes. You
oesigni~t the bag using acrylic fabric paint, get some simple embroidery
can p:chwork done on the bag, or just write a catchy slogan to motivate
or pal to carry their own cloth bags.

mII
peoP e
e an exhi bition of bags made from old clothes in your school with
Arran g . .
your teacher's perm1 ss1on . ,
The class project is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable flt
oeve/opment Goal 13-Climate Action and Goal 15-Life on Land. j

plHiithi • Technology Literacy I

Segregation of garbage in the right way Art-integrated Learning cross-curricular focus: Music
helps us to decompose the waste as
well as recycle waste. Scan the QR code and listen to the song, Segregate, by
Ricky Kej, the only Indian till date to win three Grammy®Awards. Hum the
song al ong.

f.flld·W\UMti♦
Tick( ✓) the correct column.

I can... Yes No Need help

1. define pollution and pollutants.

2. explain how air, water, land and noise

pollution are caused.
3. list the ways by which pollution can be
controlled.
4. follow instructions to do an activity.

5. answer contextual questions correctly.

171
 ,1~~ SUSTAINABLE G
DEVELOPMENT
.t"\ A
\,,,ii- \
LS
) 2 [ND ALL PREVENTABLE DEATHS UNDLR S YE.ARS Of AGE
I J NS URE ,Af [ At~D MWRDABLI DP INIJNG WI Tl
6
z I ND Ql'lN D[FlCA TION AND PIIOVIDL ACClS, '.CJ< Ah IT ATl(;r, ,.
6
11 R[DUCF. T► I[ [NVIRONM~NTAL IMl'I O or Clfl
• 1 f•
6

THIN K >>> D1scu

( FACTS >>> AWARENESS J ss
Study the given p·, e cha
F' - Mathura
Agra Etawah Panlpat and answer the follow· rt
questions. irig
9% ' Sonepat
4% ,,.... 2%
1 I. Name the city that is
Bagpat Millions of the major contributor
2% people live in .
to pollution on the river
homes without
Delhi Yamuna. What could be

f I - t-oilets._____
79% the reason for this,
Every year,
people across 2. Discuss ways in which
the globe die the pollution of the R·1ver
due to lack of
clean water,
Yamuna can be reduc ed.
The river Yamuna is one of the important rivers
sanitation and
in India. Many cities are located on the banks of hygiene.
this river.
About 85% of the total pollution in this river is
due to the dumping of household waste.

ACTION '\
According to a study by the World Health Organization,
2.1 billion people do not have safely managed drinking In India, I in 5 children CHANGES '
water services. die of severe diarrhoea.
( THINGS /

But that's not enough. ... and that dirty water stream that we cross • Always dispose of waste in a
At the end of the street on the way to school is actually a river. proper place.
there is a garbage dump
• Collect and sell waste that can
which stinks ...
evenings, my eyes be recycled.
water because of • Do not pollute rivers, lakes or
smoke. seas with household, farm or
industrial waste.
. . : .

'Thousands have lived witho ut love, not one witho ut water.'

-WH .Aud en