Agricultural wastes can cause environmental toxicity of sorme of the substances like lead,

mercury, cadmium, etc. A computer monitor

problems, if they are not disposed of properly. They by
become breeding ground for harmful insects and may contain more than six per cent lead
rodents. Burning of wheat or rice stubble gives weight. Up to 36 separate chemical elerments
are incorporated into e-waste items.
Waste Management-I: rise to smoke which pollutes the environment.

(21) Impact of Waste Accumulation

The waste spread along the roads or near the
residential hOuses has a nuisance value.
4. CoMMERCIAL WASTE
Wastes from commercial houses, stores, godowns,
E-waste presents difficulties for recycling due
to the complexity of each item and lack of viable
recycling systems. Many of the plastics used in
electronic equipment contain flame retardants.
These are generally halogens added to the plastic
hospitals and offices are known as commercial resin, which make it difficult to recycle plastic.
wastes. These wastes contain waste paper, torn
materials like 8. BioMEDICAL WASTE
SOURCES OF WASTE out gunny bags, waste packing
Syllabus straw, broken crockery, glasses, food wastes, Waste produced duringthe diagnosis, treatment
Waste Management Depending on their source of origin, wastes are packing materials, wood pieces and cans. Hospital of human beings, animals or research activities
classiñed into the following broad categories: waste comprises syringes, needles, plastic bottles, is defined as bio-medical waste. It is generated
" Impact of waste accumulation-spoilage of
landscape, pollution, health hazards, effect bandage, gloves and dead humnan tissues. at healthcare facilities like hospitals, nursing
1. DoMESTIC WASTE
on terrestrial, aquatic (fresh water and 5. CoNSTRUCTION WASTE homes, immunisation centres, medical research
Wastes generated due to domestic activities are facilities etc. It consists of biological wastes in
marine) ife.
called domestic wastes. Food leftovers, fruits Wastes generated at construction sites, mainly
" Need for Waste Management
due to demolition and construction rubble is used bandages, cotton swabs and test kits. It
and vegetable peels, bits of paper, packets, also contains wastes such as disposable needles,
polythene bags, bottles, empty metal and called construction waste. It includes bricks,
masks etc, unused and expired medicines
The term Waste' refers to any material that is aluminium cans, scrap metals, glass pieces, pipes, plastic, roofing and insulating materials, as well as toxic wastes like mercury from
discarded because it has served its purpose cotton, rags, discarded clothes, ashes from asbestos pieces, etc. thermometers. These waste require sophisticated
and is no longer useful. Waste can also be any burning coal, sewage from toilets, batteries,
material that remains at the end of a process 6. MINING WASTE processing plants, incineration and disassembly
expired medicines, chemicals, etc., are some Wastes generated during mining operations, centres for proper disposal. For example, the
and has no further use and so it is thrown of the examples of domestic wastes.
away.
excavations, etc. are called mining wastes. disposal of medicines in the sewage leads to
2. INDUSTRIAL WASTE They include tailings, slag heaps, debris, etc. antimicrobial resistance or super bugs as the
In modern tines waste is being generated sewage treatment plants are not equipped to
at an alarming rate both in complexity and Wastes from various types of small and large scale Some mining processes use large volumes of
industries are called industrial wastes. Industrial chemicals or liquids, which add to the waste process them. Large scale epidemics, increased
quantity. generated. These can be toxic or hazardous. healthcare access, home based healthcare have
wastes include any material that is rendered
The use and throw concept, i.e., the practice contributed to a rise in biomedical waste.
of discarding things after using them once, useless during or left over in a manufacturing 7. ELECTRONIC WASTE OR E-WASTE
is one of the significant reasons for waste process. For example, a textile industry generates 9. ToxIC AND NON-ToxIc WASTE
toxic wastes the form of chemicals used for Electronic waste refers to various forms of
accumnulation. One can see heaps of solid wastes
dyeing, synthetic fibres, etc. Industrial wastes electric and electronic equipment that have Certain wastes are classified as toxic wastes
accumulated in street corners, around hospitals, ceased to be of any vaue to its users because because they pose a serious threat to human
school backyards and even near water bodies. include chemicals (lead, mercury, arsenic, etc) they have exhausted their utility value due to health and the environment. These wastes
Dumping of solid wastes not only gives an ugly paints, sand, paper, paper products, fly ash, redundancy, replacement or breakage. These result from industrial processes and products.
look and foul smell, but also causes serious industrial by-products, metals, etc. They also include chemicals used in modern
include refrigerators, televisions, washing
health hazards. Sometimes, the outbreak of Industry uses a great deal of energy that machines, microwaves, computers and mobile agriculture and medical waste from hospitals.
epidemics takes place due to the accumulation produces waste gases and other materials. phones. With advancement in Information The use of chemicals has increased causing
of wastes, particularly near water bodies. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides emitted from health hazards to living beings. They produce
power stations cause health hazards because
Technology, new electronic goods are being
During rains, rainwater may take the produced at a fast rate and this results in toxic wastes during their manufacture. If allowed
of their link with acid rain.
decomposed waste along with pathogens (disease an increase in volume of obsolete electronic into the environment, these toxic wastes can
causing organisms) to our water bodies (rivers, 3. AGRIcULTURAL WASTE products. In fact. e-waste is one of the fastest contaminate soil, pollute water and enter the
ponds, wells, etc.) and cause water pollution. Agricultural wastes mainly include crop growing waste, constituting more than five per food chain, harming plants, animals and human
All this leads to outbreak of epidemics and residue, husks and straws, wood waste, cent of all municipal solid waste. beings. Most of the pesticides sprayed on the
other health hazards. crops fall on the soil as waste and enter the
sawdust, molasses, tobacco waste, coconut E-waste is valuable as a source for secondary
local water supply system when this soil drains
As our knowledge of science and technology waste products, rubber waste. nut shells, fruit raw material but hazardous if treated and
away into the rivers and lakes.
increases, we continue to exploit natural and vegetable peels, manure, etc. Most of the discarded improperly. Uncontrolled burning
resources for our Own benefit. In this process. agricultural wastes are recvcled, used for biogas and disposal of e-waste cause environmental Some of the commercial toxic wastes
increases. are arsenic, cyanide, lead, cadmium, nickel,
the amount of waste we produce also and as manure. problems. It is of concern largely due to the
Total Geography-X 241
240 Waste Management: Impact of Waste Aceumulation
 Construction Forest Automobiles modification
Pollution PoLLUTION
pollute'
Aicontaminate.
r word not flow dumpsother land
The visualsubstarnces LANDSCAPE
SPoILAGE
dumpedSpoilage
which OF to
become
and wastes the andwasteotherfruit
producesoxides
photographicofberyllium,
Compounds,
residues,
(242) Material
Production GarbageRefineries
EnergyBurning ofFiresPesticides
MetallurgyChemical
Industry of IMPACT
only into heaps Non-toxic
after animals, domesticSome
schools
appeal disease but not
are produced rubbish and
emanate
streams and onto of
decomposition toxic
of vegetable of waste
that also onlylandscape OF called the uranium
Pollutionof landills garbage
vacant plants do activities
the of carrying wastes at wastes,
chlorinated
providesruins
WASTE not by often solid high paints
afoul and seep
natural place. Non-toxic
means land or
pose
shops,peelings, sulphurand
is smelllakes. into may the andrefers are to stored wastes
concentration. plating and
Offshore Radioactive
Pollution Wastes
Thermal Industrial
Agricultural
Effiuents Domestic
Effuents
Effluents SewagePollution
Water organisms. become the such and
SpillsOil uworld thus, natural a
the ACCUMULATION
a andwaste mostly mercury
to These
but contain home to Wastes.serious
environment. offices, lubricants. solvents,
an left in
bits asare sludges,
groundwater the a
Drilling causeddegrade also tothat part dustbins. generatednitrogen
food-leftovers, which
unfavourable open beauty
accumulation
to biodegradable of
poisonous Bothdecompose, restaurants
problem
Pollution
Sourcesof spoil rats is of paper
entirely dumps Burming asbestos, and
pesticide
and simply nature.
or open and of Such their
the the The and due
Pesticides
Insecticides Biomedical
Waste Domestic
Wastes
Commercial
Wastes
to or to
Fertilizers
Chemical Pollution
Industrial
Wastes Soil
the maybecause
the dispose visible but caused
of atmosphere
formparticularly like beings.
human or
The 6.
water
environment. Accumulation have Pollution partly 5. 4. 3. 2. BrRECTs 1,
contain addition Asbestos: lung mucusdamage.
breath Causes
Beryllium: Mercury:
kidney cancer.
Nickel:
Cadmium: death. Lead:
andbehavioural
handling
most of by
adverse
bilions
bodies due cancer hypertension,
toxins Every
year
dangerousother and OF
disposal pollution. into of is membrane
shortness Causes Affects
to Causes Causes ToxIC
Radioactive
Isotopes Fuel
Atomic
Radioactive
Pollution Both of of substances
influenceof caused
toxic lung Causes
Radiations
X-rays
from Nuclear and direct and Causes disorders
that solidmetric waste the
open
methods to cancer. affects respiratory PARTICULATE
blo0d
cause chemicals
biosphere. asbestosis, of nerve
cardiovascular
Reactors
Nuclear
and seep the by or kidney
Weapons is on oi
dumpsand wastestonnes indirect
breath,
berylliosis. and
Total probably organismsthe which human heart. eyes and
soil into system,
cause damage.
problems, can
Geography is of
human
beings
environment. brain
and the solid maythrough shortness weight and
a It also MATERIAY
harm
soil problem
landflls the activities actions diseases
water waste. directly, not is lungs.
Affects damage cauee.
-X
and most also loss. lung cal
to be the of of

demonstrated
Several HEALTH
Spread
organisms,
photosynthesis OXYgen,aalgae
water. accumulation, Small as normal
nutrients fishphosphate and process
use introduction
discharge naturally bodies,
of discharge
the explosion This
produces orthe grass toxic the toxic
meat.directly inheavy as
large air of
Waste result garbage and into pollution
in food oxygen water Water
Eutrophication As
humnan animal
food particulate
Industrial Scavengers
dumpsaccumulated
carbonfertilizers is well
area, pollutants th e
This increases. fish and chemicals
chemicals metals
Management of turn of and highly
accumulated as
incidents HAZARDS aquaticlight conditions,
for or
of or
from large if a get chain. environment
causes
Disease draining become feed from
microscopic eutrophication
domestic of
bodiespollution
beings
indirectly tissues destroying thereby, respectively.
the and consume the not large and
reducing the on
dioxide, from
nutrients due inflammable, affected suchmatterwaste
potential plants They the water cannot natural
amountmanaged from For and thatwaste
I:Impact death heat growth these to is and as Spreading stray
Through
around water abundant algae
agricultural
water heavy contains
(small
reduce sewage, the
quantity through example, the
these inorganic human occurs waste pass by harm lead the spreadanimals
the release and creates The
ofthe
are into zooplanktons and bodies
ofharm of animals function
process of toxins. soil.
of unable the
most phytoplankton as and takes cleansing properly. metals and beauty cause
uncontrolled
Waste the all oxygen the small chemicals
effluents waste and of their on particles)
Contamination of food. industrial decomposes, Animalsgrassliving harmful germs invade toxicSmoke
water due phytoplankton activities.
occurring when these
Accumulation
accumulationworld its of penetration (zooplankton). nitrogen fields. place methane can dairy These mercury.
the to fish. of things get over a air
ofand waste
oxygen.content to and They properly.
process into gets the substances
carrybody. cause toxins eat deposited chemicals,
and the and
aquatic through due depletion people products animals diseases pollution
have
wasteWhen Under either water burning
and large serve and The gas. such some along Thesetoxic place. open other
ofon Asof to in an it
to
iscause
development Lead cause
asirreversible like water
in gully chain
logging, in
results
untreated (disease-causing).
accumulated for since
of fermentation beings. fiies,
Unattended
through
oncontaminates gases
Decomposition ofproperly of
a
well Hazardous the it the the waste
malaria Waste various Flies,
highly a th e
respiratory
logging pits
is an (biomagnification).
stagnant water in that diseases rats it
as a especially through Dormestic
Effects increase by the the
dumped is and
managed on
or waste insects,survival
toxicchest harmful pollutediseases organic waste human
of wastes and results e
thaccumulation
bodies and other
incapacitating the soil waste and
of a plants
water of
Radioactive chemicaldiseaseand child'stoxinchikungunya.in during solid creates waste dumped
and is
are
in into near the
water. wastes rodents, spread
creatures
in heaps in health.
a
death wastes
and rivers,
a to
lung which
toxic breeding and e
thwater air growthnature,poses serious
knownbrain. and tChoking
he human conditions thern
which further ofDirect in
Waste substances animals water around
cancer. reversible it rate spread rainy results toxicseas source
produces and etc.,
a
that the Waste
as
Asbestos can of of human
of serious health
and in
it
among actopen
attacks mosquitoesseason. drainssubstances dumping
and bodies
habitations.carry live that
asbestosis, affect
that percolates us. pathogens undergoes
favourable as
Mercury in the
serious diseases
illness. harmful in attracts
vectors
which water lakes germs threat hazard. is
243) the can the The and feed food and not
the
of
 nervous system, causing brain damage and als0 causes harm to the marine marine organisms, increase their susceptibility to
even death. Arsenic is another chemical that Drilling for oil form of pollution from oil spills. disease and affect their reproductive processes.
animals in the
has been shown to cause cancer.
Radioactive waste produced by nuclear
13.8 ppm Tertiary
consumers Toxins present
organisms
in the wastes can kill aquatic
directly by sufficiently changing
They also lead to gastrointestinal irritation, liver
and kidney problems and damage the nervous
system of marine mammals.
reactors and weapon factories causes a covering the water surface
the pH of water,reduction in dissolved Mercury in water can affect marine animals
potentially serious environmental problem. 2.07 ppm and causing a oxygen.
also affected by a adversely. Mercury contamination in sea on a
Radioactive waste, although present in small The aquatic organisms are
biomagnification. coastal town in Japan caused illness in some
quantities, remains extremely harmful to human
health for many years.
Secondary
consumers
phenomenon, known as
Biomagnification refers to the increase in
fishermen because of consuming fishes caught
from the Minamata Bay. It also killed different
toxic substances
ErFECT oN TERRESTRIAL LIFE 0.23 ppm
the concentration of varioussubstances at the sea bird species feeding on fishes. This epidemic
along the food chain. ToXiC get concentrated in Minamata is known as Minamata Disease.
Terrestrial life incudes all the organisms that live Primary level of primary producers move up the Mercury contamination also results from
on land - human beings, plants and animals. consumers at each trophic level as they concentrated
of wastes of other industries like paper and pulp
Bfect on Human Beings: Accumulation of food chain. The phenomenon level is industry, chlorine industry, pesticide industry
higher trophic
solid waste looks ugly, smells foul, attracts insects,
0.04 ppm toxic deposition at the small amount of etc. Pesticides with mercury add a considerable
rats and other animals that spread diseases. known as bio-accumulation. A
Burning of waste in the open dumpyards Producers toxic constituent which is
neither excreted nor proportion of mercury to natural water bodies.
chain
causes smoke and foul smelling air. In addition, metabolised, gets increased as the food next NEED FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT
level to the
rainwater can drain through refuse and carry The numbers are representative values of the moves upward from one trophic concentrated.
harmful substances to different places. concentration of DDT and its derivatives in the tisSUes and the toxic constituents become chemicals The problem with waste is that it remains in our
Sanitary landfills are not fit for human (in parts per million, ppm)
For example, if there are traces of toxic algae will environment. We move waste from one place to
settlements because methane and carbon dioxide Biomagnification in water, then their concentration in algae, the another but never get rid of it completely. Nature
When fish eat the
gases are released in the first two years. These be much higher. It has recycled waste materials for millions of
gases are produced when solid wastes start For example, according to a study, mice that concentration of toxins will increase further. years. However, human population has increased
eat
decomposing underground. were fed on high levels of toxins had difficulty will increase still further when big fish will so rapidly during the last century that the
in reproducing and their offspring had higher smaller fish. Therefore, accumulation of a small
Effect on Plants: Waste accumulation has environment is now threatened by our activities
dangerous effect on plant life. Plant life is rates of birth defects and lower body weights. amount of toxic chemnicals in water can have and the wastes they produce. Much damage is
Similarly, birds too are adversely affected due to a serious impact on the fish that live in
it.
affected either by direct deposition of harmful done to the environment by the pollution of air.,
toxins from wastes or indirectly through soil. feeding on waste. Birds feeding on agricultural Carelessness and the deliberate dumping degradation of soils and contamination of water
The tOxins cause: waste have thinner and weaker egg shells and of wastes and oil spills in the seas and oceans sources such as rivers, lakes, etc.
increased mortality. pollute water and damage beaches. Marine
(i) different types of leaf injuries. pollution is a great threat to sea-life (plants and Every year 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste
(11) premature leaf fall. ErFECT ON AQUATIC LIFE is collected worldwide. The decay of organic
animals). Oil spills decrease the penetration of
(iii) decrease in transpiration. light and hamper the photosynthesis process. matter in the solid waste contributes to 5%
Waste accumulation can cause significant damage
(iv) reduction in the rate of photosynthesis. to aquatic life, both fresh water and marine. Two They also retard the rate of oxygen uptake by of green house gas emissions (UNEP Report).
(v) reduction in biological nitrogen fixation. categories of waste that cause greatest damage water and adversely affect the development of Many scientists believe that if we do not
(vi) dust deposited on leaves block the stomata to aquatic life are -pesticides, which run off learn to use our resources carefully and to
of plants. These decrease the rate of agricultural lands and industrial and domestic reduce waste, we will not be able to survive.
transpiration and inhibit the absorption wastes that are improperly disposed of into Big Fish oxinsT There is a close connection between waste,
of nutrients from soil. water bodies, Over one million marine animals big fish pollution and the damage to the environment.
(vii) smoke emitted by burning of waste causes including mammals, turtles, fish, sharks, etc. Waste causes pollution, which in turn causes
reduction in root and shoot lengths, number are killed each year due to plastic debris in the the damage. Hence, there is an urgent need
of leaves and number of grains per spike Oceans. The plastic waste is washed out from Toxins in for management of waste.
mall fish
in case of crops like wheat. our beaches, streets and highways into rivers The following dangers, posed by global
Effect on Animals and Birds: Scavengers and streams and finally into the oceans. After pollution due to accumulation of wastes,
and stray animals like dogs, rats, pigs and cows some time, this plastic waste breaks down into Sraall Fish
Toxins im
threaten the survival of the ecosystem and call
are directly affected by waste when they feed Smaller pieces, which are easily ingested by marne algae for the need to manage waste.
on the waste for food. Sometimes these animals animals causing blockages in their digestive tracts
consume toxins or non-degradable substances like TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES
and eventually death. Marine turtles are more Algas
plastic carry bags present in the waste and die Susceptible to the effects of consuming marine oxins in WASTE ON LAND: Various diseases spread on
due to choking. The wastes consumed by animals Seawater an epidemic scale due to waste accumulation
also lead to many diseases and other problems. debris because they have downward facing spines water
on land and water bodies. Vectors like flies,
which prevent the possibility of regurgitation. uiereasing concentration of toxins along the food chain
(244 Total Geography-X Waste Management 1:Impact of Waste Accumuaion 245
 passage of infrared waves from
animals trans1it
mosquitoes, rodents and pet the earth IN DANGER
a breeding ground into space. Concentration of OUR FUTURE danger if we do not
these diseases. The waste isthere is an urgent produces much heat.
making thesolar back
in 2. About 30% of the eneray is reflected
Our future iswarming by controlling

in which the similarraditoatiovery

n
for such vectors. Hence, warm place. This earth arrest global
backinto space
disposal in an effective atmosphere. The
a greenhouse phenonenon
a
need to manage waste common diseases of
is
emissions into the effects of Global 6. Some of the infrared radiation passes thrcugh the
atmosphere, and some is atbsorbed and re-emtted
manner. Here is a list of
spread by mosquitoes, Aies, rodents and pet area gets heated up due to
the glass enclothat
sed
following are the in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules The
effect of this is to warm the Eartn's surface.
animals.
1. Housefly: Typhoid. diarrhoea,
dysentery,
the rest of the
environment. The
of the atmosphere is due to
the
insulawartiomningfrom
up
Warming:
1. Global
temperature is likely to
rise by 2°C to 5°C
during the
cholera, gastro-enteritis, etc. effect. Hence, Global
Warming is alsogreenhouseas next century.
2. Sandfly: Kala-azar, sandfiy fever,
3. Tsetse fly: Sleeping sickness.
etc. Greenhouse Effect.

GREENHOUSE GASES
known 2. Due to rise in
temperature by
2°C to 5°C, there is
a chance
4. Together, these gases
warm the Eath.
5. Infrared rad1ation :
fever, on the
4. Mosquitoes: Malaria, filaria, yellow etc. of melting of ice caps
1. About 70% of the sun's emitted from the
ars the
There are five gases w
which of
Earth's poles. This melting
energy that reaches the Earth's surface.
dengue, chikungunya, encephalitis, are mainly 0sphere

Globalresponsible
for the Greenhouse Effect rise of the
5. Rodents: Plague, salmonellosis, etc. and ice will result in the
Eadh

GreenhouseWarmiGases.ng.
sil fuels and deforestation
These gases are known as of low
sea level. Large stretches and
3 Water vapour,
bumighatmoscnere Added to
6. Pet animals:
They are: increase caroonathane. Earth
lying areas will submerge face
this are CF
(a) Dog - Rabies., hydatid disease, etc. () Carbon dioxide (Co,) Greenhouse Effect
many island countries will
(b) Cat - Dermatophytosis, anthrax, etc. (ii) Methane (CH,) deep encroachment by
seawater.
WASTE IN WATER: Water without human interference altogether. In the second layer, i.e., the Stratosphere
is in its pure form. Industrialisation and (ii) Nitrogen oxide (Nitrous oxide) Some may disappear which ies at the height of 20km to 50km
from
temperature will be uniform layer. In
urbanisation pollute water in the following manner. (iv) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) 3. As the increase in
world, there will the Earth's surface, lies the Ozone
(v) Water vapour. all over the surface of the spite of its low density, the Ozone layer plays
bring
(1) Sewage contains organic matter that cannot be serious climatic changes. This will an important role in our life.
be decomposed. Besides, the sewage has Human activities like burning of fossil fuels various changes in wind and rain
pattern.
ultraviolet
pathogenic agents. increase the carbon dioxide content in the cause rise in Due to the presence of Ozone layer,
4. Higher temperature will cannot
atmosphere. The increased concentration of rays and Infrared rays from the sun
(ii) Industrial and commercial waste has toxic transpiration, which in turn, will affect the reach the Earth surface directly. Ozone layer
carbon dioxide may bring about drastic changes groundwater table. the
agents including metal salts and complex in the world climate in the near future in the absorbs the harmful ultraviolet rays from
warmer from
synthetic organic chemicals.
form of increased temperatures or global warming,. 5. Insects and pests will increase in the sun and protects the life on the Earth
(ii) Fertilisers and pesticides produce pollutants. climatic conditions. Thus, pathogenic their harmful effects.
If the carbon dioxide content of the diseases will multiply.
(iv) There are also other pollutants like atmosphere increases steadily it will result in Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
radioactive substances. DEPLETION OF OzoNE LAYER and Ozone Hole
increase in the present world temperature by
researches
Human beings are affected by pollution: about 3.6°C. It is estimated that if the earth Significance of Ozone Layer in Atmosphere It has been revealed from different
(a) by drinking contaminated water, continues to warm up, all the glaciers will The atmosphere is divided into four layers: that when the oxides of nitrogen (NO and
(b) by using contaminated water for purposes
recede and the ice caps in the Antarctic and 1) Troposphere (ü) Stratosphere NO,) come in contact with Ozone (0,), their
the Arctic will begin to melt. Then, the sea level chemical reaction destroys Ozone layer. Besides
of personal hygiene and recreation.
will rise by a few metres and most of the cities (iti) lonosphere (iv) Exosphere. this, supersonic aeroplanes move through the
COMMON WATER-BORNE DISEASES on the seashore may be submerged and coastal stratosphere and emit huge amount of nitrogen
eco-life will be adversely affected. gas which depletes the Ozone Layer. Another
Viral: Viral hepatitis, diarrhoea, etc. important causative factor of ozone layer
" Bacterial. Cholera, typhoid, dysentery. depletion is Chlorofiuorocarbons (CFCs), which
" Protozoan: Amoebiosis, diarrhoea. have strong power to damage the Ozone layer.
" Helminthic: Roundworm, threadworm. All the developed and developing countries
are using CFCs-type chemicals as refrigerants
GREENHOUSE ErFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING in aerosol, paints, plastics, foam and thermal
The rate of absorption of solar insulating materials in spray and packaging
earth and its emission back into radiation by industries. During the use of such materials,
space as
infrared waves balances the heat on the a lot of CFCs ultimately get dispersed into the
This phenomenon plays a very earth. atmosphere.
important
maintaining surface temperature of the role in A hole has been observed in the
Ozone
The carbon dioxide and other earth. layer in the Stratosphere near Antarctica. This
blanket around the globe which gases form a Image of the largest Ozone Hole over the South Pole hole allows the ultraviolet rays of the sun to
prevents the Treatment of Diseases

(246 X
Tolal Geography- Waste Management-Impact of Waste Accumulaton
287
 Effect of Acid Rain Soil Degradation
reach the Earth directly without any obstacle the white marble surface of the
or filtration. These ultraviolet rays cause many into yellow. Taj Mahal
disease like skin cancer and cataract. (ii) It poses a serious threat to
The ultraviolet rays cause genetic disorders human
since it contaminates air and waterhealtt
which ultimately affect heredity. Increased (iv) It affects the human
nervous
Concentration of ultraviolet rays disturb
ecological balance in marine ecosystem. Green
causing neurological diseases. systern o
(v) Aquatic species are affected due to..
algae, fish and other animals on continental rain.
shelves get affected by ultraviolet rays. Young (vi) Acid rain affects the plant
cells and larvae of organisms living in aquatic leaves get burnt and dry. growth. Plan:
ecosystems get destroyed.
Vegetables are very sensitive to the ultraviolet SoL HBALTH
rays. Ultraviolet rays can damage physical and Soil is the foundation for a healthy
chemical properties of any complex chemical Precipitation from air as acid rainbiosphere.
and dry
substance. Plastics become brittle when they deposition of pollutants on land surface contribute
come in contact with ultraviolet rays. to soil pollution. Chemicals and minerals in
the soil react with chemical pollutants. These
AcIp RAIN pollutants combine with plant nutrients and
Acid Rain means the presence of excessive acids the plants are consumed by animals. Polluted
in rainwater. Burning of coal, wood or petroleum soils cause' reduction in mineralisation and
produce sulphur and nitrogen. These two react decomposition processes. Transformation of
with oxygen and are converted into their respective .sulphur, nitrogen, availability of phosphorus,
oxides-sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, biological nitrogen fixation in soil are affected
which are soluble in water. During rain, these by acid rain. Soil fertility and aeration are also
Oxides react with large quantities of water vapour reduced. Earthworms, nematodes, etc., are
in the atmosphere to form acids like sulphuric destroyed by toxic chemicals. Destruction of the
acid, sulphurous acid, nitric acid and nitrous Soil is synonymous with the destruction of the
acid. These acids, when they precipitate together biosphere. Therefore,to prevent the destruction
with rain or snow form acid rain. of the biosphere, it is of utmost importance to
check the accumulation of waste and thereby
ErrECTs OF AcID RAIN reduce soil pollution and improve the healtn
(i) Acid rain increases acidity in the soil and of the soil. There is a need to manage te
destroys forests and crops. waste properly. Therefore, public awareness
(ii) It corrodes buildings, monuments, statues, of the health hazards of waste is necessaty.
No doubt, waste disposal has become a big
bridges, fences and railings. For example, thousands of workers but
acid rain produced by the pollutants from industry employing main
the Mathura ol refinery has been turning the options for its disposal are limited, the
the air.
disposal sites are the land, water or
248 TotalGeography-X